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Vortex ready to rumble
KESTON CHARLES NYLO Intern Thursday, August 18 2016
Crew members are working feverishly to put in the final touches on their boats for the start of the 2016 Carib Great Race on Saturday which takes off from the Foreshore in Cocorite to the Scarborough Esplanade in Tobago. The inter island trek is one of the most exciting powerboat races in the Caribbean and Vortex is revving to go.
Roger Bell, crew member and throttle man for Vortex, is in the process of testing his vessel and is preparing for any possible scenario that may be encountered on race day, “You never know what is going to happen on the day,” he said, “it is a scenario where you have to accept what you get.” The seas are unpredictable but he believes that they will be ready.
Bell has been involved in power boat racing since the mid 1990s with most of his racing being in the United States in the Super Boat international circuit.
He has seen the sport develop tremendously locally in terms of the quality of the race boats that have come into the country.
The bigger boats in the faster classes have had a lot of experience internationally and Vortex has even been featured on the Discovery Channel and is the only turbine boat from Trinidad and Tobago that has raced around the world.
Bell added that he is seeing a lot of high calibre race boats in Trinidad and believes that the bar has risen tremendously of late.
Vortex will be racing in the A class which is the 130 mile per hour category and Bell, despite touted as one of the favourites, is respecting all competitors.
“We have a good chance as everyone else,” he modestly declared.
When asked about safety, he said: “Safety is a major part of our preparation.” He added that the gears have been tested, they have oxygen tanks on board, top quality helmets with intercom capabilities and are also doing dump tests to ensure racers are calm, cool and mentally prepared for the race.
The Vortex member believes that safety plays an important part in the successful completion of the race.
“We are here to win, everybody wants to get to Tobago and get their safely, everyone wants to win and compete very hard,” he concluded.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,232048.html
KESTON CHARLES NYLO Intern Thursday, August 18 2016
Crew members are working feverishly to put in the final touches on their boats for the start of the 2016 Carib Great Race on Saturday which takes off from the Foreshore in Cocorite to the Scarborough Esplanade in Tobago. The inter island trek is one of the most exciting powerboat races in the Caribbean and Vortex is revving to go.
Roger Bell, crew member and throttle man for Vortex, is in the process of testing his vessel and is preparing for any possible scenario that may be encountered on race day, “You never know what is going to happen on the day,” he said, “it is a scenario where you have to accept what you get.” The seas are unpredictable but he believes that they will be ready.
Bell has been involved in power boat racing since the mid 1990s with most of his racing being in the United States in the Super Boat international circuit.
He has seen the sport develop tremendously locally in terms of the quality of the race boats that have come into the country.
The bigger boats in the faster classes have had a lot of experience internationally and Vortex has even been featured on the Discovery Channel and is the only turbine boat from Trinidad and Tobago that has raced around the world.
Bell added that he is seeing a lot of high calibre race boats in Trinidad and believes that the bar has risen tremendously of late.
Vortex will be racing in the A class which is the 130 mile per hour category and Bell, despite touted as one of the favourites, is respecting all competitors.
“We have a good chance as everyone else,” he modestly declared.
When asked about safety, he said: “Safety is a major part of our preparation.” He added that the gears have been tested, they have oxygen tanks on board, top quality helmets with intercom capabilities and are also doing dump tests to ensure racers are calm, cool and mentally prepared for the race.
The Vortex member believes that safety plays an important part in the successful completion of the race.
“We are here to win, everybody wants to get to Tobago and get their safely, everyone wants to win and compete very hard,” he concluded.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,232048.html
