On Saturday, June 24th, the PWC world lost such an amazing young woman who played a huge part in the PWC community. It is with very heavy hearts that we here at The Watercraft Journal sadly announce the passing of Beatriz Curtinhal at the age of 22 following a fatal car accident in Spain. Beatriz was a two-time National Champion and former UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) Continental Aquabike Class Pro Ski Women’s GP1 Champion. It’s truly a showcase of her exceptional talent on a ski that she was able to achieve these championships at such a young age.
“I am deeply saddened by this tragedy, which has taken away from us a promising young driver. On behalf of the UIM and the entire Aquabike community, I would like to extend to Beatriz’s family and her many friends our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences” said UIM President Raffaele Chiulli in a recent release. With the news spreading about the loss of Beatriz, competing riders in the Aquabike Continental Series that was scheduled that weekend in Penafiel, Portugal asked the organization to suspend the race as a tribute to their friend and fellow competitor.
We ask our readers to share a moment of silence and join us in sending thoughts, prayers and love to her family and friends. You will be missed Beatriz.
We covered the Jet Capsule in a 2015 article written about Jet Taxis weighing in at 3.5 tons and we also wrote a piece on the jet taxi in January of this year. We can’t get enough of these crazy pieces of watercraft. The machines are built by Italian Jet Capsule Company. Luca Solla is at the helm as CEO and Pierpaolo Lazzarini is the Chief Executive Designer for Jet Capsule, which is two years out from releasing their latest design, the Super Jet Capsule. According to insidehook.com, it is a miniature version of the original Jet Capsule. It may be the ultimate party boat for an intimate gathering of friends.
The Super Jet is powered by two diesel fueled engines, each delivering 250hp and reaching speeds up to 80mph. An eco friendly version of the watercraft is available with two 80hp electric engines enabling you to power through the water for four hours at speeds reaching 35mph.
The boat has the appearance of a jet ski with a sleek space-age capsule built around it. The aerodynamic shell is fabricated in dry carbon, which keeps the entire weight of the boat under 3,300 lbs. The interior is comparable to that of a small yacht. The 20 foot long Super Jet Capsule will accommodate 7 people including the pilot within its air conditioned space. The machine has an automatic docking system, photochromic windows, and shock absorbent seating. The Super Jet can be towed using a regular boat trailer. It is expected to hit the market in December 2019. We look forward to seeing them on the water.
Every Tuesday, SBT, Inc.’s Facebook page puts up a link promoting a new signature product. Regardless of what day of the week it may be, the price, value and quality of the featured product remains the best in the business, and last week, the spotlight was shone on Blacktip Jetsports’ line of Elite traction mats.
Now you can replace and upgrade your personal watercraft with any number of combinations from Blacktip’s 15 different colors and patterns, truly giving your PWC a unique look and one specific to your tastes. “Our color chart helps you pick the color you want by simply rolling over the color,” states Blacktip. Don’t wait until your mats are looking ratty, tattered or discolored! Order yours today and get them in time to swap ’em out and have your ski looking great for the weekend. Installation takes literally minutes with their adhesive-backed, peel-and-stick ready-to-apply mats.
Just as impressive are Blacktip’s Elite series of seat covers. No longer do you need to wait weeks or months to have a tiny 2-man shop stitch together a custom, multi-panel pattern for your runabout! Blacktip Jetsports has the colors, patterns and applications uploaded to a handy template on their website, allowing you to design your uniquely-stitched Elite seat cover before making a purchase! And yes, it only takes days to receive your finished seat cover, ready to install and looking great.
Three weeks ago, the competitors and staff of the Pro Watercross Tour were in Lake Lewisville, Texas, but last week they made the trek across the country to Sparks, Nevada to chase the championship for the Pro Watercross Tour. The city is a great backdrop for racing – minus the altitude, which wreaks havoc on all the race tuners and equipment! But, as they say, everyone has to deal with the same conditions.
Admittedly, the turnout of riders was pretty light – even for Sparks standards. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that this season Pro Watercross allows each competitor to drop a round, thus some of the tour regulars decided not to make the long trip. But some of the die-hard competitors like Billy Dearman, Michael Osborne, Hayden Skellet, Team Faith, Eric Gabriel and his family, AJ Luinstra, Jeff Dyckowski, Troy Snyder, Craig Warner, Kevin and David Redinger and West coast regulars Pete Zernik, Ian Roberts, Thomas Pagen, Mitch Jonas, Matt Rollings, Chuck and Jodi Evans made it a spectacular event.
In the IROC Stock class it was once again the Gabriels versus the O’Rourke’s on Sea-Doo Sparks. The Gabriels came out swinging with Eric Sr. taking all 3 moto wins for the overall win. Brian O’Rourke finished the weekend going 3-2-2 for second overall. Justin Gabriel took the final spot on the podium with 2-3-4 and Monica O’Rourke finished fourth with a 4-4-3. Great racing was the story in the IROC Stock class as the skis are so closely matched.
In the Sport GP class, it was regulars Billy Dearman, Michael Osborne and Eric Gabriel battling it out for the bragging rights and championship points. Dearman grabbed the early holeshot and lead in Moto 1, which seemed to have set the tone. But a late race bobble by Dearman opened the door for Osborne to take the Moto 1 win. Osborne followed up with a Moto 2 win grabbing the holeshot and leading wire to wire and was sitting in the catbird seat for the overall. Moto 3 saw Dearman taking the win but it wasn’t enough for the overall and with Gabriel going out in Moto 2 with a mechanical the overall going to Michael Osborne.
Ski Super Stock was full of local area riders who came to show not only their riding skills, but also their tuning skills as well. Gabe Hooper had them covered going 1-1-1 to take the overall. Chuck Evans followed suit with a 2-2-2 for second and Matt “Happy” Rollings rounded out the podium with a 3-3-3 on the weekend.
Women’s Ski Limited saw Jodie Evans and Trinity Klecker battling for the overall. The nod went to Evans with a 1-2-1 finish for the Overall while Klecker went 2-1-2 for second overall. Kenya Acosta rounded out the overall podium spot going 3-3-3 for the weekend.
One of the largest and most exciting classes was the Am Ski Stock class. The battle throughout the weekend was between Caleb Kile, Team Faith’s Dawson Newby, and Matt “Happy” Rollings. Rollings looked to have the speed to get it done early on winning Moto 1. But Newby answered back with a Moto 2 holeshot and wire to wire win. Meanwhile Kile was steady bagging two seconds in the first two motos so going into Moto 3 it was anyone’s race for the overall.
Newby started on the inside pole position which seemed to be the preferred spot throughout the weekends racing, but Calen Kile ripped a huge outside split holeshot and walked away with the win. Newby held the rest of the pack off to take 2nd and tie for the overall but by way of the tie breaker it was Kile with the overall (2-2-1), Newby with second overall (3-1-2) and Rollins with third overall (1-4-3).
The Pro Show was made up of 3 classes: Pro-Am Runabout Box Stock, Pro-Am Ski GP, and Sport Stock which made its Pro Show debut due to how large the class was. In Pro-Am Runabout Box Stock it was another battle for the overall win. Rydal, Georgia native, Jeff Dyckowski kicked things off with a Moto 1 win over Judge Motorsports Troy Snyder who had a slight get-off to finish second. Young Brandon Warner jumped on borrowed equipment and made a splash so-to-speak and rode to a second overall with a 3-2-2 edging out Dyckowski who followed his Moto 1 win with two third place finishes. That gave Snyder the overall for the weekend – his 6th in a row in Sparks with a 2-1-1.
The Pro Am Ski class did not disappoint as the course designers stuck a log jump at the end of the front straightaway after the merge of the split start, which made for three exciting 12 minute-plus one lap Motos. Once it again it took several guys mixing up the moto results to emerge one overall winner for the weekend. Craig Warner on his new Kawasaki SX-R 4-stroke rode hard but ultimately came up a little short finishing fourth overall with a 4-2-3. Pete Zernik looked strong all day and even took the Moto 3 win and earned himself a third overall finishing the weekend with a 3-4-1. Local boy Ian Roberts looked good early finishing second overall with a 2-1-4, and it was David Redinger taking the overall with a 1-3-2 finish.
The Sport Stock class had some drama as the top two competitors in the championship points race Billy Dearman and Jeff McPhail bumped more than once in more than one moto. McPhail, on his new Team Faith ride, took the first two moto wins and looked to have the field covered. But Dearman was never fully out of it and after a bunch of rubbing on the Moto 3 start, he was able to rattle McPhail into making a mistake, which saw McPhail having to take the make-up buoy, relegating himself to 6th while Dearman battled for the lead in second with Rod Bigman who went on to take the moto win. McPhail rode hard to pass up to 4th but it wasn’t enough to take the overall from Dearman who finished with a 2-2-1 to tie MacPhail’s 1-1-4.
Despite the light turnout, the racing in Sparks was exciting and the crowd that came was entertained. The City of Sparks really rolls out the red carpet for the Pro Watercross Tour and its competitors and the venue is one of the best on the circuit. Next stop on tour is Atlantic City, NJ. Stay tuned!
All images courtesy of Michael Lojewski. For full-sized, unedited versions, click HERE.
If you’ve never heard of Vanquish Yachts before, you will now! They have just released a brand new watercraft that is sure to cause waves in the market. Based in the Netherlands, Vanquish Yachts offers you something truly unique. Their high-end, high-performance yachts are built by hand using the very latest construction techniques. Their boats have a radical appearance and an elegant allure that sets them truly apart from anything else on the water. While they are well known for their larger vessels, they have just released a brand new product based around the styling and design of a PWC. Their stunning Vanqraft VQ16 “Jet ski Yacht” is sure to be a hit.
The Vanqraft VQ16 is a crossover between a superyacht and a jet ski. Stand at the helm of this spacious 5.07 meter-long beauty and you are guaranteed to enjoy the thrill of a genuinely unique watercraft. The best part is; you can also have five of your friends or family on board! For the eagle-eyed enthusiast, you’ll recognize a lot of the Vanqraft is based off of a Yamaha FX.
Powered by a 160-horsepower Yamaha HO 1.8L engine, you can easily reach 40 knots on the water. If you want to go even faster, you can opt for the supercharged SHO-powered “Veloce” edition that roars along at more than 50 knots! The craft also features a full reverse feature which gives you full flexibility and maneuverability [we presume this is by employing Yamaha’s RiDE system -Ed.].
Like all of their other watercraft, the VQ16 is fully customizable and will be built to your exact specifications or taste! The VQ16 isn’t cheap though, with a sticker price of $79,950 Euros (around $89,000 USD before tax, we’ve been told). The supercharged Veloce version stickers at $94,950 Euros (around $106,000 USD before tax). While they aren’t cheap, they look totally sharp. Check it out!
It’s about time, right? Yeah, we were feeling the same way. Now that we’re 4 years into publishing the world’s most popular personal watercraft magazine, we thought it was about time that we created some much overdue apparel and decals for all to enjoy! We’re starting things off small with a single shirt and decal design, but as orders continue to roll in, you can bet to see more designs, colors and other goodies appearing soon!
For 2017, we’re starting off with The Watercraft Journal’s new “Busted Lip” T-shirt showcasing IFWA and IJSBA world champion freerider, freestyle(r) and racer Mark Gomez shredding on his Rickter in some very cool, vintage 1980’s colors and design. The shirt itself is printed on industry-leading Gildan 6.1oz 100% Cotton T’s using a M&R Challenger IIID 12-Color, 14-Station Automatic Press, your shirt will still look great after hundreds of washes and thousands of hours of wear. (Available in S to XXXL)
For the decal, much is the same, including our new “Busted Lip” design – perfect for your ski, trailer, or tow vehicle. This full color, contour-cut decal is printed and cut on a Roland XR-640 Pro 4 and laminated, ensuring that this will look as good in 5 years of outdoor use as it does today! Right now, we’re only accepting credit cards, but will soon have PayPal capabilities in a few short days. All orders have a flat rate for shipping (which includes sales tax) of $3.95 no matter how big the order! (We’re cool like that.)
So CLICK HERE, or visit “SHOP” on the Navigation bar and get your shirt and sticker TODAY!
For those not paying attention, at The Watercraft Journal we publish two new videos a month – always including a fresh episode of “Long Haul,” our ongoing YouTube series where we review the newest and most innovative personal watercraft, participate in awesome adventure rides and give you the real dirt on the future of the PWC industry. Like we’ve said before, for 2017, we’ve severely stepped up our production, and now produce not one, but two unique, new and entertaining videos a month – completely free to you and shared exclusively on The Watercraft Journal YouTube channel.
This month, we take you further into our review of Yamaha’s FX Limited SVHO for 2017. Building off of one of its most successful new additions to its 2016 lineup – the VX Limited – the new addition to Yamaha’s lineup of FX-based WaveRunners wields a full catalog of accessories for the whole family to enjoy (like a 1-person towable raft and color-matched tow rope, gear bag, dry bag, waterproof phone case, 12v raft inflator, etc.), as well as a supercharged & intercooled Super Vortex High Output 4-stroke engine. Without a doubt, this machine is one of most impressive and well-equipped that we at The Watercraft Journal have tested.
So enjoy the latest episode of “Long Haul” and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, as you’ll receive updates when a new video is uploaded, as well as other notifications. We’re stepping up our video segments in a big way, and we’re excited to bring you along for the ride. So again, please check out the latest episode of “Long Haul” shown below, as well as click on the link to subscribe (for free) to our YouTube channel.
An announcement in a Pro Watercross email reports that the 2017 Sea-Doo X-Team is offering a bounty to racers who excel on all sanctioned closed course races in the United States and Canada. The bounty program applies to racers in all Pro Watercross Divisions, with the exception of slalom races.
If you’re up for the challenge, register for this cool program. Sea-Doo are looking for riders willing to adhere to the contingencies required to receive a bounty. The box below contains the list of specific race classes and their payouts. Below is a short compilation of Sea-Doo’s contingencies in order to qualify. If you would like to read all of them, see this page.
Racers must compete on a Sea-Doo with a 4-TEC or ACE engine powered machine. Racer must list Sea-Doo as the brand and Sea-Doo X-Team as a sponsor on all entries. A Sea-Doo logo decal must be distinct, visible, and legible with a minimum of 2 inch tall lettering forward of the handlebars and above the water line.
*Racers are eligible for as many contingency payouts earned during an event. Championship bonus points are awarded if the racer piloted only a Sea-Doo in a runabout heat, LQS, or motos, regardless of class. The bonus point rules apply to each 2017 race.
When the racer finals, there must be a minimum of five competitors in the class in order to qualify for contingency. All claims have to be received within ten days of an event, otherwise your bounty is forfeited. Payments will be issued form BRP after the Pro Watercross and BRP verify results and make sure the claims are signed by an event sanctioning official.
The Watercraft Journal: Thanks for meeting with us, Chris [Saxon]. As one of the RIVA Racing Support Team racers, you made a big move this year. How has your transition from Amateur to Professional gone?
Chris Saxon: The transition from Amateur to Pro has been challenging. These guys in the Pro class are all there to win. I knew it would be tough but had no idea how much faster the pace would be. Two races into the season and I’m still trying to get used to it. I came into this year with a lofty goal of being in the Top 10 every weekend, and so far I’m meeting that goal.
WCJ: That’s great! What do you think the main difference between the two is?
CS: One of the biggest differences between Am and Pro is the power and speed of the skis. Compared to a stock ski, these mildly modified skis can be a handful at 75 and 80 MPH, especially for 30 minutes at a time. Another difference is the level of competition. I’m not used to getting passed, much less lapped.
WCJ: So, why did you choose to make the transition?
CS: I chose to move up to the Pro class after winning the Florida 300 class series, and just short of an international series title, last year. I wanted to see how I stacked up with the best riders in the world. If you want to see the best watercraft racers in the world, you need to come to an AquaX race. They have the best races series out there and a world class staff promoting and running it.
WCJ: You mention the difference in the level of machines that racers are riding. What’s the difference in performance parts between the two levels?
CS: Parts are one of the reasons I didn’t want to to move up to the Pro class. In the Amateur class the skis are almost entirely stock. Besides the normal handling modifications like sponsons, intake grate, and ride plate, you’re allowed to install a blow off valve which is supposed to help prolong the life of the supercharger. For the Pro class you can also install an aftermarket prop which will improve hook up, acceleration, and top speed. The one single most important part however is reprogramming the ECU. One of my biggest sponsors, RIVA Motorsports, has made that easy with the Maptuner X. I can reflash my ECU to a race tune at the races and then put it back to stock tune if I just want to cruise around at home.
WCJ: Is there a different strategy in his racing? How has your training changed?
CS: I’m not sure if there is a different strategy, but I do have to make sure I can race at full speed for the whole race. Last year, I could usually get a comfortable lead and put it on cruise control. This year I have to fight all the way to the checkered flag. I’m practicing and training a lot harder this year. I’m usually at Cross Fit 3 or 4 times a week and out riding in the gulf as much as possible.
WCJ: What PWC are you riding this season? Why do you prefer this model?
CS: Well, the first race of the season in Daytona, I was racing a Yamaha GP1800. For the second race I switched back to the Yamaha FX SVHO. It’s not quite as fast as the GP but I feel it’s a better fit for me, especially as choppy as the water can get during a race. The FX is longer and heavier than the GP so it rides a little more steady. No matter if you choose the GP1800 or the FX SVHO, Yamaha WaveRunners make the best skis for racing you far !
WCJ: Who would you like to thank? Sponsors, family, etc.?
CS: I don’t have a title sponsor this year (yet), but I’d like to thank Advanced Carpet Cleaning and Restoration, without them I probably wouldn’t even be racing this year. I’d also like to thank Scott Watkins and Nicholas Goodsell at Yamaha. Also, thanks to Dave Bamdas, Jesus Garcia, and the other guys at RIVA Motorsports for hooking me up with the best go fast parts, and tech support out there. And last but not least I’d like to thank JetPilot, Jettrim, and Fly Racing.
All of us here at The Watercraft Journal love our T-shirts! T-shirts are an important part of our lives, considering most of the time we’re wearing them. If you love T-shirts as much as we do, then you’ll love RIVA Racing’s “RIVA Blaster” T-shirt! These killer new shirts have been battleground tested out on the water and are sure to hold up to whatever you toss at them.
The RIVA ‘Blaster shirts come in a sleek “Navy Heather” color and go with everything; you’ll be the talk of the lake wearing one of these shirts! They are also made with pre-shrunk cotton so you’ll always be comfortable and you’ll never have to worry about them shrinking in the wash.
The “RIVA Blaster” shirt celebrates the original Yamaha WaveBlaster B1 WaveRunner that has created and inspired legends worldwide and still has a huge following 20 plus years later. The shirts come in sizes from Medium-to-XXL and cost $16.95 USD. Don’t delay, get yours today. They won’t last long!
All of us here at The Watercraft Journal love our T-shirts! T-shirts are an important part of our lives, considering most of the time we’re wearing them. If you love T-shirts as much as we do, then you’ll love