PWCOffshore.com’s Mark Gerner has announced that he will sponsor both the first place “Best Pit Crew” trophy and second best Crew Award for pit crews participating in the 2016 Hot Products Mark Hahn Memorial 300 Mile PWC Race this upcoming February 27th, 2016, at the Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
The Hot Products Mark Hahn 300-mile PWC race is a test of pilot, technicians, craft and PWC Pit Crew. Pit Crews are challenged to recover, fuel and launch PWCs in less than a minute, this is no easy task. This process requires planning, process evaluation and improvement, practice and perfect execution on race day.
Mark Gerner said, “We are happy to sponsor the ‘Best Pit Crew’ award, the pit crews work exceptionally hard prior to and on race day and deserve all of the recognition they receive. Many of the fuelers train year round to have the necessary strength to throw around 80 pounds of fuel.”
Mike Follmer said, “Pit crews are a big part of winning this event, getting their rider in and out and not spilling any fuel can make or break a team’s success in this event. This race race is the 12th annual Hot Products Mark Hahn Havasu 300 Presented by Yamaha.”
Pit crews make it all happen at this event, we are glad to recognize their efforts. Race officials will make the top two Pit Crew selection based on their observations of the Crews throughout the race. For more information regarding the Mark Hahn Memorial Race go HERE.
The highly competitive world of PWC drag racing has taken a page from “The Fast & The Furious” with the level of underground, winner-takes-all racing happening in private and municipal waterways around South Florida. One such high stakes drag race took place within the past week, and MVP Productions’ Manuel Valdes was able to not only provide The Watercraft Journal some insight to the race, but video to boot:
“The race began by a call out from Joaquin Lara, the owner of a blue turbocharged FZR from JV Performance calling out Darian Rodriguez, owner of a white #99 FZR (equipped with a supercharger) from UJET team. Joaquin didn’t know the #99 was supercharged and still Rodriguez didn’t back out of the offer of racing a turbo FZR, even though Lara told him he was pushing close to 100mph.
“The race took place in a canal near Broward County, FL. The bet was set at $1,400, winner takes it all. The driver of the white FZR was Mike Valdes, winner of the Super Stock class at this past Hydrodrags World Finals. Lara decided to experience the rush by being behind the controls of his turbo FZR on his very first race.
“The white FZR is supercharged, and uses a RIVA/Vi-Pec and is fed on E85. Rodriguez wished to keep the speed a secret until the next Hydrodrags where he will reveal it in a speed alley pass. The blue turbo FZR also uses a RIVA/Vi-Pec ECU and also is running on E85, with the owner claiming it to be close to 100 mph. It’s built by JV Performance and tuned by Albert Turbo.”
As the video shows, Lara’s blue FZR can’t keep hooked, with Valdes driving the white #99 FZR to a win with every pass. In fact, after three passes, Valdes looked noticeably frustrated with Lara, waving him on and looking to give him the starting nod. Regardless, the supercharged Yamaha pulls far ahead of the turbo machine all three times.
“The white #99 was put together by UVA, who owns a shop called UJET and owns the world’s fastest turbocharged FZR (seen in blue and yellow with a custom bracket for a nitrous bottle on the side) with a top speed of 109mph and counting. The white FZR is custom built to match the looks of the blue-and-yellow FZR but still run a supercharger, built with the help of one of the best tuners, Brian Kirchberger, also with the help of Ernesto Calas, Mandy’s Performance and Daylon Rodriguez.”
All images, video and information provided Manuel Valdes of MVP Productions.
Although I’m a racer at heart, growing up riding and racing motorcycles bred into me the need to jump almost anything and everything! If it resembles a ramp or it can be made to resemble a ramp, I’m in! When the Sea-Doo Spark debuted in 2014 it seemed to me like the perfect watercraft for both my girlfriend to get out on the water and have some recreational fun and me to go jump in the surf. So, I bought one. She named it “(Storm) Trooper.”
The standing rule at the Daytona Freeride has always been standups, X2s and WaveBlasters only on the water. Since the Sea-Doo Spark’s weight is about the same and it is only slightly larger than a WaveBlaster, I made the call. Freeride’s mastermind Nicholas Foederer, allowed me to take part aboard my newly purchased Sea-Doo. Nick took some heat for allowing what is considered a runabout to participate, and a Spark at the Freeride looks to be a one-time deal.
With my new Sea-Doo Spark in tow, fitted with GoPros and some awesome custom BlackTip Jetsports Elite mats from Watercraft Superstore, I hit the surf with some of the best Freestyle riders in the United Sates. In 2014 the surf was about head height up until Sunday and it was a cold January in Florida terms. However, that did not stop the riders.
Aside from being out there and getting to “jump stuff,” a highlight for me was watching one of my favorite freestyle riders Mark Gomez up close. He was ripping and putting on a clinic in smooth, seemingly effortless riding! Here is a video I put together of my time at the 2014 Daytona Freeride on my Sea-Doo Spark, putting it through its paces and seeing how ‘Trooper flew!
Mark your calendars and come see first-hand what the best Freestyle and Freeride guys have in store for you this year at the 2016 Daytona Freeride, presented by BlackTip Jetsports. Stop by and say hello to your favorite vendors in person. Stay late and see what antics ensue January 14-17 Daytona Beach, Florida.
[Editor’s Note – Yes, it’s Tuesday and not Monday, so today’s “Case of The Mondays” is technically a day late. We went and saw “Star Wars” that afternoon, so our scheduling was a little screwed up. Sorry. Oh, and go see it. It’s really good. – Ed.]
Becoming a celebrity these days is a lot different from the long ago days of tinsel town “Hollywood” of the 1930s and 40s. Back then, to “truly make it” you needed to be a triple threat, meaning you had to be able to act, sing and dance. For many more rugged men, being able to shoot, ride a horse or swing a sword replaced tap dancing or belting out a tune on key. Today, all you need is a YouTube channel, an Instagram feed and a selfie stick. Not exactly discriminating, isn’t it?
One group of internet celebrities are the “Dude Perfect” crew, who surprisingly enough, illustrate a bit of talent in their blend of silly, over-the-top YouTube videos. The group of pseudo frat boys excel in executing impressive trick shots, be it with basketballs, Frisbees or other projectiles. In a recent collaboration with air soft weapons manufacturer Nerf, Dude Perfect rented out a Florida lakehouse for some aquatic Nerf trickshot action – including some pretty impressive shots from the back of a Yamaha WaveRunner.
The result is a good, ol’ fashioned waste of time and productivity killer. But given that many of you are simply counting down the hours until you get your 4-day weekend off, we figure you’re finding ways to waste as much time as possible anyhow. Enjoy!
‘Tis the season to be racing and that’s exactly what happened at the third and final round of QPWC’s Queensland Title series. The stakes were high with racers trying to gain the last points of the series, however with the white caps setting in by early morning, combined with the relentless wind and rain, the racers had their work cut out for them. Our regular Race Director, Ross Moore was back ready to keep everyone in check after directing at the King’s Cup.
All eyes were on WaveRunner Performance Centre’s brand new 2016 Yamaha FZR with none other than Mitch Wyatt aboard, receiving it only days prior to the race. Mitch in his true form managed to come out in first place for Stock class and third in Open on the same ski. Open class was once again dominated by “The Hulk,” that is Brendan Boyd’s yet-to-be-beaten number 23 Sea-Doo. Rob White from Liquid Industries claimed second place on the shop’s number 44 Sea-Doo in front of Mitch Wyatt’s Stock class Yamaha.
The stand-ups had another great turnout with seven skis enduring the harsh conditions the course had to offer. Jordie O’Keeffe from Shoreline Yamaha took top spot on the podium once again, closely followed by Justin Windsor from the club’s sponsor – Liquid Industries.
The Vintage class with their now committed and dedicated crew, bunny hopped their way to the checkered flag. This race was a sight with starts proving a mission just to stay on the already unstable skis – many riders spending more time swimming than actually racing. A stand out in this class was first-timer Max Moran who was sporting a Superjet 650 – he did a tremendous job battling with the conditions and with the support of his long time jet ski racing family. I would predict he will be one to watch in the very near future.
The Sport/Spark class suffered a severe case of the “no shows” with only two Sparks and beginner Brett Whittaker aboard a Yamaha VX racing in the class. Joshua Berry on the number 14 and Wade Clucas on the JetSkiShop #216 Spark, battled all day with some tight racing between the two. With the scores tied coming into the third and final moto, it was a rouge wave and lengthy swim for Joshua Berry that saw Wade take first place for the day with Joshua very close in second.
This year has been a great one for racing here in Queensland with both the Tropical Heat Series running from March to May and then the Queensland Titles wrapping up the year nicely. The passion and commitment to the sport is only getting stronger, both through our dedicated committee members and racers, new and old. We can only look forward to another great year of racing in 2016 and as always welcome newcomers to next year’s events.
Australian couple, Lorraine and Glenn Keating plan to leave Sydney on Yamaha FX Cruiser HO WaveRunners this upcoming April 1, 2016 to complete a three part mission to circumnavigate all of Australia. The couple plans to travel 11,800 miles during an 8 month period in an attempt at a world record for the longest distance traveled by personal watercraft.
The WaveRunners will use almost 5,000 gallons of fuel and the will have only minor modifications such as long range fuel tanks, GPS units, and an auxiliary batteries. A support crew will accompany them along the coast during most of the trek. However, there will be long stretches when it’s just the Keatings and their watercraft because of the distance from the coastline in some areas.
The ride was planned during afternoon cocktails while the two mused about all the exciting things that other people do and they thought “why not us?” After all, they had recently returned from Vietnam and had a blast riding jet skis during their holiday. The brainstorming soon commenced and now they’re going big which brings us to the second part of the mission: the addition of a YouTube travel channel, and their website, Terra Australia-Girt by Sea.
The YouTube channel will contain features highlighting their journey, adventures along the way, people they meet, and the things they see along the coast. The Keatings are stoked about recording their travels and planned meetings of fellow jet skiers. The channel will also feature a real time GPS map so we can follow along. Quite a bit information is provided on their travel channel, including their sponsors products, blogs, and articles. Currently, both sites host videos of the Keatings and their task at hand.
This ride is also a fundraiser for the Cancer Council, which is very important to the Keatings because they have each lost a parent to cancer. Many of their friends and family have been affected by the disease as well. Some of them have beaten it while others are still battling. Donations are accepted through their website. The couple and crew will head north from Sydney in an anti-clockwise direction and plan to return in November. We wish them the best!
Santa didn’t need any reindeer to pull the sleek 2016 Sea-Doo RXT-X 300. He had a shiny new red and black machine with a 300 horsepower engine. Recently, Sea-Doo posted a video on Facebook showing Santa unlocking the door to his stable where his new sled was located. He stared at it in amazement, rubbing his gloved hands over it as it underwent detailing by a couple of frantic Sea-Doo elves. Next thing you know, the two elves pulled the trailered craft to the dock where Santa promptly mounted it and got underway with a big red bag of goodies, reindeer completely out of his mind. He went nuts on that machine, doing cutbacks, throwing huge spray, and opening that baby up, only slowing down to drop presents on all the docks.
The red hot 3-seater with the new and improved Rotax 1630 ACE engine was built for a big man like Santa. The ergonomic steering allowed him to handle the beast in comfort and the machine was built for someone in a race who needed their feet comfortably wedged in the angled footwells. It was if this ski was built for Santa Claus to fly to all the docks along the waterway, no matter how rough the waters were. This personal watercraft was built to get Santa where he needed to go. The machine weighs in at just over 900 pounds (without all the goodies Santa was packing). And yes, Santa wears a PFD while pushing the limits on the new Sea-Doo RXT-X 300.
This model year welcomed many machines that were both radical improvements on previous vehicles, as well as completely new designs. That, and carry-overs from previous model years had us weighing lasting impact, appeal and longevity against the new and untested units. Thankfully, the industry hasn’t been stronger in nearly a decade, with domestic and international sales up into the double digits.
This has not only benefited the OEMs, but dealers and the performance aftermarket as well. In fact, we deferred much to the impact of two of the units listed – our Watercraft of The Year and our two runners-up – in making this year’s decision, as both craft played heavily on both new vehicle sales as well as in the aftermarket. You can see the runners-up here.
2015 Watercraft of The Year Winner: 2015 Yamaha FX Super Vortex High Output WaveRunner
Although it worked out to have all-three manufacturers represented on the podium this year, that was not our original intent. But, awarding the 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner the honor of The Watercraft Journal’s Watercraft of The Year award was almost a foregone conclusion the minute that Yamaha introduced the model with its new-for-2015 RiDE dual throttle system. The addition of the new brake and reverse system to its (near) entire lineup not only elevated the manufacturer to a whole new class of safety and rider input, but also gratefully replaced the right-hand reverse lever that we had beleaguered Yamaha over for years.
The current FX is a few years old, but the inclusion of both the new NanXcel2 lightweight bonding material and the Super Vortech High Output (SVHO) 1,812cc centrifugally supercharged 4-stroke to the three-seater in 2014 dramatically unveiled what many already knew: the FX hull is truly a fast and responsive design. But it wasn’t until Yamaha introduced us (and its 2015 lineup) to its new RiDE technology that it could ever be considered as Watercraft of The Year. Although additional features are found on the Cruiser edition, most of us found the high-backed stadium-style seating too restrictive for taller riders, and preferred the low-slung, stepped bench instead.
One of the biggest factors for the 2015 FX SVHO taking home this year’s Watercraft of The Year has been its recent surging presence in the racing scene, particularly in the realm of offshore and endurance competition. Although not near the rough water machine as the Ultra 310X, between the large diameter 160mm pump and sure-fire SVHO powerplant producing an unofficial 265 horsepower, the FX has proven itself as a true, full-tilt open class contender that can also be one of the most reliable long distance cruisers when equipped properly (ie. FX HO). There’s not a lot of hull designs that can boast such versatility.
And it’s that versatility that made the FX SVHO the choice over the closed-course darling FZR and FZS. It takes a level of athleticism to full engage the FZ models, and cruising such an aggressive hull is counter to its design. We recently documented the incredible numbers of the all but unchanged 2016 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner when given the ideal conditions, and although very unlikely that most riders could replicate such speeds with a bone stock unit, the potential within this craft is seemingly limitless. Already, the aftermarket is awash in performance parts to maximize this 3-seater’s abilities, and we’re sure to only see more in the coming months. So with that, we want to congratulate Yamaha for earning this year’s The Watercraft Journal’s 2015 Watercraft of The Year!
In coming to a conclusion to last year’s far-from-unanimous decision to award the 2014 Sea-Doo Spark the “Watercraft of The Year,” we wondered if we had made the right decision. The craft among many diehard personal watercraft enthusiasts is controversial, and has been the recipient of a year’s long smear campaign by those who stump for competing brands, those who don’t understand it, and those who by no other fault have chosen to dislike it. The backlash caused us to defend the decision almost all year long, and as we did so, felt more and more secure in our verdict. Why? Because the Spark represented all of the traits we were weighing each candidate for: innovation, technology, attractiveness and ultimately, impact on the industry.
This model year welcomed many machines that were both radical improvements on previous vehicles, as well as completely new designs. That, and carry-overs from previous model years had us weighing lasting impact, appeal and longevity against the new and untested units. Thankfully, the industry hasn’t been stronger in nearly a decade, with domestic and international sales up into the double digits. This has not only benefited the OEMs, but dealers and the performance aftermarket as well. In fact, we deferred much to the impact of two of the units listed – our Watercraft of The Year and our two runners-up – in making this year’s decision, as both craft played heavily on both new vehicle sales as well as in the aftermarket.
2015 Watercraft of The Year Runner-Up: 2015 Kawasaki Ultra 310X SE JetSki
You’ll notice that for 2015, we actually share the “Runner-Up” position with another unit. When we tallied up the points for our Watercraft of The Year position, we found that although the 2015 Kawasaki Ultra 310X SE (Special Edition) JetSki came in two points behind our second place finisher, the machine itself is so impressive that we saw no fault in adding an additional spot in the article. Admittedly, the standard 310X was originally listed as the possible candidate, but in later review, we found enough reason to replace the 310X with its slightly more flashy SE sibling.
The Special Edition is only slightly different from the other supercharged Ultras, specifically by employing the 310R’s narrowed tear-shaped saddle but retaining its 5-point padded steering head. That, and its Burnt Orange hue are its only distinguishing traits. So in awarding the 310X SE, we, in a way, are awarding the 310X in the same breath. Admittedly, the 2015 Ultra 310X SE is unchanged from its 2014 predecessor (save for the metallic orange livery, which we absolutely applaud), but comes after years of fine-tuning an already impressive package.
In the realm of offshore racing, there is no undisputed king other than the Ultra 310X (and the SE). Its hull design is born from some of the roughest, most unmanageable riding conditions in North America. For which, the Eaton TVS-blown 1,496cc Kawasakis have claimed more offshore and endurance championships than any other four-stroke in the last decade. With the addition of better internal engine temperature management, electronic trim, cruise control, no wake modes and Eco settings, the Ultras have also stepped a little closer towards the high tech offerings from Sea-Doo and Yamaha.
Lastly, it’s worth defending the Kawasakis as they tend to get a bad rap as being “too heavy.” Such is simply not the case; Kawasaki lists their weights with full oil capacity and with their tanks 90-percent full of fuel. Seeing that the Ultras are rated at a maximum 20.6 gallons, that 90-percentile figures to 18.54 gallons of fuel. Calculated by 8.33 lbs. per gallon, that comes to 154.4 lbs. of fuel, and when subtracted from the listed “curb weight” of 1,040.8 lbs., it totals a dry weight of 892.9 lbs. Thereby making the Kawi less than 60 lbs. heavier than the 2015 FX SVHO, and 23 lbs. lighter than the 2016 RXT-X 300.
2015 Watercraft of The Year Runner-Up: 2015 Sea-Doo GTI 155 SE
When news first broke of the 2105 Sea-Doo color palette, many enthusiasts bristled at the new iridescent hues. Frankly, we were taken aback a little until feedback came in saying how much women preferred the new colors, particularly the Maldives Blue featured prominently on the 2015 GTI 155 SE. Although the GTI 155 SE didn’t debut any new technology for 2015 (apart from an improved DESS key for easier starts), it earned a strong second place in our points running for the 2015 Watercraft of The Year due to its balance of comfort, storage, performance and budget-friendliness.
To those regular readers of The Watercraft Journal, they’ll know the GTI 155 SE has been a perennial favorite, as it touts some of the best ergonomics of a medium-sized, family runabout. That, and with features like Sea-Doo’s iTC (Intelligent Throttle Control) that allows drivers to toggle through pre-programmed Touring, Sport and Eco modes without ever having to divert your attention from the vista in front of you, makes it a class leader. Bow and glove box storage is substantial, the saddle is narrow and bolstered, a thickly-padded swimstep comes standard, and the reliability of a 1503 Rotax 3-cylinder beneath the seat makes it a winner.
Although the SE doesn’t offer the rip-snortin’ horsepower of the larger RXT-X 260, it does share the same deck as the track-worthy RXP-X and hull of the 215-horsepower GTR. In Sport mode, the GTI is no slouch and will definitely leave you and your passengers with broad smiles. Draining the tank and jettisoning our camera equipment got our SE to nearly 60mph. And scrolling through the in dash settings permitted adjustment of the VTS (Variable Trim System), as well as other settings to the center LCD screen. And its naturally-aspirated Rotax permits using cheapo 87 octane, helping shave a few pennies from your day on the water too.
All-in-all, the GTI 155 SE is easily one of the best, most well-balanced family watercraft we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, and even as we hunkered down one test unit with a few extra hundred pounds and tried to set a world record with it (that’s right! We used a 2015 Sea-Doo GTI 155 SE on our “Long Haul” cross-state attempt earlier this year), we still couldn’t help but think how much we’d like this machine to take the kids around the lake with.
2015 Watercraft of The Year Winner: 2015 Yamaha FX Super Vortex High Output WaveRunner
Although it worked out to have all-three manufacturers represented on the podium this year, that was not our original intent. But, awarding the 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner the honor of The Watercraft Journal’s Watercraft of The Year award was almost a foregone conclusion the minute that Yamaha introduced the model with its new-for-2015 RiDE dual throttle system. The addition of the new brake and reverse system to its (near) entire lineup not only elevated the manufacturer to a whole new class of safety and rider input, but also gratefully replaced the right-hand reverse lever that we had beleaguered Yamaha over for years.
The current FX is a few years old, but the inclusion of both the new NanXcel2 lightweight bonding material and the Super Vortech High Output (SVHO) 1,812cc centrifugally supercharged 4-stroke to the three-seater in 2014 dramatically unveiled what many already knew: the FX hull is truly a fast and responsive design. But it wasn’t until Yamaha introduced us (and its 2015 lineup) to its new RiDE technology that it could ever be considered as Watercraft of The Year. Although additional features are found on the Cruiser edition, most of us found the high-backed stadium-style seating too restrictive for taller riders, and preferred the low-slung, stepped bench instead.
One of the biggest factors for the 2015 FX SVHO taking home this year’s Watercraft of The Year has been its recent surging presence in the racing scene, particularly in the realm of offshore and endurance competition. Although not near the rough water machine as the Ultra 310X, between the large diameter 160mm pump and sure-fire SVHO powerplant producing an unofficial 265 horsepower, the FX has proven itself as a true, full-tilt open class contender that can also be one of the most reliable long distance cruisers when equipped properly (ie. FX HO). There’s not a lot of hull designs that can boast such versatility.
And it’s that versatility that made the FX SVHO the choice over the closed-course darling FZR and FZS. It takes a level of athleticism to full engage the FZ models, and cruising such an aggressive hull is counter to its design. We recently documented the incredible numbers of the all but unchanged 2016 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner when given the ideal conditions, and although very unlikely that most riders could replicate such speeds with a bone stock unit, the potential within this craft is seemingly limitless. Already, the aftermarket is awash in performance parts to maximize this 3-seater’s abilities, and we’re sure to only see more in the coming months. So with that, we want to congratulate Yamaha for earning this year’s The Watercraft Journal’s 2015 Watercraft of The Year!
[Welcome to the next chapter in my ongoing pursuit of recording New Orleans military history by PWC; a random journey across water and time that began here. – Billy Crews]
This was not an easy ride and certainly not a route configuration I would have conceived. But am I glad I went? Absolutely! Thank you Axel and Michael for letting me join your small armada for launching yet another amphibious assault on a selection of NOLA Forts.
Departing from Empire, LA.
We had an early start, arriving at the Delta Marina in Empire, LA, about 65 miles below NOLA (New Orleans, LA). Engaging a local fisherman pre-launch, he noted our skis and I offered up our plan: A quick out and back trip down river to see Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, each on opposite sides of the river. Then a decision, based on wind and seas, to travel to Fort Livingston on West Grand Terre Island.
The feedback was positive: The river was no problem. Fort Livingston? The outside leg to Grand Terre is shorter, but the seas could make it rough. If we traveled on the inside – across Barataria Bay – the trip would be longer but more protected. And we could also run the risk of running aground in shallow waters or oyster reefs.
Axel studies a gun base along Ft. Jackson’s terraplein.
We launched and immediately locked through to the Mississippi River and proceeded down river. The water was mild and the traffic light. Our first leg was ten miles and we soon arrived at Fort Jackson. While the fort had origins dating back to 1793, the current design is from 1822. We hiked the large brick fort, inspected numerous features and recorded the area with our cameras.
Crossing over, we headed for the east bank. Unlike the west bank, there is no levee on this side of the river. The river is breaking through the marsh at this point, and the bayou, at nearly a foot lower than the river stage, had fast a moving current with large whirlpools here and there. We let the skis drift in the current and out of the river using the throttle to navigate around fast moving eddies. Next, we found the small ditch that accessed the rear of the property and a few minutes later had arrived at Fort St. Phillip.
Navigating Ft. St. Phillip’s rear moat.
Despite the ease with which it can be reached, Fort St. Phillip was the highlight of the trip. The site’s origins date back to colonial Spanish Louisiana and had been expanded upon for well over 100 years. The entire site has fallen victim to neglect and the forces of nature: What hasn’t been destroyed by storms and flooding is quietly sinking into the marsh. At over half a mile long, the fort’s area is huge and one could spend an entire day doing nothing but inspecting the various bunkers and batteries. We allotted ourselves one hour and did what we could with the time at hand.
Back on the skis, we routed back north, locked out of the river, and arrived back at the starting point. Mike and I each topped-off the Doos; Axel declined as he had 5 gallons riding on the back and still had plenty on the internal tank of his naturally-aspirated Yamaha. Axel checked his beta and reported a one-to-two foot swell eight seconds apart. We decided that was flat enough and Axel led the trio due south to the Empire Jetty.
A concrete bunker of Ft. St. Phillip slowly sinks into the marsh.
Two miles down the run, Axel, for some reason ran off the center line. Consulting my Garmin GPSmap 76CS, I stayed put and Michael joined me. Axel finally came back, pointed at his GPS and once again went on point. A few miles later, the jetty came into view and the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) just beyond. It was at this point Axel went wide right, off the center line again.
According to my GPS, despite all the water within site, Axel was traveling across land. I stuck to the marked route I had plotted on my ’76, Michael followed, and a few minutes later we had lost Axel on the horizon. He had never looked back to notice we weren’t following any more. He eventually stopped, found us in the open water, and reported a GPS glitch. No worries – our target was due west, I was locked on the route, and west we went.
Granite lentels and solid brick walls show what remains of Fort Livingston.
The buoy data reported a correct swell; what it didn’t report was the one-to-two foot white caps on top of and in between every crest. The further west we traveled the worse it became. At exactly twelve miles – and half of the twenty-four mile open water crossing we had to make – Mike’s ski (my loaner) threw a “Check Engine” error code. It could have not happened in worse place, naturally. Mike killed the ski, cranked it over, and the code cleared. I told him keep going and don’t stop ’till it stops. Further west we went and still no relief.
What started as a “let’s go see how bad it is” turned into “we can’t turn back now, we’re over halfway.” West Grand Terre, Fort Livingston, and the populated Grand Isle finally came into view. And the seas got a little more rough. Before finding the calm water behind the island, we all took waves over the handlebars and got a face full of cold, salty water. “OK,” I grumbled. “I’m really not having fun now…”
Parked and waiting at West Grand Terre Island.
We idled around the back of the fort, near the moat, where the water was shallow but firm on bottom. We anchored the skis and hiked across the water and accessed Fort Livingston via the collapsing rear outer wall. What was once going to be another great brick fort was never completed. Now, unattended or maintained by the state, Fort Livingston is slowly being repossessed by the GoM. We quickly inspected the fort inside and out, recorded the moment and hastily fled the bug-infested island. All three of us had a terrible time fending off swarms of mosquitoes and I shudder to think what life must have been like for members of the garrison.
It was decision time: The sun was on it’s way to finishing its arc across the sky and we had a possibility of a ski going down. We would go back on the inside across Barataria Bay. We decided the seas couldn’t be much worse and, in the event of a breakdown and losing sunlight, we could find shelter on one of the numerous O&G rigs. Mike and I crossed the channel to Grand Isle and made a quick top-off at the Sand Dollar Marina. We had left Axel behind as he dumped his five gallon jerry can. Meeting back out in the channel, I took the point and across Barataria Bay we went.
Three amigos L to R: Axel, Billy, and Michael.
Our first leg was due north and for the most part we ran nearly parallel with the one-foot chop. But after eleven miles the chop became a real nuisance. We finally made the northern terminus and I swung due east, following the lines on my ’76. Our next leg was more or less dead into a fifteen knot wind and every whitecap it brought with it. I would occasionally look over my shoulder and with every glance I found Michael and Axel dead in my wake. We were mindful of the possibilities of shallow water – there was no sense in being three wide when one could make the mistake for the other two. Fourteen miles and two sore kidneys later, we had finally crossed the big, bad, Barataria without incident.
Once we gained Grand Bayou and its ever so smooth glass water, I came to a halt and motioned Mike and Axel over. I had a request: When we get back to the marina, please beat me good – I don’t want to leave here thinking I had not been beat bad enough! Suffice it to say, the twenty-five miles of bay crossing on top of the GoM stretch had taken its toll on me. I think it’s safe to say we all felt the same.
A full day of PWC work in the month of December.
Travelling south in Grand Bayou, we eventually found Adams Bay and navigated according to the white PVC pipes marking the edges of the oyster reefs. And there are square miles of oyster reefs – where the white pipes are your friends and should be well minded. When we arrived at the marina, it was near 4:30PM and we had completed a 102 mile trek. We had a just enough sunlight left to take care of trailering the skis and preparing everything for our individual long rides home – to more central Louisiana, to south Mississippi, and to the panhandle of Florida.
Was this a great ride? The fact that three riders came from three states in the month of December says it all. Will I do this ride again? Hmm… I’ll have to get back with you on that one.
“NOLA PWC Fort Tour – Part II” Trip Report by Billy Crews. Pictures and videos by Billy, Michael, & Axel. Post production video: a Barrier Island production by Michael King
