High speed powerboats are notorious for their accidents. Quite simply, for much of the time an uneven and ever changing surface to travel across. The variables are more numerous than on a tarmac race track, which in truth makes most car racers think powerboat racers are missing a quite few brain cells.It is hard to argue against that.
Powerboat race crashes happen all over the world every weekend. What was unusual about this one was the helicopter with camera man and director on board was right there when it happened and caught the build up and then the crash itself perfectly framed. Credit to Peter Butler, Director and ‘Logan’ a legendary cameraman.
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The boat did not belong to Iain Sanderson. He and his co driver, the late Paul Scott, had actually retired the previous year having scored a Patrick of 2 Litre annual Championships. The owner of the boat had a very frightening accident at a previous round having been trapped when the boat had sunk after going through, not over, a large wave-set. He and his sponsor had asked Iain and Paul to use the boat. Retirement wasn’t really suiting either Iain or Paul so the opportunity for a once off race was exciting.
On the day of the race Iain had been introduced by Andy Wilman (Top Gear) to Damian Hill the F1 legend. Andy told Damian he should try a boat trip with Iain who ‘truly knows how to drive a fast boat’. Perhaps not!
Iain and Paul got to know the boat on the way to the start line and after a poor start began to get the boat running well and rapidly gained about 7 places and were lying in 5th position.
The accident was driver error. Iain was used to a boat with a different configuration and also one with a very flat front deck. This and his lack of recent practice led to him ‘backing off on the throttle’ when airborne. On landing therefore the propellor and gearbox rather than propelling them forwards acted as a brake. This raised the rear of the boat, lowering the front so they met a wave ‘bow down’ and buried it. Given the speed and the conditions the boat carried on submerging when on another day or set it might have popped up.
The impact was staggering, the boat literally snapped the V of the hull just below Iain. Fortunately the force of the huge volume of water over the deck was greater than the speed reduction forces and Iain was propelled backwards. An expensive Keval race seat shattered. Iain hit Paul and took him clean out of the boat.
The boat had broken completely just below my legs. I was very lucky I’d got my head down and also that the force of the water pushed me backwards. If I’d gone forwards I would have been trapped and drowned. Very simple.
We were collected by a rescue boat and taken back to Cowes. Paul had facial bruising and was a bit battered, I’d serious bruising and cracked ribs.
After a hospital check up (and being very British a cup of tea ) we went back to our hotel to have a brief sleep …then hit the bar on the quay. We spent the whole evening being bought many drinks!
Post Mortem.
– The boat was destroyed. The hull was eventually used to make a mould for a racing rib but otherwise never got wet again!
– The crash was featured on the BBC that weekend. ‘Devon racers in death crash’ was the headline , much to my family’s annoyance.
– Damon Hill and Andy Wilman were not impressed by my driving….
– The crash was closely scrutinised by an expert, Bill Maloney, a renowned fast boat hull designer. His verdict was ‘driver error’, which I accepted.
– I’d promised to pay for all damage. On the Monday I wrote out a large cheque to pay for everything, almost as painful as the crash….
– I saw my very very attractive physiotherapist every week for 6 months. Fabulous.
