Bermuda Round The Island Powerboat Race 2019

After being postponed last week due to the inclement weather, the Bermuda Powerboat Association has confirmed that the annual Round the Island race will be held this coming Sunday [Aug 18] starting at 2.00pm from Ferry Reach.

A spokesperson said, “The BPBA Executive have declared the annual Round the Island race shall happen on Sunday, 18th August. Racing commences at 2.00pm from Ferry Reach. We have 19 registered racers and racing promises to be quite contentious as all have signed up to win! Vendors will be on-hand at Ferry Reach. We will also have our newly built Junior class boat on display. Our youngster future racers are invited to come and check it out and discuss how you sign up to enter the BPBA Junior Race program open to 10-15 year olds.”

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Selley and Barnes team up for island race

Scott Barnes has stepped in as a replacement for navigator Matthew Smith and will team up with pilot David Selley in the Rubis Around the Island Power Boat Race on Sunday.

Smith will be off the island for the annual race, which was postponed last weekend because of unfavourable weather conditions.

Despite having to switch navigators, Selley is confident of striking up a quick understanding with Barnes and said the pair were “prepared to go to battle” when they take to the start-finish line at Ferry Reach.

“Unfortunately, Matthew had to go away and is pretty bummed out about that, so Scott Barnes will be jumping in the boat,” Selley said. “He knows what he needs to do and he’s raced before. He’s also light, which is good, as the boats are weight sensitive.

“Scott is a ‘race-head’ so he’ll be fine. You don’t want someone who disagrees with you. You want someone who is prepared to go to battle and encourage you and not slow you down.”

Selley and Smith set a new A Class record on their way to clinching both class and line honours after circumnavigating the new 54-mile racecourse in a time of 55min 11sec last year.

They broke the previous record of 55:46, set in 1992 by Andrew DaCosta and co-pilot Chris Smith, the older brother of Matthew Smith, although Selley said the two records were akin to “comparing apples with oranges”.

He said: “Ours was a new A Class record under the new A Class rules. We have more horsepower than they used to have.”

Selley and Barnes, the island’s top karting driver, are one of only two boats competing in the A Class along with Errin Butterfield and navigator Shane Medeiros.

“The goal is go out and beat our record and try to be the first boat back,” Selley added. “You’re only ever racing your class, but it’s an added bonus if you’re the first boat back. There will be some good competition. Shane Madeiros and Errin Butterfield’s A26 boat is almost identical to ours. Those guys are fast and we’re pretty evenly matched. It could be anyone’s day.”

The B Class boasts the largest racing fleet with nine boats.

Among them are the father and son team of Craig Nesbitt Sr and Jr and 57-year-old Ernie Mello, who has come out of retirement to make an appearance 40 years after making his race debut. Mello is set to compete as a navigator on the 19-foot Phantom he owns along with pilot Cleveland Maybury.

The S Class features the second-largest fleet with five boats, among them top contenders Steven Eversley and navigator Brandon Franks and the pair of Andrew Cottingham and Henry Talbot. The C Class has the smallest fleet with Chad Sutherland and navigator Terance Rance the sole boat having entered.

The D Class is slightly larger with Shawn Butterfield and navigator Jermal Woolridge and the pair of Stuart Durham and Kaya Stewart the only two teams having entered. The race starts at 2pm, with the A Class the first scheduled to come off the start-finish line.

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Selleys shine as records tumble

It proved a memorable day in the Selley household as brothers David and Mark delivered record-breaking performances in the Rubis Around the Island Power Boat Race today.

Not only did David and navigator Scott Barnes, set a new record in the A class in a time of 50min 19secs, the pair also took the chequered flag as the first boat back to the finish line in perfectly calm conditions at Ferry Reach.

To make the day even sweeter, David then watched on as sibling Mark and navigator Jordan Fletcher, followed in behind, setting a new record of 43:52 in the B class.

“I’ll take the record and let’s just hope this one stays around for a bit,” David Selley said.

“It was pretty calm out there, a few bumps along the way but that’s what those boats are designed to do. We drove the conditions perfectly and brought it home.

“It always looks calm from the shore line, and even we make the mistake of thinking it appears like a carpet, however, once you get in the boat and take off, believe me you’re not even able top hold a drink to your mouth.

“It’s always challenging and I’m just proud of not only ourselves, but my brother too. That team have been through so much and to get a one-two finish is brilliant.

“In a way I wish they would have been the first boat back, they have been through so much and to come in just behind us and get a win in his class is fantastic.

“This race is always weather permitting and today was pretty perfect. I want to leave a mark on the sport and that’s my third win now and so I’m only two behind my uncle Craig.

“The aim is to set a new record again next year. Going for records brings out the best in us and so that’s the aim.

“I want to thank Scott for stepping in and Matthew [Smith} for all of his hard work as well.”

Barnes stepped in as a late replacement for original navigator Matthew Smith, who was unavailable for the rescheduled race, with the former taking the opportunity to hail the performance of his pilot in achieving their record-breaking feat.

“It was a hell of a ride out there,” said Barnes, a champion karting driver. “We had the slower of the two boats and that just shows what an incredible job David did.

“The other boat led pretty much all the way to Pompano and then David took control on South Shore and out outmanoeuvred our rival boat.”

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Don't buy any used Trucks from Bermuda:rolleyes:

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