May 10, 2010
Kicking off the first two rounds of the 2010 UIM Powerboat Grand Prix of the Sea World Championship, the 77 LUCAS OIL SOC gained 5th place in the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea. The top three positions on the podium were 1st place Mercury-powered 88 KITON (Italian entry, driver Luca Fendi), 2nd place Issoto Diesel-powered 60 Metamarine (Italian entry, driver Giampaolo Montavoci), and 3rd place Mercury-powered 33 Furnibo (Belgium entry, driver Benjamin Van Riet).
The 77 LUCAS OIL SOC premiered the new 40’ Vector designed by Ocke and Ted Mannerfelt of Sweden and powered by Ilmor V10 / Indy drive packages. Sea trials for the new boat began in Canada in January, followed in February by extensive testing in Sarasota, Florida, then in April to Belgium for rough water and prop testing, and finally in May to the Ukraine to be the first boat to commence official practice for the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea.
“We had every angle covered,” said Nigel Hook, Captain of the 77 LUCAS OIL SOC. “All the preparation. A great team. The best equipment. And, optimistically I was expecting a little better result, but overall we are very happy. This all came together so well and from so far, and we have a truly evolutionary boat in the EVO class. A winner — mark my words.” The speeds on Saturday supported his comments, with the 77 LUCAS OIL SOC achieving the fastest time over all the boats for Lap 3.
A mechanical issue kept the 77 LUCAS OIL SOC from fulfilling its potential in Yalta, as an electrical short shut off all power to the port side of the race boat in Saturday’s race just three laps short of the checkered flag. Before that abrupt end, however, Michael Silfverberg, driver and partner in SOC, demonstrated the remarkable cornering capabilities of the Mannerfelt design by safely passing several boats inside the corners by carving a tighter course. The electrical gremlin reoccurred at the onset of the Sunday Endurance race.
With 3 new raceboats in the fleet of 15 for the first race, the rough conditions on the Black Sea gave an opportunity to witness the potential of another new entry, the Ilmor V10 powered Chaudron Evo boat, 55 Spirit of Ukraine. Driven by Aaron Ciantar and throttled by Victor Shemchuk, this last year’s P1 Super Sport World Champion was also challenged with new boat issues, completing the Yalta Grand Prix in the 5th place tie.
Many festive parties during the weekend allowed the hosts to share their excitement for the racing events and harmonize with the country’s biggest annual celebration – Victory Day. Since 1995, the Ukraine and the other former siblings of the USSR have increased their openness with the West from the iron curtain cold war days. Victory Day ceremonies in Moscow for the first time ever included troops from four NATO countries. About 1,000 soldiers from the United States, Britain, France and Poland marched alongside Russian troops through Red Square to mark the 65th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
The Sunday evening closing party featured an art exhibition to raise money for a local children’s charity, including paintings of activities at the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea by local child art groups (see Facebook Photo Album). Of the 19 paintings, 14 featured the 77 LUCAS OIL race boat, which had clearly created a memorable impression in Yalta.
Also featured in the March/April 2010 edition of World of Powerboats.
Television production for the new UIM World Championship series is being captured with:
- 1 Wescam on a helicopter (stabilised camera) recording in XDcam.
- 3 ENG camera crews on XDcam broadcast camera’s
- 5 on board camera’s in/on the boats
Each one-hour show is being distributed for transmission to the following countries:
Belgium / France / Italy / Portugal / Poland / Hungary / Serbia / Croatia / Romania / United Kingdom / Ireland / Sweden / Norway / Australia / Middle East
Lucas Oil is the leading producer of high performance lubricants.
Lucas Oil Made In America… Sold to the WORLD!
* Lucas Oil
* Scandinavian Offshore Challenge
* Ilmor Marine
* Vector Powerboats
* Virtual Spectator
* Custom Marine Inc.
* Premiere Shipping and Packing
YouTube Video
Kicking off the first two rounds of the 2010 UIM Powerboat Grand Prix of the Sea World Championship, the 77 LUCAS OIL SOC gained 5th place in the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea. The top three positions on the podium were 1st place Mercury-powered 88 KITON (Italian entry, driver Luca Fendi), 2nd place Issoto Diesel-powered 60 Metamarine (Italian entry, driver Giampaolo Montavoci), and 3rd place Mercury-powered 33 Furnibo (Belgium entry, driver Benjamin Van Riet).
The 77 LUCAS OIL SOC premiered the new 40’ Vector designed by Ocke and Ted Mannerfelt of Sweden and powered by Ilmor V10 / Indy drive packages. Sea trials for the new boat began in Canada in January, followed in February by extensive testing in Sarasota, Florida, then in April to Belgium for rough water and prop testing, and finally in May to the Ukraine to be the first boat to commence official practice for the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea.
“We had every angle covered,” said Nigel Hook, Captain of the 77 LUCAS OIL SOC. “All the preparation. A great team. The best equipment. And, optimistically I was expecting a little better result, but overall we are very happy. This all came together so well and from so far, and we have a truly evolutionary boat in the EVO class. A winner — mark my words.” The speeds on Saturday supported his comments, with the 77 LUCAS OIL SOC achieving the fastest time over all the boats for Lap 3.
A mechanical issue kept the 77 LUCAS OIL SOC from fulfilling its potential in Yalta, as an electrical short shut off all power to the port side of the race boat in Saturday’s race just three laps short of the checkered flag. Before that abrupt end, however, Michael Silfverberg, driver and partner in SOC, demonstrated the remarkable cornering capabilities of the Mannerfelt design by safely passing several boats inside the corners by carving a tighter course. The electrical gremlin reoccurred at the onset of the Sunday Endurance race.
With 3 new raceboats in the fleet of 15 for the first race, the rough conditions on the Black Sea gave an opportunity to witness the potential of another new entry, the Ilmor V10 powered Chaudron Evo boat, 55 Spirit of Ukraine. Driven by Aaron Ciantar and throttled by Victor Shemchuk, this last year’s P1 Super Sport World Champion was also challenged with new boat issues, completing the Yalta Grand Prix in the 5th place tie.
Many festive parties during the weekend allowed the hosts to share their excitement for the racing events and harmonize with the country’s biggest annual celebration – Victory Day. Since 1995, the Ukraine and the other former siblings of the USSR have increased their openness with the West from the iron curtain cold war days. Victory Day ceremonies in Moscow for the first time ever included troops from four NATO countries. About 1,000 soldiers from the United States, Britain, France and Poland marched alongside Russian troops through Red Square to mark the 65th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
The Sunday evening closing party featured an art exhibition to raise money for a local children’s charity, including paintings of activities at the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea by local child art groups (see Facebook Photo Album). Of the 19 paintings, 14 featured the 77 LUCAS OIL race boat, which had clearly created a memorable impression in Yalta.
Also featured in the March/April 2010 edition of World of Powerboats.
Television production for the new UIM World Championship series is being captured with:
- 1 Wescam on a helicopter (stabilised camera) recording in XDcam.
- 3 ENG camera crews on XDcam broadcast camera’s
- 5 on board camera’s in/on the boats
Each one-hour show is being distributed for transmission to the following countries:
Belgium / France / Italy / Portugal / Poland / Hungary / Serbia / Croatia / Romania / United Kingdom / Ireland / Sweden / Norway / Australia / Middle East
Lucas Oil is the leading producer of high performance lubricants.
Lucas Oil Made In America… Sold to the WORLD!
* Lucas Oil
* Scandinavian Offshore Challenge
* Ilmor Marine
* Vector Powerboats
* Virtual Spectator
* Custom Marine Inc.
* Premiere Shipping and Packing
YouTube Video
