Report from Powerboat P1 Grand Prix Germany

Welcome to the Powerboat P1 Grand Prix of the Sea in Travemunde, Germany, where the ever-changing weather had created a “What’s next?!” attitude among the racers and spectators. For a week, the country had been ravaged by high winds and sideways rain that plagued the “dry” pit set up and arrivals of race teams. As the weekend drew closer, heavy rains relented and by the Time Trials, on Friday, the weather proved more inconvenient than impossible, while the winds blew across the surprisingly calm Baltic Sea. A bright spot for the American Lucas Oil Outerlimits team was its first place time of 42.77 seconds in the 2 sprint runs.

On Saturday, day one, the endurance race day, the seaside town of Travemunde’s sunshine and blue sky was peppered with spotty clouds and intermittent drizzle. Racers thought their main concern would be completing the afternoon’s 86.55 nautical mile race before it rained—again.

At the start, the teams lined up and accelerated cleanly, headed to the first marker, but as they made the first turn, several boats stopped, confusing the spectators at the Maritim Hotel and those who had gathered along the seawall to catch the racing action. No one could understand what happened until race control reported the Super Sport Class 03 Carpenter boat had flipped. The boat was piloted by well-known and loved Sergio Carpentieri and Luca Nicolini and both were reportedly taken to the hospital, the former with serious injuries, the latter for shock. The race was red-flagged and cancelled since the rescue boats were off the course.

A somber mood prevailed in the pits as everyone awaited a report on Carpentieri’s condition. Eye-witness accounts and P1 video showed that the Evolution Class Fainplast boat had slowed considerably at the start and that the Team Carpenter boat sailed over the diesel powered transom and barrel-rolled. Powerboat P1 provided the official statement of Carpentieri’s death early in the evening and left a decision about Sunday’s race open for discussion.

A police investigation ensued and it was determined that the Feinplast boat dropped a piston, broke a propeller and caused the pilots to pull off the throttle, slowing dramatically. The Carpenter boat then launched over the 43’ boat, flipping and crashing into the water. The actual cause of Carpentieri’s death is still not known.

On Sunday, the racers gathered for a meeting and based on their united input from the previous day, Powerboat P1’s CEO, Nathan Knight, announced that the Sunday race would be held. The racers dedicated the event to Carpentieri, honoring him with a pre-race moment of silence, hastily ordered “Sergio 03” stickers placed on each boat, and a bouquet of flowers, tossed into the sea by a member of each team.

The race went on as planned, providing a good show for the fan-lined sea wall, with the two classes of boats running together, seemingly incident-free—except for the Lucas Oil Outerlimits team. In lap two, with Nigel Hook at the helm and Outerlimits president, Mike Fiore, at throttles, the boat inexplicably lost power to both engines. As the boat momentarily drifted, the race crew radioed to race control that the boat was experiencing problems. Meanwhile, Fiore, got one engine re-started, then the next and the crew radioed back that the problem was solved and the #97 boat was re-entering the lap.

The boat gradually worked its way back towards the front of the pack during the remaining 6 laps and finished second to King of Shaves while rivals OSG Donzi took third and the formerly leading Wettpunkt.com boat lost a turbo and fell to 6th.

Upon arriving back to the pits and preparing to head to the podium, the Lucas Oil Outerlimits team was informed that it had been disqualified, since it has reportedly drifted off-course during its brief breakdown period. After reviewing some reports from staff and from Hook and Fiore, the team was reinstated in second place by the race jury, only to shortly afterwards, have the decision rescinded and the team again given the DQ.

Meanwhile, other teams, in Evolution and Super Sport Class were given penalties for breaking out of the speed limits and others were being investigated for having a higher horsepower-to-weight ratio than allowed. The standings were changed and OSG was awarded second place while the German SeaTek boat was given third. In Super Sport, due to other speed limits penalties, the Chaudron Riscoli Hotels boat took first with the Buzzi Bullt and Sun Lik Beer teams taking second and third—despite the fact that the Buzzi Bullet crossed the finish line first, followed by Sun Lik.

In all, it was a confusing day of action-packed racing. "That’s racing” is an adage that often follows such consternation after a hard-fought, competitive battle on land or water, but after Saturday’s tragedy, the bickering over rules left many questioning the reason for certain rules which seem to adversely affect safety and the competitive spirit of racing.

Everyone involved in Powerboat P1 sends moral support and heart-felt sympathies to the Feinplast team and all the family and friends of Carpentieri, the Naples, Italy, figure who was a long-time member of the European boat racing scene. He will be missed and his spirit will live on with racers who knew and loved him.

Visit http://www.powerboatp1.com/ for more details, photos and video. More video will follow on YouTube and on http://www.offshoreonly.com/ in days to come.