Italian Fabio Buzzi led his crew and his boat, Red FPT, to Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race victory on Sunday. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
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POWERBOATSFABIO Buzzi once again proved that age is nothing but a number as the Italian stormed to a double victory at last weekend’s British Powerboat Festival.
Buzzi, 67, and his team of fellow Italian Emilio Riganti and Englishman Simon Powell, powered by the 2,400 horsepower of four FPT engines, were the clear winners in the Cowes 100 on Friday, before producing another sterling performance to win the 50th anniversary Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race, taking home the Beaverbrook and Harmsworth trophies.
It is a remarkable fourth Cowes-Torquay-Cowes win for Buzzi, cementing his name in powerboating legend.
He said after winning the Cowes 100: "It’s very satisfying to be back racing and winning. The Italian Federation says I am too old to race. I may have been 67 when the race started, now I am 44."
Powerboat Asia, piloted by Martin Lai, Sarah Donohue and Tom Williams-Hawkes came in second, followed by Venturer of Londoner Andy Macateer.
On Sunday, there was drama as the second-placed boat in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race, Kerakoll (helmed by Italian, Mario Invernizzi, and Englishman, Peter Dredge) were later disqualified for losing their life raft in Lyme Bay.
Instead, Southampton racers Vee Ganjavian and Gareth Williams, in Fury, were classed second, with last year’s winner Cinzano, in third.
There was disappointment for Hannes Bohnic, in Wettpunkt.com, after rough sea conditions and a power loss in the starboard engine forced his early retirement.
In all, 30 boats took part in the legendary race, with two other races going on simultaneously.
In the Cowes-Poole-Cowes race there was an interesting finish, with Going Lean winning in a time 36.06. There was just one second splitting the second and third-placed boats of F Project and Rooster, driven by Poole twins James and Matt Sydenham.
In the Class 3 Championship, Circle Express, driven by Brian Peedell and Dave Simpkins, won in a time of 1.01.39. Second was Wight Stuff, driven by Frank Rose and Lee Kerslake, in 1.21.32, and third was TT Graphics, driven by Adrian Foulser and Stewart Dick, in 1.46.51.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk
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