The much-hyped showdown between two-time defending champion Total Monster and the turbine-powered newcomer Vortex will be one of the many attractions on show when the Carib Great Race takes off from the Mucurapo Foreshore this morning at 8 am.
The two boats will be part of the largest 130mph Class in the race’s history, joining 2011 and 2012 champ Fire One, the 17-time winning crew on Mr Solo Too and Vortex’s sister boat Paramount.
“They’re all seasoned racers so it can go any way,” said Vortex throttleman Alan Sabeeney yesterday.
“It’s our first time on this boat so we’ll just be doing our best. We wish everybody a safe race and may the best team win.”
In all, 28 boats from seven classes are set to vie for honours on the new 116-mile course, which will include a circuit in the Gulf-of-Paria, excursions into Maracas Bay and Grande Rivere, and a stretch along Tobago’s southern coast from Crowne Point to Scarborough.
With the recent clutters of sargassum seaweed collecting in local waters, concerns have arisen over the obstacle it may create for passing boats. Speaking to the Guardian yesterday, T&T Powerboat Association Secretary Alfred Bell said that the event organisers were uncertain about the extent to which it could affect the race.
“There’s lines and lines of it in the waters between Toco and Crowne Point so there are a few concerns about it.
“It’s mostly visible so boats can go around it but if the batch is wide enough, it can collect in the boats’ water pick up systems and stop water from cooling the engines, causing them to overheat…We don’t know how it will work out and we suspect that it might be an issue but we won’t know for sure until the race.”
With Fire One having moved into the A Class, the 120mph class will see last year’s runner up Stampede facing off against newcomer Jumbie.
“Despite incurring a three-minute penalty for missing this year’s regattas, the Stampede crew is fancying its chances.
“We will be putting pedal to the metal and running hard,” said throttleman Mark Bartlett.
Once again, Global Warmer will be the only entrant in the 110mph class and will only need to complete the race to retain its title.
Defending D Class champ Bacchanal and Chris Gone Wilder were the only two boats to finish the 95 mph group last year and the returning Sherrif Lobo and Ultimate Rush will be back to make up for lost time. Further competition will come from Papi Chulo and the newcomer Fastrack.
“The rougher the conditions, the better for us,” reckoned Bacchanal driver Justin Beckle.
The 80 mph D Class will be the most crowded of the race with Energiza defending its crown against Elixir, Outlaw, Heatwave, Heat, Alien, Hammertime and Hero III.
“There are no favourites. In my opinion, it’s the most competitive class because all the boats are so close,” said Energiza driver Sheldon Edhill.
“All we can do is make sure we’re 100 per cent ready to go…Whoever makes the least mistakes will win.”
While in the 70 mph Class, Rite Formula, the group’s only boat to make it to Scarborough last year, will find itself going up against Chris Gone Wild and Extreme Measures. “The water conditions seem to be ideal for us,” said Rite Formula’s Ian Keizer yesterday.
“The hurricane is going to leave the waters fairly stable and everybody knows we’re an excellent boat in those conditions.”
Also, seeking a sshare of today’s spotlight will be participants in the 60mph Class, Infusion IV, driven by 20-year-old Haivel-Ann Boodram, will defend its title against Pum Pum Conqueror, Rug Rat, Outcast and Matrix. Boodram, the only woman at this year’s race, said she expected a good fight from her opponents.
“These boats go all out and it will be neck and neck,” she said.
“This event is not about racing but reaching… It’s about getting to Scarborough after 116 miles. If you finish in first place, that’s a bonus.”
TTPBA vice president Garth Marshall said he was excited to see how the boats adapted to the new course.
“The executives feel that we have something solid and we hope to make this permanent,” he said.
