Kurt Olsen going home to Norway

KURT OLSEN TRANSFERRED TO HOSPITAL IN NORWAY

SOURCE

Class 1 director Per Carsten Michelsen has confirmed that Welmax throttleman Kurt Olsen has been transferred from the Omar Bongo Ondimba Military hospital in Libreville by air ambulance to a hospital in Norway.

He remains under induced sedation. His condition is stable.

Kurt Olsen

 

KURT OLSEN STABLE

SOURCE

Thursday, 19 July: Dr Francesco de Bocard is in regular contact with doctors attending to and monitoring the condition of Kurt Olsen, who remains in the intensive care unit in the Omar Bongo Ondimba Military Hospital in Libreville, Gabon.

Bulletin:

The second CT scan was clear which gives a good indication that there is no apparent neurological damage.

Kurt remains on breathing assistance and under induced sedation.

His condition is now considered severe but no longer critical.

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

New Lake Cumberland marina opposed

SOURCE

Owners hurt by dam repairs question timing, sue

LOUISVILLE — A group of marina owners who are worried a new proposed marina site on Lake Cumberland could further hurt their business are asking a federal judge to block the proposal.

The group says a new marina on the south-central Kentucky lake is not needed because its existing ones are already hurting or even shutting down.

Tourism on the lake has been hampered by the lowering of water levels in 2007 to ease pressure on Wolf Creek Dam while it undergoes massive repairs and reinforcing.

The Lake Cumberland Association sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday and asked a judge to keep the agency from allowing a new marina site to be leased in Russell County.

Bill Jasper, who owns two marinas on the lake, said the proposal should be delayed until the lake levels are restored and businesses have a chance to recover.

Workers made repairs to the dock last year at Lee’s Ford Resort Marina, whose owners are among those opposed to a proposed marina on Lake Cumberland.

“It just seems counterintuitive that this would be the appropriate time to add a marina on the lake,” said Jasper, who is a member of the association that filed the suit.

The suit says allowing the new site, called Rowena Landing South, to be leased “poses significant risks of immediate and irreparable harm to the other marina owners.”

The new marina could open in April 2013, according to the lawsuit. The Corps has said the lake levels would likely remain low until 2014.

A spokesman for the Corps of Engineers in Nashville said that its legal counsel had not yet seen the suit.

The 15-page lawsuit details businesses’ struggles on the lake since the level was lowered. Five marinas have closed since 2010, and there are about 1,000 vacant boat slips, the suit said. Grider Hill marina, which is about a mile from the new proposed marina site, has 250 vacant slips and is “operating at a negative cash flow.”

At least one marina still operating has seen its revenue drop by 50 percent since 2006, the suit said. Three of the five failed marinas, London Dock, Blue Creek Marina and Alligator 1 Marina, were forced to move because of the lowered water levels and were destroyed by flooding or closed because of poor sales.

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

Sea Tow App Proves to be Great Tool for Boaters ~ More than 63,000 downloads reported in first three months

SOURCE

Southold, N.Y. – July 17, 2012 – Sea Tow Services International Inc., the nation’s leading on-water assistance provider, released its mobile application for iPhone and Android smartphone users across the U.S. on April 12, 2012. The free Sea Tow App received instant acclaim from boaters who appreciated its utility as a convenient, multifunction navigation and boating safety tool. The Sea Tow App, which is available for download free of charge at www.seatow.com/app, has won a Mobile of the Day (MOTD) Award from Favourite Website Awards (FWA), and is 100-percent 5-star rated at the Apple iTunes store. In just three months, the Sea Tow App has been downloaded by smartphone users more than 63,000 times to date.

In addition to providing smartphone users with fingertip access to current marine weather forecasts, alerts and radar; tide tables and graphs; GPS location, speed and heading, the Sea Tow App also gives them an instant link to on-water assistance. Simply swiping a finger on the slide bar at the bottom of every screen connects them to Sea Tow’s 24-Hour National Dispatch Center. More than 120 boaters have already called Sea Tow for assistance using the new Sea Tow App.

“In Central Florida, we have a lot of lakes and rivers, and it’s rare that boaters have a GPS or even a marine radio on board,” said Capt. Kerry Kline, of Sea Tow Central Florida Lakes. “We often receive calls from people who don’t know their exact location. We will ask them to download the App and use its GPS function to get their exact latitude and longitude.”

The Sea Tow App is not exclusive to Sea Tow members; anyone with a smartphone can download it free of charge. “Twice I was called by non-members to assist them, and both calls were due to them having the App,” said Capt. Kevin Scott of Sea Tow Rhode Island.

“We are pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response we’ve received to our Sea Tow App,” said Sea Tow Chief Administrative Officer, Kristen Frohnhoefer. “We made a major investment in ensuring the App is multifunctional, easy to use and elegant in design. If it helps boaters plan their itineraries, avoid hassles, and ultimately contributes to their safety on the water, then that investment has more than paid off.”

About Sea Tow
Sea Tow Services International Inc. is the nation’s leading on-water assistance provider. Established in 1983 by Founder & CEO Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, Sea Tow now serves members in more than 100 locations throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. For a full list of membership benefits, how to become a Sea Tow member, or to inquire about becoming a Sea Tow franchise owner, please visit seatow.com.

 

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

Sponsorless Gold Cup race could mean event moves on

SOURCE

There’s gold right under your nose in Detroit. Oddly enough, it has been overlooked or ignored by many here in recent years.

I’m talking the APBA Gold Cup hydroplane races that concluded Sunday on the Detroit River with Dave Villwock, the Dale Earnhardt of power boat racing, driving to his 10th victory in the event.

Driver J. Michael Kelly guides his Miss Beacon Plumbing hydroplane boat through a turn during Sunday’s Gold Cup race on the Detroit River. Kelly finished third. / Photos by KATHLEEN GALLIGAN/Detroit Free Press

The Gold Cup should need little introduction in this town. It has attracted the greatest boat racers in history, including Gar Wood, Danny Foster, George Reis, Bill Muncey, Ron Musson, Bill Shumacher, Dean Chenoweth, Chip Hanauer and Villwock among them.

Celebrated bandleader Guy Lombardo won the race on the Detroit River in 1946 with style and grace in his Tempo VI.

The Gold Cup dates back almost 110 years, longer than any other such trophy handed out in motorsports around the world.

The Motor City owns the Gold Cup — for now. But for the fund-raising efforts of the Detroit Yacht Club and individual donations, it would be gone, believe me.

Sunday’s race was run without a title sponsor. Organizers had to cut corners to host it. Yet it produced some of the most breathtaking racing I’ve ever seen, with Villwock saving his U-1 Spirit of Qatar from taking off at 180 miles per hour in front of the DYC and then crushing the field despite his rear stabilizer wing being shredded.

Villwock and the rest of the unlimited drivers are the bravest I’ve seen in motorsports.

They match NASCAR drivers at Michigan International Speedway and IZOD IndyCar Series racers at Belle Isle in courage, intensity and skill. They shake it off after “blowovers” that leave them upside down in their cockpits in the water.

Despite the show they put on, within sight of the RenCen, local media outlets this past weekend were more interested in covering men with creaky knees and bad backs hitting a little white ball around.

The Gold Cup isn’t dead in the water, however.

Traffic was backed up for an hour along Jefferson Avenue following the event — not like the old days of the race, but heavy nevertheless.

Ticket sales were up 16-17%, according to organizers, and the hydroplane racing — particularly in the heats on Saturday and Sunday — was the best in years.

Yachting magazine in 1946 described Lombardo’s victory this way:

“Lombardo finished by finding good rhythm and conducted to a fine crescendo, rather like as if he were directing Ravel’s Bolero.”

Maybe a fitting description of Villwock’s aggressive, head-banging and spectacular drive on Sunday might be the chorus and music to the AC-DC classic “T.N.T.”:

“I’m dynamite, T.N.T.; I’m power-load, T.N.T.; Watch me explode.”

The Gold Cup will hopefully return to Detroit in 2013. It’s precious stuff, and you can get a piece of it.

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

Results: 2012 DYC APBA Gold Cup

SOURCE

Gold Cup winner Dave Villwock, left, shakes hands with third-place finisher J. Michael Kelly.

Qualifying Results

Number – Sponsor	Driver	Speed	Points
1 Spirit of Qatar 96	Dave Villwock	162.904	100
6 Oh Boy! Oberto	Steve David	161.789	80
5 Graham Trucking	Jimmy Shane	157.184	70
11 Miss Peters & May	JW Myers	155.371	60
9 Miss Al Deeby Chrysler	Jon Zimmerman	154.471	50
17 Miss Red Dot	Kip Brown	154.205	40
37 Miss Beacon Plumbing	J. Michael Kelly	152.497	30
22 Great Scott! Presents Matrix Systems	Mike Webster	150.359	30
57 Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair	Mark Evans	147.862	30
13 Tubbys Grilled Subs	Cal Phipps	130	0
88 Degree Men	Scott Liddycoat	130	0
100 Jarvis Property Restoration	Greg Hopp	130	0

RACE RESULTS

Results for Heat 1A

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	1 Spirit of Qatar 96	Dave Villwock	156.106	400
2	6 Oh Boy! Oberto	Steve David	150.736	300
3	9 Miss Al Deeby Chrysler	Jon Zimmerman	144.373	225
4	11 Miss Peters & May	JW Myers	126.22	169

Results for Heat 1B

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	5 Graham Trucking	Jimmy Shane	151.621	400
2	37 Miss Beacon Plumbing	J. Michael Kelly	150.347	300
3	88 Degree Men	Scott Liddycoat	149.916	225
4	17 Miss Red Dot	Kip Brown	130.18	169

Results for Heat 1C

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	100 Jarvis Property Restoration	Greg Hopp	146.722	400
DNS	13 Tubbys Grilled Subs	Cal Phipps	0	0
DNF	22 Great Scott! Presents Matrix Systems	Mike Webster	0	0
DSQ	57 Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair	Mark Evans	146.842	0

Results for Heat 2A

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	5 Graham Trucking	Jimmy Shane	139.248	400
2	9 Miss Al Deeby Chrysler	Jon Zimmerman	135.251	300
3	6 Oh Boy! Oberto	Steve David	123.466	225
4	88 Degree Men	Scott Liddycoat	148.076	169

Results for Heat 2B

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	57 Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair	Mark Evans	141.552	400
2	11 Miss Peters & May	JW Myers	139.363	300
DNF	100 Jarvis Property Restoration	Greg Hopp	0	0
DSQ	17 Miss Red Dot	Kip Brown	0	0

Results for Heat 2C

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	1 Spirit of Qatar 96	Dave Villwock	146.142	400
2	37 Miss Beacon Plumbing	J. Michael Kelly	137.63	300
DNF	13 Tubbys Grilled Subs	Cal Phipps	0	0

Results for Heat 3A

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	5 Graham Trucking	Jimmy Shane	145.117	400
2	17 Miss Red Dot	Kip Brown	143.3	300
3	9 Miss Al Deeby Chrysler	Jon Zimmerman	138.128	225
4	57 Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair	Mark Evans	132.08	169
5	37 Miss Beacon Plumbing	J. Michael Kelly	131.906	127

Results for Heat 3B

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
2	6 Oh Boy! Oberto	Steve David	151.072	300
3	88 Degree Men	Scott Liddycoat	139.862	225
4	11 Miss Peters & May	JW Myers	136.221	169
5	100 Jarvis Property Restoration	Greg Hopp	127.595	127
PEN 400-50	1 Spirit of Qatar 96	Dave Villwock	155.264	350

Results for Heat 4A

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	6 Oh Boy! Oberto	Steve David	139.387	400
2	37 Miss Beacon Plumbing	J. Michael Kelly	136.256	300
3	57 Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair	Mark Evans	128.419	225
DNS	5 Graham Trucking	Jimmy Shane	0	0
DSQ	11 Miss Peters & May	JW Myers	0	0

Results for Heat 4B

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	1 Spirit of Qatar 96	Dave Villwock	142.445	400
2	9 Miss Al Deeby Chrysler	Jon Zimmerman	139.426	300
3	100 Jarvis Property Restoration	Greg Hopp	132.857	225
DNS	17 Miss Red Dot	Kip Brown	0	0
DSQ	88 Degree Men	Scott Liddycoat	0	0

Results for Heat Final

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	1 Spirit of Qatar 96	Dave Villwock	151.089	400
2	6 Oh Boy! Oberto	Steve David	147.04	300
3	37 Miss Beacon Plumbing	J. Michael Kelly	138.801	225
4	9 Miss Al Deeby Chrysler	Jon Zimmerman	138.018	169
5	57 Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair	Mark Evans	125.182	127
6	5 Graham Trucking	Jimmy Shane	132.819	95

Accumulated Points

Number – Boat	Driver	Points
1 Spirit of Qatar 96	Dave Villwock	1950
6 Oh Boy! Oberto	Steve David	1525
5 Graham Trucking	Jimmy Shane	1295
37 Miss Beacon Plumbing	J. Michael Kelly	1252
9 Miss Al Deeby Chrysler	Jon Zimmerman	1219
57 Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair	Mark Evans	921
100 Jarvis Property Restoration	Greg Hopp	752
11 Miss Peters & May	JW Myers	638
17 Miss Red Dot	Kip Brown	638
88 Degree Men	Scott Liddycoat	619
22 Great Scott! Presents Matrix Systems	Mike Webster	0
13 Tubbys Grilled Subs	Cal Phipps	0

Accumulated Points with Qualifying

Number – Boat	Driver	Points
1 Spirit of Qatar 96	Dave Villwock	2050
6 Oh Boy! Oberto	Steve David	1605
5 Graham Trucking	Jimmy Shane	1365
37 Miss Beacon Plumbing	J. Michael Kelly	1282
9 Miss Al Deeby Chrysler	Jon Zimmerman	1269
57 Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair	Mark Evans	951
100 Jarvis Property Restoration	Greg Hopp	752
11 Miss Peters & May	JW Myers	698
17 Miss Red Dot	Kip Brown	678
88 Degree Men	Scott Liddycoat	619
22 Great Scott! Presents Matrix Systems	Mike Webster	30
13 Tubbys Grilled Subs	Cal Phipps	0

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

Tribute to William Nocker – 2012 Gabon Grand Prix

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

Mike Webster ‘a little banged up’ after crash at Gold Cup

SOURCE

Crew members work on Mike Webster’s hydroplane prior to racing. Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press

Mike Webster said he would go racing today on the Detroit River, only he doesn’t have a boat — not the one he started out with on Saturday, anyway.

Webster survived a massive crash without serious injury in the heats of the APBA Gold Cup Saturday when his unlimited hydroplane blew over as it roared past the Detroit Yacht Club after hitting a roller coming into the notorious Roostertail Turn.

Webster’s U-22 Great Scott! Presents Matrix Systems boat lifted off into the air and hung for a moment before slamming back onto its canopy, the 32-year-old driver from Reading, Pa., trapped in the reinforced safety cell, or fighter-plane type cockpit.

Rescue boats rushed to the scene of the wreckage and helped extricate Webster, who drives for his family-owned Webster Racing.

Webster was taken to the Gold Cup trackside medical center, examined and released about half an hour later.

At his race hauler in the pits, Webster, who looked remarkably cool and calm, talked about the frightening accident, which happened as he and fellow unlimited regulars Mark Evans (Evans Bros Racing) and Greg Hopp (Leland Unlimited) thundered down the back straight of the 2.5-mile Gold Cup course, locked together.

“We knew it was a heat we had a good shot of winning,” said Webster. “We were really keyed up. We had a great first corner, got down the back straight really well. Unfortunately, we got to the end at the Yacht Club and just got a little bit light, hit a roller and at that point I was just along for the ride.”

Webster, who said he got roughed up in the crash but didn’t sustain any serious injuries, just some bruising, said he fought the boat in an attempt to save it.

“I remember trying to bring it down,” he said. “But there was nothing I could do. It hung there at a pretty good height for quite a while.”

Webster was more disappointed with the damage to the boat after such a promising qualifying run on Friday and start to Saturday’s heat.

“I’m disappointed for all the hard work we put in,” said Webster. “My safety was a concern but I knew I was OK, and I was more disappointed with the fact I ruined a good race boat for the weekend.”

So, how did Webster really feel heath-wise after the spectacular but dangerous ride?

“I’m a little banged up,” admitted Webster, “some minor bruises and stuff but nothing compared to what could have been. I’m very fortunate and I’m thanking my lucky stars. I’m coming down — my heart-rate is coming down. I wish I could go out right now and (race).”

Webster said a little water got into the cockpit as he struggled to get out.

“Not too much,” he said. “I was able to get myself out of the boat with help from safety workers.”

Evans crashed at almost the same point as Webster in 2003, suffering a broken neck, ribs and leg.

“It’s just a typical Roostertail turn,” said Evans. “That’s where I hit too. He hung in the air, looked like he was going to save it and over he went.”

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

APBA Gold Cup updates: Scott Liddycoat OK after blowover crash during heats

SOURCE

The second blowover of the day in Gold Cup heats saw Scott Liddycoat (No. 88 Degree Men boat) crash near the Belle Isle bridge.

Rescue boats were on the scene. Liddycoat was taken to the trackside medical center, but appeared to be all right after walking on his own.

The second blowover of the day is also the third of the weekend. The race course is closed for now.

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

APBA Gold Cup updates: Heats on hold after J.W. Myers crashes

SOURCE

A crash involving unlimited hydroplane driver J.W. Myers has heats of today’s APBA Gold Cup on hold.

Myers, who drives the U-11 Miss Peters & May boat, blew over during the final lap of Heat 4A as he raced through the top turn on the 2.5-mile course close to the Belle Isle Bridge.

The boat landed upside down but Myers was able to escape through an emergency hatch on the bottom of the craft. Myers was picked up by a rescue boat and taken to the trackside medical center, where he was checked out and released. He appeared to be unscathed.

On Saturday, driver Mike Webster survived a blow over near the Detroit Yacht Club during heats of the Gold Cup, the final scheduled to be held at 4:20 p.m. today.

It is the third major accident for Myers in Gold Cup action on the river.

In 2005, he blew over during testing at the DYC, and in 2010, he hit the Roostertail sea wall at 100 miles per hour when the skid fin on his Miss Peters & May boat broke. Myers suffered a fractured left foot in that crash.

JW Myers poses next to the U-11 unlimited Peters & May Hydroplane racing boat at Cadillac Square in Detroit on July 10, 2012. / Jessica J. Trevino / DFP

Shane main threat to Villwock

Jimmy Shane, the 26-year-old unlimited hydroplane young gun from Maryland, has thrown out the challenge to Gold Cup veterans Dave Villwock and Steve David with a dominating run in Heat 3A of the APBA Gold Cup this morning.

The Gold Cup final is slated for for the Detroit River 4:20 p.m. and Shane, who drives the U-5 Graham Trucking boat, appears to be the main threat to nine-time Cup champ Villwock and David, who has finished runner-up in the event five times.

Shane, who has only driven a handful of unlimited races, roared away from the field in the first heat, while Villwock (U-1 Spirit of Qatar 96) and David (Oh Boy! Oberto) fought in out in Heat 3B, David taking an early lead but Villwock going to the front on Lap 3 and crossing the finish line 10 lengths ahead of his archrival.

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

Gold Cup: Drivers remember, honor John Sedrowski, owner Fred Leland

They left mark on many Gold Cup regulars

SOURCE

July 14, 2012

Driver Greg Hopp scatters the ashes of John Sedrowski on the Roostertail turn Friday. Robert F. Peters/Special to the Free Press

John Sedrowski of Richmond will remain as one with the Detroit River — it’s what he would have wanted.

Sedrowski’s ashes were spread by unlimited hydroplane driver and friend Greg Hopp in the middle of the Roostertail turn shortly after 1 p.m. Friday as teams prepared for testing for Sunday’s APBA Gold Cup.

Hopp and fellow racer J.W. Myers ran two laps of honor on the river for Sedrowski, who died unexpectedly in May at 56.

Sedrowski had been coming to the river for the Gold Cup races since he was 16, when he was a security guard, said his son, Jay.

Over the years, he went on to crew for race teams, then worked as a timer and announcer at the Gold Cup for the Detroit River Regatta Association.

Friday’s memorial on the water also was dedicated to longtime unlimited hydroplane boat owner and former driver Fred Leland, who died at 74 following a long battle with cancer. He died just a few days after Sedrowski.

Hopp, who drives the U-100 boat for the Leland Unlimited team, said he will miss Leland and Sedrowski.

“Fred was real rough on the outside but had a heart of gold on the inside,” Hopp said. “He wouldn’t hesitate to tell you what he thought of you, but at the same time, he’d give you the shirt off his back.”

Leland wouldn’t wear a team uniform. He preferred plaid shirts, which his team will wear this weekend.

“Fred would help you out, make you a better person and racer,” Hopp said. “He was always about teaching people. I can’t tell you how much I learned from that man.”

Jay attended his father’s memorial Friday, handing off his dad’s urn to Hopp in the pits.

“We figured Dad would want this — he spent most of his life down here,” said Jay, 25, who is from Richmond and is crewing on Hopp’s boat, which is being sponsored this weekend by Jarvis Property Restoration, headquartered in Harrison Township.

“It’s been a rough spring for everyone on the team. I almost didn’t come to the river.”

Steve Montgomery, a PR representative for the H1 Unlimited Air National Guard Series of which the Gold Cup is part, fondly remembers Leland. Leland’s boat PICO American Dream won the Cup in 1996 and 1999.

“He was a mason and still holds the record for laying bricks,” said Montgomery. “Guys wouldn’t work with him. He built his own house and his own boats. Rumor is Fred knew every measurement on every boat in the pits.”

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

Gold Cup: Hydroplane driver Mike Webster taken to medical center after violent crash

SOURCE

Unlimited hydroplane driver Mike Webster crashed violently on the first lap of Heat 1C of the APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River this afternoon.

Webster’s U-22 Great Scott! Presents Matrix Systems boat blew over — or back-flipped — as he charged past the Detroit Yacht Club at close to 170 miles per hour, fighting Greg Hopp (Jarvis Property Restoration) and Mark Evans (Formulaboats.com Jarvis Fire-Water Repair) for the lead.

Webster’s unlimited got air under it and sailed skyward, falling back on its cockpit in the river. Rescue boats and divers rushed to the scene. They were able to extricate Webster from the boat and take him to the Gold Cup dock, where he was taken on a gurney to the medical center at the racetrack.

Evans said he shook Webster’s hand and that Webster, who is from Reading, Pa., looked him in the eye on the gurney.

Unlimited hydroplane veteran Steve David, who finished second his his Oh Boy! Oberto boat in Heat 1A, said he thought the accident was a classic blow over.

Evans was involved in a similar type wreck in 2004 at the DYC, in which he suffered a broke neck, leg and ribs.

Mike Webster

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

THE PRIME MINISTER OF GABON LEADS TEAMS IN TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM NOCKER

SOURCE

7/14/2012

LIBREVILLE (Gabon): The Prime Minister of Gabon Raymond Ndong Sima joined the teams when they returned to the waters’ of the Gabon Estuary this afternoon to pay their own special respects to Englishman, William Nocker, who lost his life in yesterday’s tragic racing accident.

In a fitting tribute to William, the race boats carried the number 9 and motored slowly out to muster at the site of yesterday’s accident to hold a one minute silent tribute to their lost friend.

The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Rufin Pacome Ondzounga, the Minister of Sports, Seraphin Moundounga and Nicolo di San Germano, president of H2O Racing, laid a wreath on the water as competitors and team members scattered flowers to his memory. “We are all extremely saddened by this tragic racing accident. There are very few suitable words at a time such as this but we all send our heartfelt condolences to William’s family.” said Nicolo di San Germano.

William Knocker

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

KURT OLSEN IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE CONDITION

SOURCE

Saturday, 14 July, LIBREVILLE (Gabon): 2012: Class 1 Doctor, Dr Francesco de Boccard, has issued the following bulletin on the condition of Norwegian pilot Kurt Olsen.

Kurt Olsen continues to be treated for his injuries in the Omar Bongo Ondimba Military Hospital.

His condition is critical, but stable and his vital and neurological signs are good.

He remains in an induced unconscious state and is on breathing assistance. The contusion to the lungs created some breathing difficulties, but will not require surgery.

He has multiple fractures of the ribs and scapula.

The first CT scan was clear with a second to be carried out in 48hrs.

Kurt Olsen

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com

TRAGEDY IN CLASS 1

SOURCE

7/13/2012

Friday, 13 July, LIBREVILLE (Gabon): Officials of the UIM are deeply shocked and saddened to announce the tragic news of the death of pilot William Nocker from England following a racing accident during race one of the Gabon Grand Prix, round 2 of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.

Co-pilot Kurt Olsen from Norway remains in a critical condition in intensive care.

The pilots of boat number 9, Welmax, representing the Welmax Offshore Racing Team, were involved in a high-speed crash on lap four of the race taking place in Libreville on the estuary of the Gabon River.

The race was red flagged as safety personnel immediately attended to both pilots at the scene.

They were subsequently transferred by ambulance to Omar Bongo Ondimba Military Hospital, where all efforts to resuscitate William Nocker were in vain.

The Welmax Offshore Racing Team and officials of the UIM and H2O Racing pass on their deepest condolences to the family of William Nocker.

As a mark of respect to the pilots and families, the event organisers have cancelled tomorrow’s race and all event activities.

The UIM has launched an immediate investigation into the accident.

William Knocker

Kurt Olsen

===============================================

www.LucidideeFastBoats.com