2018 Ocean Cup - Trinidad & Tobago Great Race

Trinidad & Tobago Great Race :: UIM Speed Record :: August 18, 2018 :: 2018 Ocean Cup Announced

A dare was thrown down and Nigel Hook and Jay Johnson have taken up the gauntlet accepting the challenge to compete in the 50th Anniversary of The Trinidad & Tobago Great Race August 18, 2018. This historic event, with more than 40 boats registered, is a one-way endurance race beginning in the Port of Spain, navigating around Trinidad, before heading over the horizon to the finish in front of Store Bay, Tobago. The #77 Lucas Oil SilverHook will be racing against the famous Fountain Cat Killer -- the only other V-hull registered -- and at least six of the world’s fastest catamaran hulls including Victory, Skater, Mystic, and Doug Wright which are boasting monstrous power supplied by Mercury Racing, Jon Kaase Racing Engines, and others.

After Hook and Johnson established a Guinness World Record and set APBA/UIM Speed Records from Key West to Cuba (1hr, 18min, 3secs) and back during the 2017 Ocean Cup, the duo began looking for their next challenge. Their focus quickly centered on an event first held in 1969, The Trinidad & Tobago Great Race, one of the longest consecutively held powerboat races in the world. Hook’s team began working closely with the Trinidad and Tobago Power Boat Association (TTPBA) and with the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) to incorporate this historic event into the UIM’s 2018 calendar as a sanctioned speed record.

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photo by Q Photography

"We’re upping the ante this year -- there are very few venues which have achieved such a long legacy and now, with a UIM World Speed Record being established alongside The Great Race, a unique opportunity has been created. This will be a great challenge because frequently only 50% of the competitors make it to the finish line" said Hook. "We’re looking forward to rough water and fierce competitors, and to forging lasting friendships. The Great Race is the perfect showcase for the #77 Lucas Oil SilverHook!"

Satcom Direct, provider of global connectivity solutions, has rejoined the Lucas Oil team by fully integrating satellite equipment with the t3lemetry system and will be supporting the live broadcast of data and audio from the command center during The Great Race. Fans around the world will be able watch the speeds, GPS position, engine data, heart rates, and listen to the shore-to-cockpit conversations of the #77 Lucas Oil SilverHook. Hook says "This is fantastic! And thanks to Satcom Direct, once again we will be transmitting IoT data LIVE via satellite from the deep blue water up to IBM’s Cloud. Fans around the world will remain connected as Jay and I head out over the horizon to Tobago."

Preparing for an international event requires a lot of support. Striping Service and Supply, Official Decals & Graphics Supplier of #77 Lucas Oil SilverHook, ensure the A77 and other decals are top notch. Crowley Maritime, Official Transportation Sponsor of the 2018 Ocean Cup, will be loading SilverHook, supporting parts, and equipment onto the AS Fabrizia (call sign CQIU3) later this week to be received by Kadir Mahaboob, Managing Director of Mission Speed & Audio, Lucas Oil’s authorized Trinidad & Tobago distributor, who has been helping the team navigate customs and logistics. Mahaboob says "We are very excited and privileged to have the Lucas Oil SilverHook Racing Team here to compete in the 2018 Great Race, to see them out in the waters of Trinidad & Tobago would be a spectacle and, if everything goes their way on race day, they should be the first boat to Tobago."

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So mark your calendars for 8am EST, August 18th to connect up with the 2018 Ocean Cup – Trinidad & Tobago Great Race / UIM World Speed Record event. Fair winds and following seas!
Fan Dashboard www.t3lemetry.com
www.OceanCup.com
www.SilverHook.com
www.NigelHook.com

Some footage of last year.

https://youtu.be/paMRH9Xq3Rc

https://youtu.be/paMRH9Xq3Rc

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World record awaits Great Race drivers
Published: Saturday, August 11, 2018

It will not be the same when dozens of race boats hit the waters next week Saturday for the T&T International Great Race from Trinidad to the sister isle of Tobago.

In fact, the boat that navigates the choppy waters the fastest will land itself into the world record books, Paul Gabriel, a member of the T&T Powerboat executive has said. The race which is now sanctioned by the world governing body for the sport—the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), will feature a standardised course that will take participants out of the gulf and straight to Scarborough for the finish, for a challenging 95 miles drive.

Gabriel believes the event is set to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years as his association intends to turn interests from international racers into participation.

For this year’s 50th anniversary of the event, three international participants including Lucas Oil from the United States, is scheduled to take part for the first time, but organisers have had to blank two others because of the tedious process in getting boats off the port, ranging from paper-work to cost, Gabriel told Guardian Media Sports.

One of the boats, is understood to be a 54 feet catamaran called Hoski, that was expected to compete in the 130mph ‘A’ Class, where the country’s top racers such as Mr Solo Too, the event’s defending champion, Paramount, Motul Monster, Jumbie, Ironman and Cat Killer will compete.

He believes if all stakeholders, from TTPBA to government to racers, could work together in unison, the event which provides a form of recreation for many, can soon be a revenue earner for the country at large in the coming years.

He believes the event will capitalise on a large international following it has had for many years. This following will be reached out to form a first-time live platform being introduced come Saturday, and it will allow interested persons locally and internationally, to log-on online and follow the race.

“They will be able to keep track of where the boats are in the race as well as the results,” Gabriel explained.

The race will feature 43 boats in nine different classes, all scheduled to receive staggered starts on the day, starting at 7.15 am for smaller boats and 8 am for the A-Class competitors, which can be viewed from the Foreshore.

On Tuesday, TTPBA officials will conduct an exercise on extraction with Coast guard officers, while on Wednesday there will be a meet and greet at Club 51 Degrees.

WALTER ALIBEY

http://www.guardian.co.tt/sports/201...t-race-drivers

Cat Killer keen to better Great Race debut

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Cat Killer powers across the water in their debut appearance at the Great Race last year. PHOTO BY RONALD DANIEL

SHERDON PIERRE

PLACING third in the A Class (130mph) category of the Great Race on debut could be considered an achievement, but Cat Killer’s crew members have learnt from their experience and are hoping to do even better next weekend for the 50th edition of the inter-island race.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, throttleman Lee Pollonais said they encountered a few teething problems last year which hampered their performance.

“My driver and I had never raced before – that was our very first race – and at that point in time, we didn’t give the boat a proper mechanical shakedown because we only just got the boat. We didn’t know each other so it was a sort of self-imposed handicap. Now, I’m racing with Gary Johnson and we have always been a good team together and that’s a big part,” he said.

Pollonais said final touches are currently being done to Cat Killer before they do battle against the seven other boats in the A category. “Preparations have been going good; our engine builder is coming on Sunday to give us a once- over between next week Monday or Tuesday. We will do a final test run on Tuesday and that will be the last of the preparations. It will be the final blessing before the race.”

Cat Killer clocked a time of one hour and 20 minutes last year and Pollonais believes they can go faster but he remains cautious of the route. “Best of luck to all racers participating but safety first! The north coast which is over 80 miles long, you cannot predict anything; it is never consistent throughout the race.”

He continued, “Where I am not particularly fond of is the ‘Bocas’ with all the spectators’ boats, it can be quite nerve-wrecking when you reach at that point going at 130 miles per hour with seven other boats.

Unfortunately, you cannot actually see a clear path until you reach upon it.” He further explained, “That is a transition period of relatively calm to when you get in the rough waters so that period that you have to settle your boat down.”

The throttleman was hesitant to predict Cat Killer’s placing when they reach Store Bay, Tobago, but he said,” I expect to improve on my performance, a matter of fact, it will be quite a spectacle. It is a great class, great competitors and great friends. There is absolute camaraderie in the Trinidad and Tobago Power Boat Association because we are all good friends and competitors.”

https://newsday.co.tt/2018/08/10/cat...at-race-debut/

For those of you wondering about the rules for the different classes.

Class Letter Designation - MAXIMUM Speed

SHORT COURSE
G - 60 mph

MEDIUM COURSE
F - 70 mph
E - 80 mph
D - 95 mph

LONG COURSE
C - 110 mph
B - 120 mph
A - 130 mph

• Breaking out of speed bracket: 1 minute added to racing time for every breakout reading.

OVER 40 boats will compete in the 50th running of the TT Great Race which will be held on August 18.

The 2018 launch was held at the 51 Degrees Lounge on Cipriani Boulevard in Port of Spain, recently.

Great Race participants from the 1970s and 1980s were invited, along with co-founder of the event Dr Ken Gordon, who delivered the feature address.

Last year, Mr Solo Too won the overall title at the 49th edition of the annual inter island trek. Mr Solo Too got to the finish marker in Store Bay, Tobago in one hour 12 minutes and 35 seconds (1:12:35).

This year, boats will be competing in the A Class (130 mph), B Class (120 mph), C Class (110 mph), D Class (95 mph), E Class (80 mph), F Class (70 mph) and the G Class (60 mph).

Jason Ross, one of the team members of Mobil Outlaw, said he expects a strong field of competitors. Speaking at the launch, he said, “The E Class is a very competitive class. It has been competitive over the last three years. We as a team have dominated over the last three years in regattas. We do have two Great Race wins under our belt and we are hoping for a third, but there are some very strong teams in the Great Race.”

He said competing in the 50th anniversary of the event is special. “It means a lot to me to be part of a 50th anniversary. Obviously I was not born when the race took place for the first time, but to celebrate a 50th anniversary is a remarkable one.”

https://newsday.co.tt/2018/07/30/ove...tt-great-race/

https://youtu.be/P7I88_E92VY

https://youtu.be/P7I88_E92VY

Motul Monster family vibe for Great Race


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Motul Monster conducts testing recently in Chaguaramas ahead of the TT Great Race which takes off on Saturday at the Foreshore, Port of Spain. PHOTO BY Nicholas Bhajan/CA-images

FOR the first time in the history of the TT Great Race, there will be two father and son pairs on board the same boat when the 50th edition of the inter-island race takes off on Saturday.

Motul Monster, competing for the first time since 2015, will be aiming for another Great Race victory after winning a hat-trick of titles from 2013 to 2015 as Total Monster. Their new title sponsor is Motul which brought about the name change. Other main sponsors of Motul Monster are VP Racing Fuel and Peake Yacht Services.

Driver Joey Sabeeney will be joined by his 19 year old son Joshua, who will be one of the navigators. The father and son duo of Peter and Daniel Peake will serve as a throttleman and navigator respectively, adding to the family atmosphere on Motul Monster. Daniel, who is now 27 years old, started racing at 19 with the senior members of Monster. Joey, who had the privilege of competing in the 25th edition of the Great Race, is looking forward to the experience of racing with his son Joshua and the Peake family.

“My first Great Race was in 1993, which was the 25th anniversary of the Great Race; I was the first boat to Tobago in that year in a boat called Diamond Cut. This year is the 50th running and I have my son in the boat with me and it is going to be his first Great Race. Also for the first time in the history of the Great Race, you will have two fathers and two sons competing on the same team.”

Joey said the Motul Monster team is eager to hit the water on Saturday after competing at a high level in the regattas this year. “We returned at the beginning of the season because we wanted to compete in this year’s running as it is the 50th. We won our class for the year in high points, we won 10 out of the 12 races for the year...We are going into the Great Race feeling very confident right now,” he declared.

Joey said not much adjustments have been made to Motul Monster since last competing in 2015, but the major difference is their fuel.

“We are basically running the same engines that we ran before, the only change we have made from 2015 to now is the type of fuel that we are running. We are now running on ethanol. We used to run on high octane gas before.

The ethanol supposedly gives you a little more reliability, the engines run a lot cooler on ethanol and it is also a slighter cheaper fuel to run as well, so we decided to go that way.”

Motul Monster is expected to be the only vessel running on ethanol for this year’s Great Race.

https://newsday.co.tt/2018/08/14/mot...or-great-race/

https://youtu.be/i9foIT8dg0U

https://youtu.be/i9foIT8dg0U

Boating's "Great Race" from Trinidad to Tobago Gets a USA Entrant for the First Time in 29 Years to Attempt a World Record Run...

The 50th Anniversary of the "Great Race" from Trinidad to Tobago will get underway early on Saturday morning, August 18. 43 entries, including "#77 Lucas Oil SilverHook" running in the top A-Class Division, will challenge the 100+ mile course between the two islands.

The last time a USA entry competed in the "Great Race" was in 1989 when "Dollar Marine Special" took the victory in a time of 1:48. Last year, "Mr Solo Too" took top honors with an elapsed time of 1:12:35.

29 years later, Lucas Oil #77 SilverHook will have its work cut out to claim victory for the USA in the A-Class. Top contenders include "Mr Solo Too," "Jumbie," "Paramount," "Ironman," "Monster," and "Cat Killer."

The race will feature 43 boats in nine different classes, all scheduled to receive staggered starts on the day, starting at 7:15 am ET for smaller boats and 8 am ET for the A-Class competitors.

A-Class speeds should average 80mph, with top speeds in the 130mph range. During the race, #77 Lucas Oil SilverHook will attempt to outpace the competition and set a new UIM sanctioned world/race record.

The north coast of Trinidad is known for its rough seas with waves in the 6-8 foot range.

#77 Lucas Oil SilverHook is owned and captained by Nigel Hook, who will control the throttles during the record attempt. Hook is a 30-year veteran of international powerboat racing and has won three World Championships and set four World Speed Records. He and his co-pilot, long time driver and friend Jay Johnson, were inducted into the APBA Hall of Champions in 1998 and they are currently racing the #77 Lucas Oil SilverHook 48GP in the Superboat International Unlimited class.

The "#77 Lucas Oil SilverHook" is already in the record books including setting a one-way time of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 3 secs (Guinness® World Record – and APBA/UIM sanctioned) a year ago on Thursday, August 17, 2017 from Key West, USA to Havana, Cuba.

http://www.therockfather.com/lifesty...rld-record-run

Great Race now an Int’l event

The T&T Great Race has officially gone international. In addition to having a competitor from the USA, race organizers have now ensured that the event has been sanctioned by the world governing body for the sport, the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), which is fully recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is a member of the Recognized International Sports Federation (ARIFS).

At Thursday’s Launch of the event’s 50th running at 51 Degrees Lounge on Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain, it was announced that one international competitor- Lucas Oil, a 48 foot Silverhook, will contest the event on August 18 in the 130 mph ‘A- Class’, the first time in 29 years.

The last time a foreign boat participated was back in 1989, by the name of Doller Marine from the United States, which eventually won the race. This time around, however, Lucas Oil will have its work cut out, with Mr Solo Too eager to add to the title it won last year, and Jumbie, Paramount, Ironman, Monster and Cat Killer anxious to pose an upset.

The race will feature 43 boats in nine different classes, all scheduled to receive staggered starts on the day, starting at 7:15 am for smaller boats and 8 am for the A-Class competitors, which can be viewed from the Foreshore.

Feature speaker Ken Gordon, the founder of the Great Race, praised his comrade Ralph Gibson, who was instrumental in creating standards for safety that were implemented for this gruelling race.

In 1968 Gordon envisioned a boat race between the twin islands and on August 2, 1969, the Great Race was born.

Vice President of the TTPBA, Roger Bell, spoke about the race migrating from a National event to an International event, while his treasurer Michael Clerk revealed that a new GPS platform has been introduced this year, and it will allow fans around the world access online to track the race boats on race day.

He later gave a rundown on the Great Racecourse. Meanwhile to commemorate the 50th running of the event, recognition was given to the racers and technical crew of the early years such as Brian Bowen, Chris Mc Clean, the De Gannes family, Dennis Ramdwar, Garth Marshall, Carlos Sabga, the Sa Gomes brothers, Brian & Derek Crooks, Junior Thompson, Derrick Gomes, Larry Romany, Marcel Carrington, Bob, Douglas & John Skinner and Robin Geofroy.

They were thanked for their contribution to the sport. Bell said the Great Race would not be here 50 years later were it not for the dedication, passion and skill of many. He thanked the present ExCo for working tireless hours to make the UIM sanctioning possible.

The start can be viewed from the Foreshore before they head off to Store Bay, Tobago.

At the launch Mobil Outlaw, the overall high points champion was on display, as well as racers from the 70’s and 80’s, such as Winfield Aleong, Jimmy Hadeed, Rolf Hive, Douglas Skinner, Johnny Walker and Donald Hadden.

http://www.guardian.co.tt/sports/201...2%80%99l-event

Mr Solo Too eyes 50th Great Race glory

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DEFENDING champion Mr. Solo Too is aiming to capture an unprecedented 18th Great Race title tomorrow morning for the historic 50th anniversary of the inter-island race. The race takes off from 7.15am at the Foreshore in Port of Spain with staggered start times for the various classes and ends at Store Bay, Tobago.

“We are as confident as all the other entrants in the Great Race; believe it or not anyone can win, because you never know what can happen.” throttleman Darin Marshall said yesterday.

Marshall admitted, “We had some issues throughout the year where we had one mechanical issue after another, but after the last regatta, we found the problem and we put a stop to it. Preparations this year has been a lot better than last year.” He continued, “It is the longest offshore powerboat event in the world, we travel through the Atlantic Sea, Caribbean Sea, Trinidad and Tobago waters. It’s a greater achievement for us, racing with one of the founders of the Great Race Ken Charles.”

Marshall said Charles is an iconic figure in the history of the Great Race.

“His boat wasn’t ready for the first actual Great Race but he has been there since the inception putting together everything. He is the longest standing member still partaking in the Great Race.”

Marshall said Saturday’s race can never be predicted as there are too many variables.

“Great Race is for every single vessel; you can analyse and predict what the condition may be or how you going to finish, but on the day anything can change – especially the weather conditions.”

He elaborated, “We will have some good weather on Saturday, but our problem will be if there is bad weather on Friday into Saturday, there will have floating obstacles that come down from the mountain. Debris will be at its highest, so it will not only be a race course but an obstacle course – that is the nature of the Great Race.”

Despite the challenges, the three-man crew of Marshall, driver Charles and navigator Gino Fusco seem to have it under control seeing that they have the experience and expertise from winning all those years.

It wouldn’t be all smooth sailing for Mr. Solo Too in the A-Class (130 mph) with the likes of Motul Monster returning for the first time since claiming a hat-trick of titles from 2013-2015. The father-son pairs of Joey and Joshua Sabeeney and Peter and Daniel Peak lead the points table from the regattas held this year, winning 10 out of the 12 races for the year.

Cat Killer is a relatively new boat on the scene but has already made waves by placing third last year in their first ever attempt.

Throttleman Lee Pollonais and driver Gary Johnson are aiming to do even better with the experience gained over the year.

The crew of Ironman is expecting to improve on their consecutive second-placed finishes over the last few years. Their power boat racing season almost ended prematurely when they collided with Jumbie in May at a circuit race regatta close to the Trinidad Yacht Club in Glencoe. Having won in 2011 and 2012, throttleman Guy Costa and driver James Hadeed will be eager to lift their third title.

The first-time winner in 2016, Paramount is confident of winning with the largest boat – a 50 feet Mystic.

Throttleman Donald Webster, driver Jason Laing and crew chief Patrick Balgobin hinted that they are eyeing the race`s record barring any mechanical issues.

Throttleman Justin Decle and driver David Brash for Jumbie will be returning to Great Race after a two-year absence and aim to give it their best shot.

Americans Nigel Hook (throttleman) and Jay Johnson (driver) will be looking to cause an upset, being the surprise package with their boat Lucas Oil which is a Silverhook 48 GP. The foreign team spent the last few days strategising their race and learning the conditions of the route.

The TT Power Boat Association was contacted by the Guinness Book of Records for having the longest consistent offshore race in the world earlier this year.

Fans can view the race at the Foreshore, TT Yacht Club, Maracas Bay, Grande Rivière and Store Bay, Tobago.

Staggered start times:

715am – Cruiser class
730am – 60 mph class
745am – 70/80/95/110 mph classes
800am – 130 mph class

https://newsday.co.tt/2018/08/17/mr-...at-race-glory/

‘Monster’ adds number four

Sabeeney & Co win 50th Great Race, clock fastest time

MOTUL Monster, formally Total Monster, marked its return to the Trinidad and Tobago Great Race by posting the fastest time and claiming the A Class (130 mph) title yesterday.

The victory would have been doubly sweet for driver Joey Sabeeney, throttleman Peter Peake, navigator Daniel Peake and crewman Alfred Bell.

https://www.trinidadexpress.com/spor...20ec949df.html

Monster win 50th Great Race in record time

MOTUL Monster grabbed their fourth Great Race title in their last four attempts when they arrived at Store Bay, Tobago first in the A-Class (130Mph) yesterday. Monster’s performance came in a Great Race and Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) record time of 47 minutes and 43 seconds.

Monster was the race favourite being the most-informed boat coming into the historic 50th edition of the Great Race by winning 10 out of 12 local regattas this year. The race took off at 715am at the Foreshore in Port of Spain with the other classes while the A-Class began 45 minutes later.

The members of the Monster winning team who have now been victorious in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018 are Joey Sabeeney and his son Joshua(drivers), Alfred Bell (navigator), Daniel Peake (navigator), Peter Peake (throttleman) and Marcel Carrington (crew chief).

Joey Sabeeney made mention to other crew members who worked behind the scene but was vital in their victory. “I really want to big up other crew members Robin Geoffroy and Nicholas Gomez. If was not for these two guys we wouldn’t have reach Tobago because they are in charge of repairs and maintaining the boat.”

Members of the Motul Monster team celebrate their win with committee member Izzy Garcia,centre. Motul Monster won the race in 47 minutes and 43 seconds.

Monster created history in the Great Race by having two father and son pairs on board on the same boat. The senior Sabeeney was elated with the achievement, “It is like Father’s day, it is really a family affair for sure and doing it on the 50th Anniversary makes it more special. My first great race was 25 years ago and I was the first boat over in Tobago. So, having my son doing it for the first time in the 50th is like history repeating itself.”

Throttleman Peter Peake told Newsday yesterday, “This win is amazing; this win is amazing… in all honesty, this is the highest feeling that we’ve ever had. We’re very elated to have won the 50th Great Race and it is really amazing, this is amazing, we’re walking on air. An hour was a hell of a record to break in years gone by… so the time is impeccable.”

Peake commented on the weather, “It was a lot of rain, it wasn’t bad weather such… our concern when there is a lot of rain is debris coming down the rivers, coming down the Gulf we did see a good bit of debris, but we didn’t see much after that.”

Peake continued, “I watched the first Great Race as a little child and it was really an amazing thing and it hooked me then. For many years, I always dreamed of being in the Great Race, so coming into the 50th Great Race is really an honour. We feel a little old but to know that we’re still valid and we could win the 50th Great Race is a hell of an experience,”

The Monster team returned after a two-year absence with the thought of winning the special edition of the inter-island race. Peake mentioned, “Last year August when we saw how good the boats were running, we knew what the mark was, and we knew that we had a mark to meet so we went ahead and did a lot of things to the boat and got ready for this year. We know it is the 50th Great Race and we had planned for it and here we are winners of the Great Race 2018,”

Motul Monster defeated the first foreign entry in the last 30 years American Lucas Oil Silverhook by a gap of 14 minutes for second placed. Jumbie defied the odds by never completing the Great Race course before returned after a two-year sabbatical to place third, while Mr Solo Too was denied their 18th title by grabbing fourth and Gulf Iron Man placed fifth.

Winners of the various Classes:

A class 130 mph: Motul Monster
D class 95 mph: Bacchanal
E class 80 mph: Mobil Outlaw
F class 70 mph. Fire Chief II
G class 60 mph. Limitless
Cruiser X class: Ruffin It
Cruiser S Class: Apple J

https://youtu.be/deQkwUwHAs4

https://youtu.be/deQkwUwHAs4

Those poor rev limiters lol.....surprised the drive shafts and engines lived through the 6 minutes of video :eek:

Bell: Great Race good for sport tourism, Tobago

The annual Great Race, now in its 50th year, could do much for Tobago and the development of sport tourism on the island, Acting President of the Trinidad and Tobago Powerboat Association (TTPBA),Roger Bell, said on Saturday.

Bell, speaking with Newsday Tobago at the end of race at Store Bay, called on the Government to come aboard.

“We are behind Sport Tourism… the TTPBA has now gone International having been sanctioned by the UIM (Union of Internationale Montonautique). I would like the Government to step up, I know it is very hard times and there are lots on their plate but Sports Tourism… we can get people here from as far as Abu Dhabi, Europe and North America to race in our waters,” he said.

The race took off from the the Foreshore in Port of Spain ending at Store Bay in Tobago, with a record 38 boats participating, one of which was a foreign entrant.

Bell described the event as ‘fantastic.’

“The big thing for me is that everybody is safe. It was a very, very fast race because we had what we would consider abnormal conditions… the sea was very calm which is not the norm in Great Race history,” he said.

Bell also said that even though the race’s biggest sponsor, Carib, pull out since in 2016, there has not been a decline in other support for the event.

“Carib pulled out in 2016 so the 2017 Great Race was run with a host of sponsors. Our belief is that the Great Race belongs to the country, it’s a brand that is now 50 years old and the name has been changed to the Trinidad and Tobago Great Race. So now there is no title sponsor, but people come and support us from private companies in different forms and fashions. The race has been well, it is doing very well. 2017 was a great year with Mr Solo winning and (with the race) going back into Store Bay,” Bell said.

But just what keeps the event afloat?

“The races keep it afloat… the entrants are passionate about the races and we do have small sponsors, but we don’t have title sponsors anymore. We have been able to put on a fantastic Great Race and we have not cut back on anything in terms of expenditure, in particular safety,” Bell said.

Newsday Tobago also caught up with Lucas Oil’s throttleman, Nigel Hook, who described the experience as "really good competition."

“The water was really, really calm. We had some luck today, we had a bit of luck but to race against such really good competition...we tried to make it up at the end.This has been an incredible weekend, it took us a week to get here but the whole of Trinidad and Tobago has made us feel so welcome. We were a little worried coming into the Caribbean, we’re the only foreign entry in the last 29 years but this has really been fantastic, it really lived up to its name, ‘Great Race’,” Hook said.

Lucas Oil’s Account Executive, Jeff Carles is considering a return to the 2019 event.

“We’d like to, we hope so, we’d love to. Not many places like Trinidad and Tobago so we’ll definitely have to take a look and do some planning and see if we can figure out, but we’ll love to come back here. It was a great race, the people are phenomenon… and we love some boat race,” he said.

https://newsday.co.tt/2018/08/20/bel...ourism-tobago/

https://youtu.be/xnXq2yF72q4

https://youtu.be/xnXq2yF72q4

https://youtu.be/PknSLr-skXo

https://youtu.be/PknSLr-skXo