F1 of the High Seas

[opinionated ow]

Just a few shots I took out at the Penrith Lakes Sydney International Regatta Centre last week. These first couple are of the Formula 3 boats, I will upload some F2000 and F1 boats shortly. You owe it to yourselves to go and see these things in the flesh, television does not do them justice. Nothing corners as hard and few things accelerate as fast as an F1 boat (or Champ boat in seppo land :p :rofl: ). Just awesome!
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p18/thomaswarren/2007%20Aussie%20F1%20Boats%20Penrith/Formula%203/IMGP0504.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p18/thomaswarren/2007%20Aussie%20F1%20Boats%20Penrith/Formula%203/IMGP0446.jpg

[opinionated ow]

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p18/thomaswarren/2007%20Aussie%20F1%20Boats%20Penrith/Formula%203/IMGP0292.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p18/thomaswarren/2007%20Aussie%20F1%20Boats%20Penrith/Formula%203/IMGP0581.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p18/thomaswarren/2007%20Aussie%20F1%20Boats%20Penrith/Formula%203/IMGP0570.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p18/thomaswarren/2007%20Aussie%20F1%20Boats%20Penrith/Formula%203/IMGP0586.jpg

[Methanolandbrats]

That's not driving, it's controlled skipping :gomer: Do you also attend those boat races where a co-pilot directs the driver around little islands and obstacles at high speed? :thumbup:

[opinionated ow]

That's not driving, it's controlled skipping :gomer: Do you also attend those boat races where a co-pilot directs the driver around little islands and obstacles at high speed? :thumbup:

no jet boats in sydney :(

[NismoZ]

So what is it exactly that keeps those things from skipping right up into those little grandstands? Prayer?

[chop456]

Daytona "prototypes" without the wheels. :tony:

[opinionated ow]

So what is it exactly that keeps those things from skipping right up into those little grandstands? Prayer?

skill....was about 10,000 people there-not bad for no publicity.

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[NismoZ]

No, I don't doubt the popularity. Been watching for years. (The Seebolds! On SPEED when it actually showed stuff besides NASCRASH)...but I've seen many clips of boats running over people and wondered why some lessons seem to go unlearned. I hope foreshortening on the pic belies the actual distance to shore. (still liked the sound of those unlimiteds before the jet age, though! Bill Muncey.:( )

[emjaya]

As i've said before (maybe at Smack?) these things are what I imagine the IRL is like ie; they make a horrible noise, the races are boring and they blow over on a regular basis. :yuck:

[nissan gtp]

it's amazing to me how those things go around corners.

[Gnam]

The simple answer is they don’t stick to the water, in fact just the opposite. Working on the same principle as an aircraft wing, the twin hulls lift out of the water when power is applied and a cushion of air is trapped between the two hulls and the craft rides on this cushion. A correctly trimmed F1 boat has only the propeller and the last few centimetres on each sponson (hull) in the water at full speed. When a craft approaches a corner, the driver backs of the power a little, trims in the underwater section of the engine with a button on the steering wheel, turns the wheel hard and once around the turn mark, applies full power while trimming the propeller out. The procedure is so quick that it takes longer to explain than it does to perform. The propeller and trim devise is the F1 drivers gearbox....too much trim out and the front of the boat lifts and can flip over, too far trimmed in and speed is reduced dramatically.
I did not know that.

There is also a ChampBoat (http://www.champboat.com/news.htm). :D

[oddlycalm]

We had an F1 boat race here in Portland for a couple years. Incredible cornering and acceleration. Best thing to me was that we were able to watch from the floating bar of a waterfront restaurant. :thumbup:

Rubbing is racing...
http://www.brisbaneboatshow.com.au/Portals/8/images/F1.jpg

The jet boats with navigators that run in channels carved into fields are sprint boats. Also serious fun but more of an amateur series.

http://www.ussbaracing.com/Schedule/IMG_1742_small.JPG

[opinionated ow]

it's amazing to me how those things go around corners.

no still or video camera does it justice either. it is seriously brutal

[Boatdesigner]

I wish they were still showing the Jet Sprints on TV here. You gotta love a boat that needs a roll bar! :D