Video of the turn I was speaking of

[PHOTOGLOU]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXyx9NtW6BM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-owL08IL5kE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVXPY6TAqjI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngeOXgjM0gw

[yopengo]

Wow that was too fukkin close. :eek:

[HM]

Roger....back Up!!!!!

[MRS FLYIN VEE]

:jawdrop: that is crazy. Look at those waves you guys were going over.. You are crazy.. LOL!! Great job on the race BTW.. :D :D

[adjones419]

Are you guys nuts?? :eek: :D Pretty cool video.

[Havasu Hangin']

Jay- are you picking on those little boats?
:jawdrop:

[RitcheyRch]

Pretty cool video. Sure was cloes to the spectator boats. Hopefully next year they do a better job of clearing them out.

[Her454]

Roger....back Up!!!!!
More like......Roger....back Up!!!!!Roger....back Up!!!!!Roger....back Up!!!!!Roger....back Up!!!!!Roger....back Up!!!!!Roger....back Up!!!!!Roger....back Up!!!!!Roger....back Up!!!!!

[HocusPocus]

thats some insane footage, i wonder what the skiers were thinking threading the needle like that.

[PHOTOGLOU]

thats some insane footage, i wonder what the skiers were thinking threading the needle like that.
Something along the lines of "don't drop me here".....

[C-2]

Gotta love race day and all the quirks that come along with it. Thanks for sharing, that's a classic vid.:)

[PHOTOGLOU]

Gotta love race day and all the quirks that come along with it. Thanks for sharing, that's a classic vid.:)
Very true

[Jyruiz]

Crazy!

[RiverDave]

Can anybody riddle me this?
Why didn't Roger Back up? :D
RD

[dirty old man]

No wonder the turn was hard to find by the two leaders; Grey balloon on a Grey day, and out of position, surrounded by spectators. Now thats a challenge

[Beer-30]

In the first vid, that little outboard cracks me up! Kinda like bringing a knife to a gunfight?

[Beer-30]

Can anybody riddle me this?
Why didn't Roger Back up? :D
RD
Maybe the rope broke on the starter? Or, maybe he was still winding the rope around the pulley on the flywheel? Hee hee. :D

[RitcheyRch]

Thats Vern Gust in the P6 boat. He is good friends with my buddy. He has won the outboard class for years in that little boat. Sure does look funny being out there with that with all those bigger boats.
In the first vid, that little outboard cracks me up! Kinda like bringing a knife to a gunfight?

[AZJD]

Roger is an Idiot! But he did get a nice shot of the front of Jays boat from about 3 1/2 foot away.
Nice Liquid Technologies shot!
Can't believe that little boat didn't sink......

[Racey]

You are the man!!! i was totally bummed i didnt catch that on video, we must have been pretty close to you guys, we were the three guys in the rental outboard. That first video is pretty much verbatim to our view, killer clip!:)

[HowardFlat]

Yep, thats exactly how it was for us. we were right there too. it was awesome!

[River Lynchmob]

Can anybody riddle me this?
Why didn't Roger Back up? :D
RD
With all the rocking Roger's boat was doing he probably couldnt get that little prop to bite.
I'll tell yo uone thing, the gene pool would be much better without Roger in it.

[GETSOME]

I bet there was alot up pukker factor in that turn.. Great video. Did not look that close from the jumbo tron.

[Spotondl]

Roger was NOT the one that screwed up... The RACERS are the ones that screwed up and raced through the Coast Guard approved and controlled spectator fleet... if there are to be black eyes here it goes to the racers that didn't or couldn't navigate for whatever reason (poor visability, inexperience, etc.)... Looks to me that safety took a back seat to competition and very nearly ended up in a catastrophy for an awesome legendary annual event...

[nhbuoy]

Hey Ritchie rich....What kind of boat was the P6 outboard boat...My kid has a red SHADOW with the same OMC V8 mota....The thing halls the mail (85-90mph) and embarasses much bigger boats ALL the time....He has the same tow bar too...just curious...

[nhbuoy]

NICE VIDs btw....

[AZJD]

I will now call him: Roger Waters!

[Havasu Hangin']

Roger was NOT the one that screwed up... The RACERS are the ones that screwed up and raced through the Coast Guard approved and controlled spectator fleet... if there are to be black eyes here it goes to the racers that didn't or couldn't navigate for whatever reason (poor visability, inexperience, etc.)... Looks to me that safety took a back seat to competition and very nearly ended up in a catastrophy for an awesome legendary annual event...
Not sure I would blame the racers. If Randy Davis (pulling Todd) also went through the crowd, I'd say the turn was probably confusing. You can see it in here:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=13941148

[Spotondl]

Not sure I would blame the racers. If Randy Davis (pulling Todd) also went through the crowd, I'd say the turn was probably confusing. You can see it in here:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=13941148
Would you blame Roger for being out of position?

[Havasu1986]

Not sure I would blame the racers. If Randy Davis (pulling Todd) also went through the crowd, I'd say the turn was probably confusing. You can see it in here:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=13941148
Rexone wrote in a different thread that the turn boat was out of position..per their drivers meeting instructions. ;)

[Havasu Hangin']

Would you blame Roger for being out of position? Was Roger an idiot? An ass?
Yes, Roger was an ass...but that's a whole 'nother thread.
Rexone wrote in a different thread that the turn boat was out of position..per their drivers meeting instructions. ;)
Maybe next year, they'll keep the spectator boats farther behind the turn, instead of off to the side?

[PHOTOGLOU]

Would you blame Roger for being out of position? Was Roger an idiot? An ass?
No I would no blame Roger... As I understand it after we went by this boat as well as other boats moved farther back... As you can see in our LITTLE group we had approx 6 boats go through at the same time IMAO each boat needs to be considerate to the skier behind the boat (IE give more room in a turn) so things just got pushed out..... Not knowing why Roger was asked to move the boat 5 - 8 times (Was Roger doing nothing to move the boat or just not moving fast enough for his passenger liking?) I know they did move...

[Spotondl]

Rexone wrote in a different thread that the turn boat was out of position..per their drivers meeting instructions. ;)
That would certainly explain the "what went wrong" questions... but the matter of safety is omnipresent and should trump all other factors...

[Spotondl]

Yes, Roger was an ass...but that's a whole 'nother thread.
LOL:D :D :D

[Havasu Hangin']

That would certainly explain the "what went wrong" questions... but the matter of safety is omnipresent and should trump all other factors...
I understand nobody knew it til they got there. Flying up to (what you think is) the turn, only to have to navigate sitting and racing boats, was probably not easy.
Slow to an idle? You're just setting someone up to get run over.

[Spotondl]

No I would no blame Roger... As I understand it after we went by this boat as well as other boats moved farther back... As you can see in our LITTLE group we had approx 6 boats go through at the same time IMAO each boat needs to be considerate to the skier behind the boat (IE give more room in a turn) so things just got pushed out..... Not knowing why Roger was asked to move the boat 5 - 8 times (Was Roger doing nothing to move the boat or just not moving fast enough for his passenger liking?) I know they did move...
Roger was a "deer in headlights" it sounded to me... LOL

[Spotondl]

I understand nobody knew it til they got there. Flying up to (what you think is) the turn, only to have to navigate sitting and racing boats, was probably not easy.
Slow to an idle? You're just setting someone up to get run over.
Absolutely agree, and all the drivers did an excellent job of getting out of what I am sure was a truly hair raising situation with zero casualties... I bet Jay could 'splain the pucker factor in vivid detail...:D :D :D

[Rexone]

Rexone wrote in a different thread that the turn boat was out of position..per their drivers meeting instructions. ;)
This is correct. The order was to aim at the condos, not the casino as we normally have at the past. So that's what everyone did, get there, and no turn boat. After much visual searching we spotted it downstream a few hundred yards, spectator boats already around it (and it wasn't too visible with the white balloon against the clouds). So now everyone's approaching the turn from a different direction than originally planned. Everything happens real fast at 60+ with 200+ ft rope and a skier to take care of in these situations. Our concern is keeping the skier up and safe, not hitting anyone, and getting through it. Not a great scenario but everyone threaded through it pretty well considering what it could have been. A couple skiers down with ropes spread out all over and boats turning around could have been a little uglier. Also very small spec boats are very difficult to spot in rough water at speed with cloudy conditions with 10 or so other things to watch and deal with simultaneously for a crew of 2 forward and one backwards. There was no shortage of experience either especially in the lead pack of boat's crews which may be a factor why things went so well under the tight circumstances.
I think we were 8th around the turn and ended up 7th overall. That deal probably cost some time jacking around too for most everyone. Hey shit happens, that's racin.

[C-2]

FOG, low visibility and about 60 high-speed boats sez to me STAY THE FAWK OUDDA THE WAY!
Kinda like those road rally peeps that get taken out while having a picnic...on the side of the track.:sqeyes:

[RitcheyRch]

It's a 1970's model 20' Challenger. He has been racing that boat in the Catalina race for the past 30 years.
Hey Ritchie rich....What kind of boat was the P6 outboard boat...My kid has a red SHADOW with the same OMC V8 mota....The thing halls the mail (85-90mph) and embarasses much bigger boats ALL the time....He has the same tow bar too...just curious...

[Goad]

just curious...
why the white balloon? why not bright orange?
Jay - you sure came damn close to the dingy. Coulda been REAL ugly if ya hit em.

[Danhercules]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXyx9NtW6BM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-owL08IL5kE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVXPY6TAqjI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngeOXgjM0gw
Hey Jay, was he handing you a beer bong?? :D :)

[AZJD]

just curious...
why the white balloon? why not bright orange?
Jay - you sure came damn close to the dingy. Coulda been REAL ugly if ya hit em.
Ya, can you imagine what a couple of #6 drives would have done to Rogers rental?:D

[squirt'nmyload]

you can tell how close it was since you can hear the wind from the boat going by them :jawdrop: :sqeyes:

[Riverkid]

Turn boat has been outa place a few times. Does he have GPS? Does he look at it? It's all racin, but when it's foggy and you're going 60 plus it's awfully hard to see with everything going on.
They should have started shooting flares right away, or put a heli stationary over the turn boat. It happens. I was up on the dash a few years back with the "where" look going and the spectators showed us where the turn boat was (way out of posit)...
We buzzed some folks. It happens.

[TCHB]

Jay you did a great job hanging with the front group. How big were the wakes from the Catalina Flyer and what speed did you hit them?

[PHOTOGLOU]

Jay you did a great job hanging with the front group. How big were the wakes from the Catalina Flyer and what speed did you hit them?
Thank you... It makes it very difficult to go in and out of other people's wake's for the boat and skier.. If I had not fumbled the start I think we would have been able to hang a little better. As far as the Catalina Flyer we were approx 1000 ft away so slowed to 45 5 good rollers then sped back up... As far as the size 2 - 3 ft but soft they had a rythem to them. the slop/chop was tougher the skier said he just kinda fell off the backside of those.... My bad on the read of those....

[SHAKE-YO-AZZ]

Roger....back Up!!!!!
LAMO that was good Jay

[MBlaster]

Geeze those vids are crazy.

[nhbuoy]

THX RR...same G. Linder pedigree...

[Midlife Advantage]

No I would no blame Roger... As I understand it after we went by this boat as well as other boats moved farther back... As you can see in our LITTLE group we had approx 6 boats go through at the same time IMAO each boat needs to be considerate to the skier behind the boat (IE give more room in a turn) so things just got pushed out..... Not knowing why Roger was asked to move the boat 5 - 8 times (Was Roger doing nothing to move the boat or just not moving fast enough for his passenger liking?) I know they did move...
Nice video Jay. You should have seen it from Air7, we will all see the DVD soon, but it sure looked like the spectators were just too damn close to the turn boat and hadn't thought about makin a hole! the whole crowd just gasped when that shot went up, all just waiting for someone to hit or get hit. Even the pilot commented at that point, I heard it on the radio but can't recall exactly, something to the point of WTF?

[PHOTOGLOU]

Nice video Jay. You should have seen it from Air7, we will all see the DVD soon, but it sure looked like the spectators were just too damn close to the turn boat and hadn't thought about makin a hole! the whole crowd just gasped when that shot went up, all just waiting for someone to hit or get hit. Even the pilot commented at that point, I heard it on the radio but can't recall exactly, something to the point of WTF?
That just might have been me you heard through the helicopters radio:eek: :D :eek:

[charlyox]

Roger is an ASSHOLE!

[BoatPI]

Jay; You would have thought that the officials should have provided the GPS L/L of the turn boat location??? It just makes sense with the fog, etc.

[Steamin' Rice]

Jay; You would have thought that the officials should have provided the GPS L/L of the turn boat location??? It just makes sense with the fog, etc.
I think that they intentionally do not give out GPS coordinates for the turn boat - It's part of the "navigation" of the race and also because the location of the turn boat may vary slightly depending on the conditiona on race day - At least that's how it was explained to me whn I asked the same question.

[Goad]

just curious...
why the white balloon? why not bright orange?
anyone have any thoughts on this? just curious why. ;)

[PHOTOGLOU]

Jay; You would have thought that the officials should have provided the GPS L/L of the turn boat location??? It just makes sense with the fog, etc.
You'd think so but they didn't.... It got a little scary as we saw it (LATE) with 2 boats on or Starbort (sp?) side and one port.... Port boat didn't see it but 2 boats on Star side did and started to turn....

[Midlife Advantage]

You'd think so but they didn't.... It got a little scary as we saw it (LATE) with 2 boats on or Starbort (sp?) side and one port.... Port boat didn't see it but 2 boats on Star side did and started to turn....
Starboard, pronounced starberd, since you asked:D
that must have been spooky, knowing you might have to turn to avoid, or slow down, but you would lose your position possibly. Kinda had to just say F*** it!?

[scarabrick2]

I've been a safey boat at a few races and this happens every time. A few offshore races I did in Ventura I was on my 38 scarab and drove around all day telling people to back up. some people don't have binoculars so they want to get close. Even when the FOG is in,you can't see them coming at you at say, over 100 mph:eek: . I tried to keep a 100 yrd distance,off the course, but people's boat/waves/current still get pushed into the racing "line/course".
Usually the turn boats have ORANGE flags( Orange turn buoys) plus a yellow one for caution. They fly the orange flag from the antenana or drape it on the side of there boat. We had to put out 300 + feet of anchor rope on our LARGE BOX anchor to stay at our station. try pullign that monster up after a long day of side to side movment. Got a good arm pump :D
I give the race boat drivers and skiers a lot of credit. Not everyone can drive /ski like that. They're looking out for there Safety, the skiers Safety and the jerk off who is to Damn close .
Sometimes a little common sense should kick in. Say when you see a shit load of high speed boats pulling a skier 200 feet behind. Maybe your safe distance should be hum.....:idea: . greater than 300 feet!!!!!
IMO
Rick

[C-2]

Yes, spectators at an event which is non-spectator in nature, is always a tough juggling act.

[PHOTOGLOU]

Just went back to show this again....

[Kim Hanson]

Hey Ritchie rich....What kind of boat was the P6 outboard boat...My kid has a red SHADOW with the same OMC V8 mota....The thing halls the mail (85-90mph) and embarasses much bigger boats ALL the time....He has the same tow bar too...just curious...
I have an OMC V8 and it must deliver the mail, 106 +............( . )( . )............:D :D

[Jbb]

I have an OMC V8 and it must deliver the mail, 106 +............( . )( . )............:D :D
What was the last year....or ....decade ...It has run..?
:D

[Tom Brown]

Did I hear someone call for a Rattle Can Lou chop? :confused:

[PHOTOGLOU]

Did I hear someone call for a Rattle Can Lou chop? :confused:
Way to kill a thread TOM......:rolleyes: :D

[Jbb]

Did I hear someone call for a Rattle Can Lou chop? :confused:
:D

[reb939]

I've been a safey boat at a few races and this happens every time. A few offshore races I did in Ventura I was on my 38 scarab and drove around all day telling people to back up. some people don't have binoculars so they want to get close. Even when the FOG is in,you can't see them coming at you at say, over 100 mph:eek: . I tried to keep a 100 yrd distance,off the course, but people's boat/waves/current still get pushed into the racing "line/course".
Usually the turn boats have ORANGE flags( Orange turn buoys) plus a yellow one for caution. They fly the orange flag from the antenana or drape it on the side of there boat. We had to put out 300 + feet of anchor rope on our LARGE BOX anchor to stay at our station. try pullign that monster up after a long day of side to side movment. Got a good arm pump :D
I give the race boat drivers and skiers a lot of credit. Not everyone can drive /ski like that. They're looking out for there Safety, the skiers Safety and the jerk off who is to Damn close .
Sometimes a little common sense should kick in. Say when you see a shit load of high speed boats pulling a skier 200 feet behind. Maybe your safe distance should be hum.....:idea: . greater than 300 feet!!!!!
IMO
Rick
I agree Rick. You're out there and you know there will be boats and skiers coming in soon. You know where the turn boat is and you see a race boat with an army of helicopters overhead heading your way FLASH!!!!: He just might be wanting to go around the turn boat and your sitting between the drivers and thier objective. Why wait until the last second to move.
Don't get me wrong, I love to see the fans out there this sport needs all the attention it can get, less & less boats every year, but be aware of where you are on the race course.