Plymouth is Purrfect for Zapcat Racing

by Nicola Drummond on 14 Jul 2009 Zapcat Racing this weekend headed to Plymouth for Rounds 7 & 8 of the Zapcat National Championship. 25 Zapcat teams from the World’s largest one design championship made the journey and were faced with a mixed bag of conditions that provide fast and furious racing action.

Saturday saw teams faced with torrential rain and gusting winds providing the worst conditions the racers had faced this season. The tight tactical course just metres away from the harbour wall provided a fantastic racing course leaving the Zapcat teams with no room for error in their game plans.

As Saturday’s racing got underway L&O Meats, Zapcat 75 had drafted in local Royal Marine Ryan Allingham to drive for co-pilot Martin Jerome with his normal pilot unavailable. Ryan who was unable to race the full season due to work commitments this year showed his usual formidable racing skills as they progressed through the division 2 heats securing a strong place in the days final.

Also racing well were Rusty Racing, Zapcat 23 Nick Ponting and Stuart Harrison of Cornwall who are firmly establishing themselves in the championship and improving in every event.

Division 1 saw battles between all of the top teams, pushing to take pole in the days final. Randall and Payne, Zapcat 49 Justin Whithorn and Chris Baldwin were out to promote themselves at Plymouth and gave Blue Sheets Racing 1 a run for their money. With the championship leaders getting held up in some dirt water amongst the fleet and Randall and Payne making the most of a couple of good starts in the heats to push them every step of the way.

Conditions remained choppy and wet and as the boats went into the days finals the spectators that lined the harbour wall at the Waterfront Bar were as wet as the racers themselves.

The Division 2 final saw Doyster Blue Sheets Racing, Zapcat 73 Nial Hoddinott and James Keeping take a return to form after injury hampered their progression at the last Grand Prix. They fought closely with Seavation, Zapcat 10, Alex Jordan and Dave Pay, holding them off to take the gold podium place of the day. Who were followed closely into third by L&O Meats, Zapcat 75, Ryan and Martin to complete the line up taking bronze.

The division 1 final of the day was promising to be a closely tight affair with Randall and Payne, Zapcat 49, pushing Blue Sheets Racing, Zapcat 03 all the way to the finish line. The championship leaders managed to pull a little extra speed out of the bag and hold of their rivals to take the Gold Medal making it their seventh consecutive win of the season. Completing the line up was a father and son duo in Cat in the Hat, Zapcat 39, Jim Crooks and CJ Crooks.

Champagne celebrations were awarded by Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Jonathan Drean before racers headed back to dry land.

Sunday’s racing was met by cloudy blue skies with gusting winds of around 28mph, creating a whole different obstacle for the Zapcat teams to contend with. The winds were lifting the noses of these light weight (150kg including engine) inflatable catamarans meaning the co-pilots had their work cut out for them distributing the weight in the boat to avoid being flipped over.

Division 2 got off to a flying start with returning racers in Smart ABC, Zapcat 07, Dave Paget and Tony Cooper, fixing engine gremlins they had during Saturday’s racing and leading the way in the division 2 heats. Also enjoying the feisty conditions, were Contact Wait Out, Zapcat 14 piloted by Paul Holt with Co-pilot Helen Redwood.

Meanwhile in the division 1 fleet Randall & Payne, Zapcat 49 again launched an attack on the championship leaders, Blue Sheets Racing, Zapcat 03 assisted by Team Speedy Hire, Zapcat 38’s Daren Ford and Mark Surrey.

Following a disappointing result in Saturday’s racing local boys The Exe Jets, Zapcat 77, pilot Rob Wickham and Graham Hay were determined to up their game for Sunday’s racing. Pilot Rob commented 'We were disqualified yesterday and it due to that we didn’t make it into the final, which was really disappointing for us, but the weather’s improved today although the wind’s picked up but we like the conditions a little bit rougher so we’ll see what today hold’s in store.'

Smart ABC, Zapcat 07 dominated the Division 2 heats to take pole position in the days final. With a tactical short pit lap timing would be vital to the racers on this tight course if they were to take the finals podium top spot.

As the 8 Zapcat teams lined up for the start of the final the wind was increasing and as the green flags dropped officials were unhappy with the holding of lines and red flagged the race for a re-start. On the way back out to muster Team Scaredy Cat, Zapcat 40 Russell & Sandra Sidney stalled and failed to re-start their engine. The disappointed husband and wife team from Gosport were towed ashore for safety to a rousing round of applause from hundreds of spectators at the Waterfront Bar.

The flags were dropped for the second start and the race was underway Smart ABC, Zapcat 07 making the most of their pole position and taking a tight line to the first buoy. Nine Lives, Zapcat 35 opted for an early pit lap to make the most of the clean water on the short section of the course whilst the rest of the fleet battled it out on the longer section with Zapcat 07 extending their lead from the trailing field. Contact Wait Out, Zapcat 14 opted to pit next and stole the lead from Nine Lives as they rejoined the main race course. Smart ABC, took a late pit lap that pulled off to take them home in the Gold Medal position. With Contact Wait Out Securing Silver and Nine Lives taking the Bronze.

The Division 1 final was soon underway and Blue Sheets Racing, Zapcat 03 seemed to hold back as the rest of the teams took off the line, with Randall & Payne, Zapcat 49 leading the way, the lead was short lived as Blue Sheets Racing opened up their throttle and powered through the fleet. With clean water in front of them they took the option of an early pit lap to maintain their lead, Randall & Payne followed hotly on their heals, with The Exe Jets, Zapcat 77 also racing strong.

Blue Sheets Racing, Zapcat 03 held their lead to the chequered flag taking Craig Davis and Rob Martin’s total of Gold medals this season to 8. Randall & Payne followed them in, in the silver spot with Team Speedy Hire, Zapcat 38’s Daren Ford and Mark Surrey completing the line up.

Accolades were presented to the Zapcat Racers by Plymouth’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport & Leisure, and Councillor Glenn Jordan and obligatory champagne was sprayed before the racers headed home to prepare for the next Grand Prix in Barry Island, Glamorgan on the 1st & 2nd August.



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