New Powerboat design & race series

[CastrolR]

Please click here http://www.youtube.com/v/XFjP7zHR-A0

This was showcased in south wales UK an attempt to introduce the popular sport of rallying onto the water.

Each craft performed individually against the clock within a race arena which made very exciting viewing.

Let us know your thoughts !!

[marshmat]

Pretty cool-looking boat.

Is there any more info on the class- what the rules of the race are, how the boats are set up, how much freedom in design, etc?

I don't think the comparison to rally racing is apt, if the video is typical of the class. Rallying in the car sense is a test of endurance over long, tough courses, generally cross-country. This looks more akin to freestyle drifting- a motorsport crazily popular in Japan and gaining a strong following in North America- and somewhat more spectator-friendly than long-distance rallies.

[joz]

Have a look at this site www.offshorechallenge.com.au

[CastrolR]

This clip probably shows the capabilities of the boat more accurately
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gBDxKAxYlI

[marshmat]

Castrol,
There are hundreds of boats that can zip around a buoy course and spin sideways at high speed. PWCs come to mind, as do the Outlaw Eagle jetboats popular in some of the river-racing classes. Apart from two youtube clips showing the new boat doing exactly that, I see nothing about the race, the class, the rules, the competition. Is there an organized competition? Who runs it? What's it called? Does it have a website or a rule book?

The Australian Offshore Challenge is something that is very much akin to rally-car racing: long, challenging courses that require the crew to have expertise in navigation and seamanship as well as knowing their boat to the last detail.