Offshore powerboat racing ‘too dangerous'?

by Bob Wonders on 22 Dec 2009 Offshore powerboat racing ‘too dangerous'?


There has been no shortage of what I would term ‘uninformed comment' since the tragic loss of two lives in the recent Dubai Offshore Grand prix.

Driver Mohammad Al Mehairie and throttleman Jean-Marc Sanchez were killed instantly when their boat, ‘Victory 1' crashed on lap five of the race.

Needless to say, all associated with the sport and, I dare say, sportsmen and women of all competitive pursuits, were shocked and dismayed at the loss of two relatively young men.

However, some newspapers, particularly in Europe, have in my opinion ‘gone off the rails' in claiming the sport is so dangerous authorities should consider tougher regulations, even suggesting it be banned.

That could only be termed ‘utter nonsense.'

Of course, I'm not suggesting the sport is not dangerous; there is certainly an element of risk, just as there is in a score of other pursuits, such as Formula 1, V8 Supercars, Moto GP, stock car racing, speedway, drag racing (cars and boats), circuit and flat bottom boat racing just to name those which come quickly to mind.

It's not only powerboats that can put lives to risk, as we learned in recent Sydney-Hobart yachting classics and in the terrible loss of Andrew Short and Sally Gordon earlier this year.

No one has suggested a ban on yacht racing!

There are other reasons why I rate some of this uninformed comment rubbish.

The ‘modern era' of offshore powerboat racing is generally regarded as dating from shortly after World War II, let's say approximately 50-years.

Depending on whose records are checked, between 25 and 30 competitors have lost their lives in that time.

Sadly, half that number has already died on the roads of New South Wales and Queensland and the always tragic holiday period has not yet begun!

The cold, hard fact of the matter is that an offshore racer is many times more likely to be killed or injured in a car accident on his way to the races than he is in powerboat competition.

We don't yet know any specific details of the Dubai tragedy, which is still under investigation.

However, in the 50 or so years of the modern era of offshore powerboat racing, safety has been improved enormously.

Not only are boats stronger and better built, but high tech materials and clever design parameters have made cockpits, canopies and ‘screens almost bullet-proof.

Crews also have oxygen in the event of a roll-over and all boats have escape hatches built into relevant sectors of the hull.

Powerboat seating is more secure, helmets and life jackets have been extensively upgraded and race organisers in almost every circumstance have trained rescue personnel on the water and in the air (in helicopters), with skilled scuba divers ready to execute the extraction of trapped crews.

Ok, so people are definitely not bullet proof, but when the correct equipment is employed, when race regulations are followed, when a skilled crew knows what it's doing, there are plenty of sports carrying greater danger than offshore powerboat racing.

One simply needs to be aware; I recall a comment made to me some years ago by one of the true gentlemen of powerboat racing, the late Arthur Field, crew chief for Pat Burke's world championship-winning ‘Plus 1' team.

Arthur said, 'Mate, when thousands of horsepower are congregated in one place, you must realise the potential is there for an accident, it just needs people to be aware and be responsible.'

I think that sums it up pretty well.

If we were to go through life without even a hint, a smell, of danger, life would be a rather boring affair, would it not?