Boat Racing

History

Most of the drivers competing started out in what was called "utility" boats, powered by various forms of Evinrude and Johnson outboard motors. Some time later the inexpensive "soap box" racer appeared.

These were small flat bottom square chine craft powered by 9.9hp Evinrude motors. During the summer months, the club put on as many as 12 races in one season. There were no permits required, no Coast Guard permission and no insurance.

The problem of pleasure boats, jet ski's and noise pollution was unheard of at that time. Forty or more boats with as many drivers would show up for a race. What fun it must have been in those days.

Things have changed drastically over the years. With increasing cost and politics playing into the racing scene.

 

Are you ready?

You strap on your helmet and adjust your face shield. Your stomach feels like it’s on the down side of a roller coaster. Eleven boats like yours line the shore waiting for the three minute gun from the judges stand to be fired.

Your heart is pounding. Suddenly you are very thirsty. You mentally check everything you did in preparing your rig before the race.

Clamps tight, steering secure, fuel, motor setup, etc..

There’s the gun!

The placid morning silence is shattered by twelve screaming race boats milling like vultures at the south end of the race course, jockeying for that all important starting position. The giant clock on the judges stand slowly winds down the last sixty seconds before you cross the starting line.

If you charge the line and get there half a second too early, you’ll be disqualified. If you get there half a second too late, you’ll be fighting for fourth place.

Your boat speed is good, but the first turn is approaching fast.

When will the guy on the outside back off?

You stay full throttle to the last moment, you turn her hard and drift a little wide on the second bouy. The guy on the outside sees a mistake and drives to the inside to take the advantage, but you still come out of the turn side by side. Throttles wide open, engines screaming while the revs climb, acceleration is the name of the game now.

Sound like fun? You bet it is! That’s what it’s like to race in an outboard power boat regatta.

 

Starting the Race

Exactly five minutes before the start of each race (or heat) a green flag is raised by the starter. The boats get on the course.

Exactly sixty seconds before the start a while flag is raised, and the big clock on the judges stand is put in motion to indicated passage of the last minute.

The white flag is dropped and a green flag raised indicating the end of the minute and the official start of the heat.

The idea of the starting clock is for the drivers to see how much time is left in the minute and to try to hit the starting line exactly when the last second ends.

If the bow of any boat is over the starting line when the race is started, it is disqualified. If over half of the boats are over the starting line, the race is restarted.

A white flag is used to signal each boat as it starts the last lap. A checkered flag is used to indicate the Finish of the race for each boat.

 

Flags

• Black Flag - Do not go on the course or leave pits.
• White Flag - Time between one-minute signal and start; leader has started last lap.
• Green Flag - Time between five-minute and one-minute signal; while race is underway except last la.
• Yellow - CAUTION: Problem on race course, continue with caution and hold position.
• Blue/White - CAUTION: Problem on race course. continue with caution.
• Checkered - FINISH.

Each race consists of three heats. Boats are awarded points for each time they place in a heat, at the end of three heats these points are totaled up to determine the winner.

In the event there is a tie, the boat with the fastest heat to its credit is declared the winner of the tie.