IJSBA received news that RIVA Racing knocked $500 off the cost of Vi-PEC Engine Management for Sea-Doo. The original cost was $2,399.95. Pick it up while its on sale for $1,899.95! This piece of equipment is for competition use only. It is not for use on pollution controlled machines.

RIVA’s all new V88R3 Pro-Series ECU provides massive performance gains to the Sea-Doo Supercharged 4-TEC Engine. The V88R3 is built for the 2018 Sea-Doo RXT-X 300. However, it can be programmed for use with 2015-2018 models. Use with other models of Sea-Doo requires the RIVA Safety Switch Upgrade Kit.

The new V88R3 Pro-Series ECU delivers over 50hp to the Sea-Doo’s RXT’s stock engine. ECU is fully programmable with either RIVA supplied mapping or user defined parameters. Most calibrations require use of RIVA Fuel Pressure Regulator Kit and 91+ octane pump fuel. The ECU plugs directly into factory wiring harness via waterproof connectors and it has a rugged waterproof housing. This means you don’t run to the store and grab new wiring or connectors. Just plug in and input your data.

The V88R3 Pro-Series ECU only takes about fifteen minutes to install and a few minutes to set up on the computer. The ECU supports Sea-Doo IBR System. Below is a short list of some of the key benefits of the new ECU:

Performance Fuel Mapping: Delivers optimal fuel required for your specific level of modification based on boost pressure.
Performance Timing Curves: Special racing curves produce more power throughout the RPM range.
Rev Limiter Increase: Stock rev limit can been increased so engine RPM can be run higher producing more boost pressure and horsepower.
Boost Control: Provides control via electronic solenoid for turbo application.

If you need assistance with installation, RIVA Racing provides a full library of user friendly technical videos and downloadable manuals. RIVA also offers tech support by phone and email.

This sad story comes to us from Northwest Florida Daily News. The Emerald Coast of Florida experienced rough surf and a tragedy during the last week of March. Red flags were flying along beaches as warnings to swimmers to stay out of the water. A low pressure system had made its way into the area and created Victory at Sea conditions. High Surf Advisories and rip current warnings were issued as well. All of these things coming together were a recipe for disaster.

The warnings weren’t enough to keep many beachgoers from entering the water. A good Samaritan in Navarre Beach, FL lost his life trying to save a 10-year-old swimmer. A press release from Navarre Beach Fire Rescue stated that crews were dispatched to lifeguard tower Number 3 to assist three swimmers in distress. A firefighter on a PWC attempted to reach the three swimmers and failed to make it through the rough surf.

A Navarre Beach resident and avid swimmer helped pull the 10-year-old from the water. The firefighter on the PWC rescued three other swimmers who were unable to make it to shore under their own power. The good Samaritan was unconscious when he was pulled from the water by teams from Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and Navarre Beach Fire Rescue. Deputies and firefighters administered CPR on the victim. He was then transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center where he was confirmed dead on Monday.

“Visitors and locals need to know the flag system. Prevention is No. 1. Anytime we have a fatality it’s like a punch in the eye,” said Navarre Beach Fire Rescue Chief Danny Fueigh. Rescue crews and locals do the best they can to get the word out about the flags and conditions in the water. Unfortunately, beachgoers don’t always take heed and find themselves in trouble.

When we announced Sea-Doo’s Clean Sea Project, we knew it would lead to a very successful Earth Day weekend. It turns out that the newly-launched initiative proved environmentally beneficial indeed.

In the initial weekend of the event, we were told that volunteers collected almost two dumpsters worth of trash from Florida’s shorelines, making the environment that much cleaner. We applaud Sea-Doo and all volunteers that came out to help.

Check out the full bulletin from Sea-Doo:
Melbourne, FL, USA – April 25, 2018 – Sea-Doo enthusiasts, dealers, and Sea-Doo X-TEAM racers collected nearly two dumpsters worth of trash in Florida as part of the Earth Day weekend Sea-Doo Clean Sea Project.

To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Sea-Doo organized the shoreline/island clean-up effort in two Florida locations; Miami and St. Petersburg. This clean-up effort was to keep our waterways trash-free, so that everyone can enjoy the beauty of nature. Hundreds of pounds of debris, including mattresses, old shoes, foam, fiberglass, hundreds of cans and bottles were collected from area islands and shorelines.

PWC enthusiasts from area watercraft clubs, Sea-Doo dealership staff, and Sea-Doo race team members of all ages volunteered. The three-hour effort was hosted by Sea-Doo with support from Waste Management and was based at Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key and Maximo Park and Boat Launch in St. Petersburg. Sea-Doo provided all Clean Sea Project volunteers with gloves, trash bags, clean up caps, a healthy lunch and water from a recyclable water cooler.

Everyone is invited to participate and support this Clean Sea Project effort in their community. We hope this can lead to a movement among a network that works together for something bigger than us.

We’ve already covered the ups and downs of the first stop of P1 AquaX. The new Miami location may have posed some challenges including weather and wildlife delays however this did not stop team Yamaha from taking the top podium position.

Check out the full Yamaha announcement:
Miami, FL, April 23, 2018  – Yamaha racers on the GP1800 continued the dominant precedent they set on the race course last year again this weekend at the first stop of the P1 AquaX National Tour.  

Team Yamaha packed the podium and filled out the rest of the top finishing line as the GP1800 officially enters its second season of racing after dominating every closed course, off shore, and endurance race over the past 12 months.

Yamaha rider Eric Francis from Factory team Broward took first on his red GP1800, followed by last year’s AquaX USA Series winner Chris MacClugage, also from Broward Racing, who came in third overall. 

The 5-8 spots all belong to Yamaha and included Riva Racing Rider Brian Baldwin who finished fifth, Dean’s Team Factory rider Aero Aswar in 6^th, Mike Klippenstein in 7^th and Cyrille Lemoine from Riva Racing who came in 8^th aboard his blue GP1800.

The AquaX circuit continues May 12 with round two in St. Cloud, FL.

Registration is open for Round 1 of the 2018 Lee Stone Products European Freestyle Championship, an IJSBA sanctioned event. Competition takes place Saturday, June 2cd on the River Thames in King George V Dock in London.

Also taking place the same weekend is Round 1 of the British Freestyle Championship(BFC). It’s happening Sunday at the same same venue as the European Freestyle Championship(EFC). This event is sanctioned by JSRA, an affiliate of the IJSBA. All competitors from the European Freestyle Championship are invited to spend the night in the pits and compete in the BFC. Both events count as qualifiers for the IJSBA 2018 World Finals in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Round 1 of the BFC is a great way to grab more points the day after competing in the European Freestyle event.

The EFC has added a few new sub-classes going into 2018. These are Junior Freestyle, 15 and under, Ladies Freestyle, and Veteran Freestyle for ages 45 and up. The new classes should garner more interest in freestyle racing as we age and allow for more younger competitors to get involved. Racers whom are already competing in existing freestyle classes will also receive points toward the sub-classes.

Register for both exciting events on the European Personal Watercraft website. Also, make sure you check out title sponsor; Lee Stone Products website. Spectators can watch the events for free!

The FlyNano is a hybrid half jet ski and half seaplane. Click the link to see it in action. My first thought was, wow, this looks like a manned drone. Although, the craft is currently under development in Finland, the company is accepting non-binding letters of intent to buy for serious inquiries only. It will be available worldwide this year.

Weighing only 70kgs, the FlyNano can easily be carried by two people. The machine’s body is handcrafted and comprised of carbon composite. There’s only room for one in this hovercraft. It’s just the pilot and nothing else. No room for cargo, not even your dog! The FlyNano doesn’t require a pilot’s license, yet the company stresses the importance of aviation experience even though the operator is only hovering above the water.

The craft is 3.8 meters long, 1.3 meters high, with a wingspan of 4.8 meters. You can top out at 75mph. Get this, it’s fully electric so consider it a green machine. A full charge takes about an hour. Flight time has yet to be determined. Because of it’s lightweight body, it should only be used on flat water. As of this writing, the price tag is around $40,000. Visit the FlyNano website for contact information and other details.

Here is what Chief Test Pilot Pekka Kauppinen had to say about the FlyNano:
“Compared to regular general aviation aircraft, FlyNano may best be described as a go-cart compared to a regular car. Due to its small size and light weight the sensation of speed is remarkable. It is very unlike the feeling you get when flying common Cessnas and Pipers, although the absolute speeds are actually quite alike, the latter being even a bit faster, that is. When reviewing the experience, FlyNano is in fact more comparable to waterjets and quad bikes than regular airplanes or microlights.

Think about it! You get in, not from the pier, but from the water. A wet or dry suit to keep you warm is necessary. You strap yourself to the seat and wear a helmet to avoid spray and wind chill. No clearances, no run-ups, no checklists. The lake is open for takeoff. The fun starts immediately. It is ecstatic.

The flight is characterized by a high tempo and full concentration is required at all times. The open cockpit makes flying even more daring and flying is sure to be filled with adrenaline and euphoria. As skills develop and confidence builds up the excitement of novelty will naturally abate, but new challenges are right behind the corner keeping up the thrill. It is relatively easy to learn how to operate FlyNano safely, but mastery in all situations requires hours and hours of practice. With FlyNano full satisfaction is guaranteed.”