Pictures - Cowes Classic 1994

[TheOrs]

Clearing out my attic & found these.

[TheOrs]

Race was pretty boring for a land-based spectator, but being allowed to wander around the pits prior to the race; that was awesome!

[TheOrs]

another...

[TheOrs]

one more...

[Jon Fuller]

2nd pic is 'Lethal Magic' a Mark Pascoe creation.

it's a Cougar US1-41, originaly with twin 600hp Lamborginis and called 'Breathless', then Richard Carr bought it, and Mark P re-rigged it with triple 930hp C&G blower motors, and did the most spectacular 'Bling' job you ever did see on the fit-out!

It was faultless!

Red buzzi is a 46 owned by Hannes Bohinc (of Wettpunkt fame)

That year, I think Simon Wood-Power (Penpromo on boatmad) was on board for the Cowes-Torquay, here's a short (crap quality) video from that year.

Buzzi video (http://www.boatmadforum.co.uk/videos/Buzzi.mpg)

right click, and 'save target as'.

[Woody]

In Pic 1 C47 I believe was originally called The Joker owned by Paul Denford which then was purchased by Lorenzo Bellemy who then put the Wankel engine in it from his old ride Manx Cat.

I seem to remember that this Frode was a 21 as opposed to the rest that raced which were 23's

[Captain Chaos]

Have no idea whay, but I'm sure I've got some really good pics of lethal magic at home...........may have to dig'm out and scan them!

[Ben]

Some more.

[Ben]

2

[Ben]

3

[Ben]

4

[Ben]

5

[Ben]

6

[Ben]

7

[Ben]

8

[Ben]

9

[Ben]

A slightly younger Pennpromo.

[scottyboy]

Which p28 is that in pic 9 Ben?

[Ben]

Was originally this one. Raced by Jan and Peter Armstrong in Class II in the 80s.

[Ben]

Was later raced by Miles Jennings and Ed Williams-Hawke in Class II (now driver and navigator of 'Wettpunkt. Com' and after that it became 'Agitator' and was raced by Rory Power and Debs in GT class.

[roofer]

Its now in blackpool.

[Pennpromo]

Ah yes 1994- not the best result ever for me at Cowes. It was of course the year that half way across Lyme Bay Hannes decided to throw his helecopter pilot, who was throttling over the side as he had hurt his back as the sprung seat had broken. we approached a French yacht sailing downwind with a full set of sails up. They spoke to the yacht on the VHF and then the guy jumped into the sea behind the yacht. I hit the MOB button on the GPS and was ushered into the front to throttle, I put a fender under the seat to try to take some of the shock loads out of the broken seat. I told Hannes that he couldn't just drop off a member of crew, he said "is OK is Endurance!" made me push open the throttles and off we went. On the way back across Lyme Bay I saw two Air Sea Rescue choppers hovering over the spot I had maked on the GPS, (we were about two miles South of it). When we got back to Cowes, in 2nd place, having left Shockwave behind at well over 100 up the Solent we tied up next to Andrea's boat on the winners berth to take the launch back to the Squadron steps. There was Tim Powell waiting, who just said "Simon a word in your shell like". There followed a Board Of Trade Enquiry ... Apparently the French yacht had got onto Portland Coatguard to say that he had picked up one member of the crew of a race boat out of the seat. When asked where the rest were he just said "the boat he is gone!" The Coastguard Officer launched two choppers as he thought that the boat had sunk without trace. They didn't bother to check with the mark boat in Torquay who saw us about 15 minutes later. For some strange reason we were DQd !!

[Carl]

excellent

[hutchy]

Originally posted by roofer
Its now in blackpool. fleetwood marina

[roofer]

Do you think they will splash the radar arch ? :drain:

[Carl]

nice string

[Ciao]

Back to the thread, I think 94 was one of the roughest Cowes races ever run. I know we spent half the race off the plane! Seem to remember that UKOBA awarded us (the 3B boats) a trophy for a 100% finish rate, I’m not sure we really wanted to finish but just to get back to dry land and a cold beer!

[Ben]

Originally posted by Ciao
Back to the thread, I think 94 was one of the roughest Cowes races ever run. I know we spent half the race off the plane! Seem to remember that UKOBA awarded us (the 3B boats) a trophy for a 100% finish rate, I’m not sure we really wanted to finish but just to get back to dry land and a cold beer!

Christ was it ever. I seem to remember about a 5 foot head sea at The Needles, pretty flat in Poole Bay and a rediculous (the biggest I've ever seen) following sea at St. Catherines.

What made matters even worse was after spending two plus hours getting around the island, our engineer and myself were supposed to take the boat back to Sparkes Marina on Hayling. Once out of the lee of the island on the way back we were confronted with the same horrible conditions I had just escaped from!

Port Solent at that point seemed like a really good idea and needless to say, that's where the boat spent the night.

[Ciao]

We lost our helmets at St. Catherine’s and it took a good few minutes to fish them out from the sea, that was a M*** F***** of a wave!

[Ben]

Results

[TheOrs]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
and did the most spectacular 'Bling' job you ever did see on the fit-out!


IIRC this boat had a huge mirror on the underside of the engine lid & the engine was immaculate. (but was the boat perhaps called Lethal Menace?)

This is really sad, but I still have the commemorative T-shirt I bought then.

From the back:

Class 1
19 Bibliko
23 GT Auto Alarm
41 Caffarel
76 S'Orsola
83 Pagnossin

Class III 4 Litre
D6 Thistle Hotels
D8 Town & Country
D12 Sweet Dreams
D19 Teamac
D51 Maxi Mailing

Marathon Endurance Class
P62 Sicla IP Banca Di Roma
P-90 BP Marine
P-111 Shockwave
10 La Nueva Mar Del Plata
8 Sait
T-36 FB Design
S-46 Casino Tivoli
S-75 Ocean Flyer
40 Novamarine Tecno
P5 La Nueva Argentina

Class III 2 Litre
C17 Courtalds Coatings
C18 RN Point
C27 City Offshore
C45 Double M Music
C47 Snap On Tools
C50 R'N'R Motors
C54 Commodore Ferries
C60 Penthouse
C61 Mercury Racing
C81 Sweet As!
C96 Alexi

Class III 1.3 Litre
B14 Heavy Metal
B40 Think Positive
B47 City Offshore II
B82 Vulgar Vulture
B87 Splendid

Class II
M1 Lethal Menace
M2 Cultured Vulture
M8 Amarillo
M13 Kings Tyre Racing
M20 Simply The Best
M28 Gardiner Laminating
M72 Assagai IV

National Production Cruisers
P10 Onyx
P44 Spalding
P60 Velocity
P69 Flippin Shytalk

Historic
77 Dog Gone


Do I get the CC 'Sad git of the year prize'?

[Burty]

hey dude ace ventura was the navigator in boat p62:D

[Jon Fuller]

Hey Ors, I know a guy who'd pay well for your t-shirt!

[Jon Fuller]

WTF!

Someone please tell me that that radar arch is only 'photoshop'd' on in that picture of 'BRUT'!

[Tony Davis]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
WTF!

Someone please tell me that that radar arch is only 'photoshop'd' on in that picture of 'BRUT'!

I think it adds a little something to a somewhat dated design! :drain: :drain: :drain:

[roofer]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
WTF!

Someone please tell me that that radar arch is only 'photoshop'd' on in that picture of 'BRUT'!


Nope its a genuine aftermarket go faster mod .

[2-XS-IF]

Ah yes that was year Ben Mazur was reeling us in,
we had engine troble and wanted to finish the race,
and we did. I have lots of pictures from that year.

[Jon Fuller]

Originally posted by Tony Davis
I think it adds a little something to a somewhat dated design! :drain: :drain: :drain:

:wank: :wank:

[Jon Fuller]

Originally posted by roofer
genuine aftermarket

Isn't that a contradiction in terms?

Anyway, It's fkkn shocking!!

[Jon Fuller]

Originally posted by 2-XS-IF
Ah yes that was year Ben Mazur was reeling us in,
we had engine troble and wanted to finish the race,
and we did. I have lots of pictures from that year.

You gonna start the bidding on that shirt then? (and should I call Paul to 'up the anti'?)

[Ben]

Welcome 2-XS-IF. Would love to see some pics.

[Ciao]

20.70 mph ! we could have walked it faster!

[Matt]

By after market, I assume you mean it was left behind in the skip after the market had finished and everyone had gone home?

[2-XS-IF]

Originally posted by Ben
Welcome 2-XS-IF. Would love to see some pics.
When I get home I will dig some out.

[Captain Chaos]

that radar arch is shocking*







* unless your Don Johnson or Tom Selleck

[Jon Fuller]

Originally posted by Ciao
20.70 mph ! we could have walked it faster!

Mr Cutface was flyin tho' eh!

[Ben]

Originally posted by Ciao
20.70 mph ! we could have walked it faster!

It's not as bad as you think considering you had 90hp. Speed was in knots - 23.81 mph!

We had 500 shp and 26 feet of boat at our disposal and averaged an embarrassing 36.8 mph.

[Jon Fuller]

Yeah, and imagine how the Gilleys felt! spanked by 10mph by the oldest man in powerboating! :well:

Alan had just had his telegram from the queen!:dizzy:

he also spanked Tony 'Mad Dog' Hamilton! (38 Bertram/Lamborgini)

Those Flippers are real 'bad boyz' when it roughs up!

Having said all that, the 2 litre boys were right up there with the average speeds!! and they went alot farther (poole bay??)

[roofer]

Worst mistake ive ever made is not buying the flying flipper off alan.

[2-XS-IF]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
Yeah, and imagine how the Gilleys felt! spanked by 10mph by the oldest man in powerboating! :well:

Alan had just had his telegram from the queen!:dizzy:

he also spanked Tony 'Mad Dog' Hamilton! (38 Bertram/Lamborgini)

Those Flippers are real 'bad boyz' when it roughs up!

Having said all that, the 2 litre boys were right up there with the average speeds!! and they went alot farther (poole bay??)
That right but I did go to the wrong mark bouy, (like it wasn't there), how could they change it at race briefing that morning when I was in a day-dream, there we were bobbing about miles offshore stopped looking for something that wasn.t there
Paul feeling sick me saying "it's here it should be here!!!!".
Looked at the race brief from that morning ah yes its changed
something to do with the weather I think.

[Captain Chaos]

Originally posted by roofer
Worst mistake ive ever made is not buying the flying flipper off alan.

he had the engines & props till a few months back didnt he?

[roofer]

Originally posted by Captain Chaos
he had the engines & props till a few months back didnt he?

I know he had a couple of spare engines for sale.

[Ben]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller


Having said all that, the 2 litre boys were right up there with the average speeds!! and they went alot farther (poole bay??)

Production Class, Historic and 2L did the Poole Bay loop.

[Cookee]

We won the 1st round of the European Class 3 in Cowes in 2000 at an average of 32 or 33 knots, but it was blowing a force 6+ possibly even 7 at times we were told later - Adam Younger gave us a great race in Mobil 1, and Pete Little knocked himself out on the first downwind leg - those batboats don't like going downwind!

[hutchy]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
WTF!

Someone please tell me that that radar arch is only 'photoshop'd' on in that picture of 'BRUT'! not down to me.

[Jon Fuller]

Steve, good, kindly go and shoot the geezer responsible!

[Jon Fuller]

Originally posted by roofer
Worst mistake ive ever made is not buying the flying flipper off alan.

Howard Wrethams navigator owns the sterndrive one now.

I guess he still has the red O/B one up for sale.

[roofer]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller


I guess he still has the red O/B one up for sale.

I thought it had been sold.

[TheOrs]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
Hey Ors, I know a guy who'd pay well for your t-shirt!

Jon

Unfortunately the t-shirt is very well worn. It used to be 'lemon' but now it's white, plus it's got a couple of marks on it. I couldn't bring myself to chuck it though.

Still, if you were serious and you know someone who would actually still want it, then PM the address & they can have it F.O.C.

[Ciao]

As I'm on it I wouldn’t mind it as a souvenir!

[Pennpromo]

Ciao you are a tart !
Funnily enough I recall having one of those shirts too !
If you look at the speeds on the results; I think we went down to the Skerries Bouy (between Dartmouth and Start Point) so at an average of 50 ish that wasn't bad ! I do recall very high speeds back through the Solent for the last loop back to the finish line. Then as mentioned before all the shite started ! Thought at one stage that I may be banned from racing for life !
Enc a picture of the cockpit, doing the Nav prep on the Saturday; you can see the Tecno seats with harnesses, the Fwd port one which broke and I moved forward into. Had more hair then !

[Ciao]

Originally posted by pennpromo
Had more hair then !

Your folliclly-disposed predicament has been mentioned in a few threads, have you thought of a syrup?

[Pennpromo]

Originally posted by Ciao
Your folliclly-disposed predicament has been mentioned in a few threads, have you thought of a syrup?

Its almost too late ! At least I can now go for a polish and a count rather than a cut ! No seriously I still have a bit but its going fast, it's a bit like the tide going out; you can't stop it ...

[Jon Fuller]

Originally posted by Ciao
have you thought of a syrup?

Now that I'd like to see!

[Ciao]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
Now that I'd like to see!

Simon has just obliged for you

[Jon Fuller]

ROTFLMFAO!!!

[Pennpromo]

Originally posted by Ciao
Simon has just obliged for you

Where do you dif all this cr*p up from- have you nothing better to do ! Found this one in the archives ...

[Ciao]

Fowey 84?

[Pennpromo]

I really can't remember. If you look in the background there is my girlfriend at the time, affectionately nicknamed "the burst sofa" by Simon Pridham. Well he seemed to think it was funny ! Can't possibly imagine how he knew !

[2-XS-IF]

some more pics from 94

[2-XS-IF]

2

[2-XS-IF]

3

[2-XS-IF]

4

[2-XS-IF]

5

[roofer]

you got anymore of the flipper?

[Ben]

If 2-XS-IF doesn't, I have some that were taken in 89 when the boat was for sale in Shepperton.

I'll try to dig them out later.

[scottyboy]

That cat in pic number three looks like spinsky's cat!

[Jon Fuller]

Originally posted by scottyboy
That cat in pic number three looks like spinsky's cat!

tis the same Lorne campbell designed 27 footer, but there were three I think, don't know which one Mike bought.

[Ben]

The others were Double M Music campaigned by the Mumfords and Tony Jenvy's one. Can't think of the name at the moment.

[John G]

'CarryFast' - won the 1991 worlds??

[Jon Fuller]

Three originals:

Carryfast--Tony 'dated my wife 100 years ago' Jenvey

R & R--Robin Parish?

Turning Point--John 'I'll sue your arse off' Miller

[Ben]

Carryfast was the one I was thinking about.

[Tony Davis]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
Three originals:

Carryfast--Tony 'dated my wife 100 years ago' Jenvey



Don't wish to be nosey or indiscreet, but did she.....you know, well put it this way, who's better, you or him?

[Jon Fuller]

I is da king innit!

[Captain Chaos]

TD.............thats plain fkin rude!

[Tony Davis]

Cheeky fecker, you pm'd to ask! You little weasel!!!!

[Captain Chaos]

righto!

are sure you've read your prescription properly?

[Ben]

Originally posted by roofer
you got anymore of the flipper?

Here they are from 89 at Nauticalia in Shepperton.

[Ben]

Had a strange little Flipper step near the stern and a 28 degree vee.

Hull design was by Sigaard Isaacsson.

[roofer]

Thanks ben.

[Ben]

Ran 59 mph at Windermere in 92 -


With 12 people on board!!!!!!

[John G]

Ben,

I guess she was good in the rough what with 28 degrees of deadrise - did she aslo seem to keep her nose down well - i.e. didn't launch off waves too much??? Would be interested to hear any comments you have about her handling as that is an interesting 'flipper' step!

[Ben]

.

[Ben]

Originally posted by John G
Ben,

I guess she was good in the rough what with 28 degrees of deadrise - did she aslo seem to keep her nose down well - i.e. didn't launch off waves too much??? Would be interested to hear any comments you have about her handling as that is an interesting 'flipper' step!

Incredibly good rough water boat. She would also run 65mph or so in race trim.

According to the Flipper blurb, (I was selling them at the time), it wasn't a step in the truest sense. The aftermost section of the hull was higher than it was forward. It actually acted as a notched transom as it allowed the motors to be mounted higher hence less drag.

According to Flipper, the second benefit was that it came onto the plane more quickly as the aftermost section would contact the water as the boat rose onto the plane and force the boat down. That's what I seem to remember anyway.

Also the boat carried the bow very well. Perhaps these choppers were the reason.

[John G]

Thanks Ben,

Don't suppose you have any pictures of her running? - anyone?

Did those trim tabs work? - just made me think perhaps that aft surface was in the water or very close to it whilst underway??

[Ben]

Was a production 'cruiser' in the truest sense.

Slept two in the forward cabin.

[Ben]

Plus two more in the AFT cabin.

[Ben]

Originally posted by John G
Thanks Ben,

Don't suppose you have any pictures of her running? - anyone?

Did those trim tabs work? - just made me think perhaps that aft surface was in the water or very close to it whilst underway??

I'll search around for some running shots.

Good point about the trim tabs. If the boat was doing what is was designed to do they should have been ineffective.

Great - now I'm also going to have to search for all my old Flipper brochures!

[John G]

:D :up: :cheers:

[Jon Fuller]

John, they have a 'very' warped deadrise, so whilst deep at the transom, the bow had an extremely fine entry.

A very pitch stable boat in a big seaway.

[John G]

So 28 deg at transom then almost straight away deadrise starts to get even deeper as you go forward?

[Adam]

Originally posted by Jon Fuller
tis the same Lorne campbell designed 27 footer, but there were three I think, don't know which one Mike bought.

The first one was built by Midas marine and was the Tony Jenvey / Carryfast boat. This went on to be Mark Mumfords boat and is still for sale I believe. She was the probably the lightest and quickest of the three.

Then Gordon Wright built two more.
Turning Point boat for John Miller, which was briefly raced by Nick Spence and maybe a.n.other before Cliff Smith put a canopy on her for 4 litre. Miller had also briefly raced her as a four litre with an efi.

The third one was RnR Mototrs for Robin Parish which is now Spinksy's boat.

[Jon Fuller]

Turning Point boat for John Miller, which was briefly raced by Nick Spence and maybe a.n.other before Cliff Smith put a canopy on her for 4 litre. Miller had also briefly raced her as a four litre with an efi.


The A.N.Other owner was Dave Sperling, when it raced as 'Sweet As'

[BluFin]

The first one was built by Midas marine and was the Tony Jenvey / Carryfast boat. This went on to be Mark Mumfords boat and is still for sale I believe. She was the probably the lightest and quickest of the three.

Then Gordon Wright built two more.
Turning Point boat for John Miller, which was briefly raced by Nick Spence and maybe a.n.other before Cliff Smith put a canopy on her for 4 litre. Miller had also briefly raced her as a four litre with an efi.

The third one was RnR Mototrs for Robin Parish which is now Spinksy's boat.

Well to update the Midas is living at Chez BluFin and yes it is fekken light :devil:

[Martin The Talker]

Wonderful pics guys - memories of sunny Cowes when TP was in charge !

Hopefully we'll see similar this year, with what seems to promise a good field in P1.

Did your nav enjoy his swim that year Simon ? !

[tblaney]

C47 i can shed a bit of light on as my father was the mechanic.

I was only 11 years old when i learned to waterski close to bembridge on the isle of wight....behind this boat whilst running it in

The driver was Robert Stewart and the engine had a history of throwing the "gudgeon pin" in the piston... which shot the piston through the side of the block.

It was a 23ft frode from what i can remember which spent its early days in the DHL Stickers before my dad landed the snapon tools sponsorship.

I remember lots of trips to Chris Lewis Racing to pick up various parts..

The rage at the time seemed to be having an extended gill bracket? I have no idea why they would do this.. apart from it getting them 1/2 a foot closer to the finish line??

The other thing was to have a bigger air scoop intake in the centre of the deck??

And im pretty sure... they had to have "wiseco" ribbed pistons..


After 95 the boat changed hands.. and my father didnt have any affiliation with boats untill 2000 when he was mechanic for D66 No-Nonsense Sponsored by Autostrasse Porsche. Which had 2x later shaped Merc Xr2's..

The highlight of 1994 for me was hearing "LETHAL MENACE turn up into cowes Harbour, Everyone stopped what they were doing to find out what the deafening burble was!... Just as they killed the engine to Menace..... LETHAL MAGIC turned up.. which was just the same noise comming from the Lambo engines.

I will have to have a word with my father and get some old photo's scanned in for this site.

[Ciao]

Wow! This is an old post resurrected!

I raced that day with Nik Keyser, and as it turned out, Nik's last Offshore race before he took a 14 year sabbatical!

Good to see his average speed in '08 was times 3 of '94.

[Jon Fuller]

The driver was Robert Stewart

He still owes me 50 quid for a second hand XR2 stator he had off me in Hull, 1992/3 ish. It got him on the water that day, but he quickly/conveniently forgot about it.

Does he still dress up as Marc Bolan?

BTW, that boat was bought by 'Lonely of Reigate' some years ago, don't know where it is now.

[2-XS-IF]

Jon

Unfortunately the t-shirt is very well worn. It used to be 'lemon' but now it's white, plus it's got a couple of marks on it. I couldn't bring myself to chuck it though.

Still, if you were serious and you know someone who would actually still want it, then PM the address & they can have it F.O.C.


TheOrs, thanks for the t-shirt, (3 years late in thanking) pm me your address and I will send you some Swipes and a Speedy metal polish.

[2-XS-IF]

3

I know we've had this link before but now you can see the boat, well who's got One!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Original-Signed-Photo-NICK-EDWARDS-Powerboats-pp32_W0QQitemZ120407679938QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_DV D_Film_TV_Autographs_CV?hash=item120407679938&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[Jon Fuller]

Whooooooowa, I was right, he was in with Webby! Along with Andre Jones.

See, I aint such a teapot, not always anyway.

Yeah, Alan Webb & Andre Jones. But I have a vague recollection of a Nick Edwards racing with them too.

Going by the ebay thing, that pic from Cowes with him actualy by a boat and in his race suit must be worth a fortune!!

[Mike Lloyd]

you got anymore of the flipper?

Ben might have sold them but I raced Flying Flippers for three years during the late 1980’s in Cruiser Class B with John Baker. I have loads of pics so PM me if you want more info.

The Flying Flipper was a terrific sea boat and very quick. We won many races including the National Championship and the Guernsey Worlds in 1987 with the twin Yamaha 200 powered one and did well with the twin Johnson 300HP powered Class 11 version . John B sold the Yamaha powered boat to Alan Webb which enabled us to buy the Class 11 version from Finland. Alan also did very well with that boat.

The “hook” in the hull enabled the Flipper to get on the plane very quickly, much faster than any other out board powered cruiser but the trouble was that at high speed (around 70/75mph with the Johnson’s) you suddenly lost all hull contact and simply ran on the props which did make it very fidgety.

Steve Hutchinson (Hutchy) brought the Class 11 Flipper back to life for the Round Britain Race 08 (I had found it sitting in a warehouse in Manchester for the last fifteen years and tipped him off) and it was going very well indeed until they had a crew fall out in Inverness when they had no option but to retire. It was a great shame because the boat was doing very well. Steve had fitted it out with twin Merc Optimax 300’s and after testing found that fitting VERY long Trim Tabs stabilised the boat to a degree at high speeds. There is some good film of it running in the RB08 video. If they had continued they would definitely have finished in the top three of their class against some hefty competition, IMHO. He, and others had a problem with the Merc Optimax oil reservoirs during the RB08 with them frothing when low on oil and then the engines going in to low revs. It was a common problem during the race and cost Steve in particular a couple of places. This particular boat is now in Texas I understand.

And then of course there was the first one with a "lid" on which JB raced at Liverpool with Peter Dredge and I subsequently owned for three years fitted with twin 200hp OMC's it was pretty nifty.
ML.
.

[TheOrs]

TheOrs, thanks for the t-shirt, (3 years late in thanking) pm me your address and I will send you some Swipes and a Speedy metal polish.

Thank-you. PM sent. I guess a previous boat of yours was named on that T-shirt?

[larslindroth]

51 FLIPPIN'ECK Class II boat is now in Gothenburg, Sweden. She will be taking part in Classic Offshore Racing events etc. starting summer of 2010. I currently live in Southern California since 25 years, but will spend more time back home in Sweden from now on.

Merry Christmas and a toast to a Happy New Boating Year for all Classic

Offshore Racing Aficionados :cheers:

Regards, Mr. Lars T. Lindroth,

Marina Del Rey, California, U.S.A.

[Mike Lloyd]

51 FLIPPIN'ECK Class II boat is now in Gothenburg, Sweden. She will be taking part in Classic Offshore Racing events etc. starting summer of 2010. I currently live in Southern California since 25 years, but will spend more time back home in Sweden from now on.

Merry Christmas and a toast to a Happy New Boating Year for all Classic

Offshore Racing Aficionados :cheers:

Regards, Mr. Lars T. Lindroth,

Marina Del Rey, California, U.S.A.

Great to hear that the old girl is still going. She is now close to her original home as John Baker and I flew out to Finland to "negotiate" a new boat from Flipper on the 21st December 1987. It was 21 degrees below when we got off the plane!

I am sure that Steve will correct me but I think he had her running around 80 in trials. We could only manage around 75 with the big 300hp Johnsons as they were so heavy and she was very flighty at that speed.
ML.
.

[larslindroth]

Thank You Sir for giving a valueable Glimpse into her past. Since Honorable Mr. Baker & Webb both have moved on to better things I truly appreciate any memories around her and her older sister FLIPPIN'ECK I colourful racing past. I have also start saving any images that have appeared of Mr. Baker's Cougar 38 FLIPPIN'ECK.
I was fortunate enough to have a lengthy phone conversation with Mr. Isacson about 15 years ago, but at that time we talked about hull design and not about the racing history of his Flying Flipper boats. He is a very remarkable man, so intelligent and with that unique quality of being both an artist, engineer and most importantly a very competitive but humble sportsman.
Over here in the U.S. South-West we have the chance to boat 12 months out of the year, but somehow I prefer the seasons back home in the archipelago of Stockholm. I already long for the beautiful days when I'll have the privilage to run her since they are fewer and therefor so much more precious!
The offshore racing fans in Sweden are still in awe of the 84 mph that Hutch saw during the test runs. But as You know it's because of The Flying Flippers capabilities in rough sea that they are living legends among Vikings.
Mr. Lloyd, my hope is to stay in future contact with You Sir and learn more about The Flying Flipper boats adventures outside of the Scandinavian waterways.

Warm regards,

Lars.

P.S. Offshore Race video from the 80's, Stockholm-Aland (Finland), with Sigurd Isacson's son Per racing a Flying Flipper. Unfortunately one of the Yamaha engines called it quits; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov-B5slDTWo D.S.

[Mike Lloyd]

I have many pics of both boats including one with Sigurd who came over to the Worlds in Guernsey to watch our boats racing. John took BOTH boats to Guernsey before he sold the first one to Webby.

I will scan and post over the Christmas holidays.
ML.
.