Most of us have had a run-in with Mother Nature at least once or twice while riding our personal watercraft. Pods of dolphin, seals and sea lions, manatee, birds, snakes, and a whole lot of bugs. It’s pretty common place when motoring through the great outdoors. But, it is a rare occasion when nature’s largest mammals decide to share the same water with you.
First published on AOL.com’s news feed, we spotted this untimely video of a Sea-Doo enthusiast getting a little too up close and personal with a humpback whale. From the look of the video, the collision is only a slight run-in and no injury was sustained by the whale (or to the rider and ski).
Although we’d like to give the rider in this video the full benefit of the doubt, we have to wonder (because the video clip is conspicuously short) if he was chasing this pod of humpback whales too closely to begin with, or if the whale merely surfaced too quickly for the rider to respond.
Nevertheless, being fully aware of one’s surroundings is paramount particularly when riding at speed. Obstacles – be them dormant or sentient – will spring up leaving you with very little time to respond. That is why sharp reflexes and undivided attention are necessities. Far too often impaired or distracted riding leads to accidents. That is why we’re glad this rider was sharp enough to swerve at the last minute like he did.
Greetings Ski-nZers! It’s time to start thinking about Ski-nZ 2015.
2015’s event is leaving from Napier on Sunday 15th March and finishing in Tauranga on Saturday the 21st March.
Registration will be on Saturday 14th at Black Barn winery near Hastings. This will be followed by lunch at the winery and then we are still hoping to have a fundraising gig at the winery that afternoon or evening. (More to be announced.)
Then on Sunday we ride to Mahia beach, Monday to Gisborne for ‘Auction Night’, Tuesday to Tokomaru Bay, Wednesday is a day off in Tokomaru, Thursday we ride around East Cape to Waihua Bay, Friday we ride to Ohope Beach(possibly via White Island weather dependent) and then on Saturday we finish in Tauranga. There will be a Mexican party Saturday evening for the prize giving. We did a recon trip of the route a few months back and it promises to be wild and beautiful.
Last year we had 25 riders and raised $93,000 for the cause . This year lets go for 35 riders and at least $100,000.“Let the fundraising games begin.”
So round up your riding friends and get them excited about the event and we would also be grateful for any help with auction items.
In 2015 we are hoping to have enough riders to run 3 groups. Each group will cater for a different style of rider. This should keep like-minded people together and avoid some of the frustration that can occur in groups with regards to speed and sightseeing, etc.
Applications are now done by clicking on a link from the website and then after you have filled in the form, clicking on ‘Submit’. There is one form for riders and one form for crew. For registration or to be part of the crew click these links.
We could still benefit from a couple of additional sponsors for the event so if anyone has any hot contacts, please let me know.
As always, we need to be driven by the desire to have a great adventure and do some good at the same time. 300 plus dead from Melanoma very year in New Zealand is unacceptable. What we are doing with Ski-nZ is saving lives and you guys are the heroes in this story.
What do you get when you combine a lake, some buoys and a fish?
Well, you’ve got the first-ever Aqua Moto Global Grand Prix Championships put on by none other than the world-renowned Chris “the Flying Fish” Fischetti, that’s what! Who would be crowned champion and become “King of Body Beach” was the question on everybody’s mind as they stepped onto the sandy, pebbled beaches of Lake Havasu.
Held only two weeks before the annual IJSBA World Finals at famous Lake Havasu party spot, “Body Beach,” Fischetti’s event drew in some serious names – both new and old – to the starting lines, including Rob Flores, Mike Yellich, Nicolas Rius, Chris MacClugage, Josh Block, Tommy Bonnacci, and Brian O’Rourke just to name a few.
An exciting day awaited as classes – Standup 800 and Standup GP, Sport and 2-Stroke Runabout, 550/650 Vintage and Junior Standup, 4-Stroke Runabout, X2 and Beginner 800 Standup – were set before an Arizona backdrop, not to mention the DCB Boat Regatta taking place for an added extra bit of scenery. The field was broken up in to multiple divisions with each race being either a 15 or 20 minute countdown with either an extra 1 or 2 laps. Following the closed course races was a timed Slalom course where each rider entered getting the best of their two passes recorded.
The closed course was tight and the water a bit choppy, leading to several riders exiting their skis premature of the finish line. Standford riding his #52 found this out when his X2 rounded a corner without him, consequently landing him a free ride to the EMTs to be checked out. Riders dug in and held tight lap after lap, taking whatever punishment was thrown at them. Even when fatigue started to set in, it was a push on every turn.
Little Wylan Reden on his newly purchased 550 (picked up just that morning) showed even the pros that you didn’t need years of practice to drag that ski around the course! Jonathan Mangan thought the course was spacious for the runabouts and the “back stretch was awesome.”
And what a finish in the Junior Stand up class with Braden Wickland breezing passed most of the field until he went down on the last lap, letting the #202 ski – ridden by Kole Cramer – fly by and take the checkered flag. Braden’s older brother, Blake, rode flawlessly in his Standup 800 class and even kept up with the top Pro GPs!
When asked how he felt about his race, Blake responded, “I felt like I rode pretty good. My ski was running amazing, the handling was on-point and the power was wicked!” Blake also gave a shout out to Fischetti, by saying he “thought the race was a blast” and “really enjoyed the laid back feeling of the racing format.”
“Flyin’ Brian” Smith may of taken a third place in the 800 class but it was the experience he’ll most remember. “Today was one of the best races I’ve been to in a long while! I have had fun at a few but nothing like today! To be able to line up with some of the best in the world is like nothing you could describe,” beamed Brian. Brian stated that his “DC Lites Racing/Macc Racing ski was running flawlessly today and hung with the best of them,” even while dropping a few spots but regaining them in the end. Brian also came in second to Josh Block in the timed slalom course! He felt the added event was “very exciting” and really liked the tight slalom style runs.
Right out of the chute was a battle royale between Mike Klippenstein and Chris MacClugage in the Standup GP class. Klipper took a weekend away from his wicked turbo-powered Yamaha FX SVHO as Macc prepared to fly out to China for another round of the Aquabike series. But it was Klippenstein who pulled ahead, taking full advantage of Chris’ mistakes, earning him a win in the end. Mike in return, was crowned “King of Body Beach” and enjoyed a little competition leading up to the World Finals.
Patrick Goldsworthy said, “The Aqua Moto definitely had a strong turnout on Saturday. It’s awesome to see the sport building back up one race at a time and to see some of the racing legends coming together to make it all happen. Fish had an awesome vision of making these races different from the norm and more of what the racing community wanted. And now here we are with the successful second Aqua Moto race in the books. Working closely with the Vintage Ski community, I plan to continue helping Fish load up the line with the future events to come.”
All in all, the race was a success and was a fresh event for Havasu. With such an amazing venue, we aren’t sure why more of these do not take place. Mr. Fischetti, we think you get thumbs up for your Aqua Moto, and to the riders; we’ll see you at The World Finals!
All images courtesy of Danyelle Photography. For full resolution, unaltered versions of these and other images, please click HERE.
King of Body Beach Aqua Moto Grand Prix 9/27/2014 – Overall Race Results
Stand Up 800: 1. Blake Wicklund, 2. Guy Vinatieri, 3. Cory Rarick, 4. Kyle Araiza, 5. Todd Valentino, 6. Bob Hyde, 7. Brian Smith; Stand Up GP: 1. Mike Klippstein, 2. Chris MacClugage, 3. Tera Laho, 4. Bill Pointer, 5. Rob Flores, 6. Ryan Decker, 7. Josh Block, 8. Jeff Troegner, 9. Tony Beck; Vintage: 1. Chris Hagest, 2. Michael Demauro, 3. Russel Rusch, 4. David Dawes, 5. Cory Vancleave; Junior Stand Up: 1. Kole Cramer, 2. Braden Wickland, 3. Joshua Schul, 4. Theo Beaumer, 5. Brandon Edwards, 6. Preston Matzdorff, 7. Spencer Hill, 8. Wyland Reden; Sport: 1. Tommy Bunacci, 2. Tim Shanklin, 3. Brian O’Rourke, 4. Brandi Rademaker, 5. Kelly Stone, 6. Andy Runkel; 2 Stroke Runabout: 1. Nicholas Ruis, 2. Kelly Church, 3. Dan Schroepfer; 4 Stroke Runabout N/A: 1. Evelyn Morgan, 2. Tony Beck; 4 Stroke Runabout Open: 1. Tim Neff, 2. Jonathan Morgan; Beginner Standup: 1. Theo Beaumer, 2. Julien Beaumer, 3. Austin Sweet, 4. James Hendry; X2 Open: 1. Danny Oretega, 2. Peter Neumann, 3. Joshua Schul, 4. Dan Standiford, 5. Lauri Ortega
When it comes to jet ski fishing (what we like to call “jet angling”) and attaching cooler racks, it really boils down to “to drill or not to drill.” Typically, cooler racks that are mechanically secured by drilling mounting hardware to the watercraft are more stable and durable; that is until recently. In our experience, racks secured by straps almost always tend to fail even a simple fishing trip off the coast of Southern California. That is until now. We finally have found a strap-on rack that passed the rigors of fishing off the Southern California coast in the Pacific Ocean.
When we received the Kool PWC Stuff Jet Ski Fishing Rack (with 6 rod holders) from watercraftstuff.com by UPS, the rack was not wrapped in any packaging. Sent from Ft. Myers, Florida to Orange County, California without any newspaper, bubble wrap, nothing. We thought that was a bold statement, in and of itself. Amazingly, there was not even a scratch in the black powder coating covering the rack. Shipped without packaging and made it in perfect shape. Test one, pass.
Upon inspection, everything needed to strap it to our watercraft was there: high quality Velcro straps, nylon straps, and adjustable rubber straps/cords. Six total rod holders are welded vertically to the stainless steel rack, the coating covering all of the welds. The instructions were a single piece of paper that we tossed aside (because we knew so many would do that too). Instead, we went straight to their website and found the instructional video showing the installation, step by step. Test two, pass.
Not all watercraft are designed the same, and the ubiquitous “one size fits all,” never really works, right? Many watercraft have sloping rear decks that make a level installation of a rack system difficult, if not impossible. Kool PWC Stuff has engineered a simple adjustable leg system that allows you to level the rack on your ski’s rear deck.
Once installed to the deck of our Honda F-15, we grabbed the rack and proceeded to lift the entire rear of the watercraft off of the trailer by the Kool PWC Stuff rack. Test three, pass.
The rack we tested had 1 3/4-inch diameter rod holders that were restricted by a rubber insert. The rubber insert protects the shaft of the rod from damage in the violent extremes in rough conditions or simply going fast. We were able to fit a variety of fresh and saltwater rods with all butt types, including trolling rods with gimbals-style butts, so you can actually set the position of the rod in the holder. With the rubber insert removed, we could even fit our largest outfit perfectly. Test four, pass.
The only thing left to do was go out and fish offshore. The day we tested the rack we had typical Southern California summer conditions: light variable winds up to 8 knots in the morning and 15 knot wind in the afternoon with wind gust past 20 knots. The sea conditions were a combined 2-feet long duration [ground swell] swell from the south and 3-feet wind swell that picked up to 4-feet from the northwest in the afternoon. We set off at sunrise from Dana Point Harbor. We ran 18 mile southwest at 40 mph into the 2-feet ground swell.
Once we arrived in the area, we were fishing. The rack sat firmly in place and all of the gear was secure. As we started Phase Two of the day, we headed northwest straight into a 3-to-4 foot wind swell. We were cruising barely on plane between 10-15 mph hour. This leg of the trip was a lot rougher. For safe measure, all lures and any weights were secured so they would not come lose. After 15 miles of punishment, we noticed a slight shift as the rack had moved a couple of inches but everything remains tight and secure.
During the brutal 20 mile ride back to Dana Point, with us reaching speeds up to 50 mph, we even managed to catch some of air along the way. The Velcro and adjustable rubber straps held tight, with all the gear still where it should be. After long day riding on the Pacific Ocean we had every piece of gear we started with. The rack did shift on the deck a little, but still kept everything secure. This phase of the test has caused other rack designs to explode [PVC tube rack], warp and bend [racks made of lower grade material], and tear-off the watercraft and scatter all our of equipment on the bottom of the ocean. The Kool PWC Stuff Jet Ski Fishing Rack passed Test Five.
The biggest issue we encountered was finding a cooler that fits it. Unfortunately, cooler manufacturers constantly change sizes, so one year everything fits, the next year nada. If they’re not going to offer one, we’d like to see a list of suggested or recommended coolers from Kool PWC Stuff.
Nevertheless, when considering the value of the equipment one expects the rack to keep secure while jetting around your local waters, spending the $390 for the Jet Ski Fishing Rack (6 rod holders), a quality rack that does not damage your watercraft and keeps your investment safe, is well worth it.
For the last seven years, there’s one freeride event that surpasses all others: the Cronulla Rip n’ Ride. A goal for most riders to get in to, entries are limited to only 100 riders, with tickets selling out in about 6 minutes. And with prizes ranging from a brand new Yamaha SuperJet, a 701 Blaster and $1,000s worth of other sponsors’ products, it’s hard to resist. The best thing about the Cronulla Rip n’ Ride is that anyone can win these major prizes. The RNR isn’t a full-on competition, but a get-together of some of the best riders and novice riders from all over Australia and the world. Just another chance to get together and ride with your mates, and make new ones.
This year, we were lucky enough to have some awesome international riders come to our lucky country. The amazing Pierre Maixent graced our shores to ride the new Rickter Edge. Also, the best all-rounder on a standup, Mark Gomez (in our humble opinion). Not to be out done, another American, Brandon Lawlor showed up to back up his sensational win at the Blowsion Surf Slam.
Bruno Jacob made it out to Oz for a third time, bringing some great riding. Tahiti Matt and Loic Tahiti made it out to do the filming of the event, risking their necks to get some fantastic shots and different point of view; make sure you keep an eye out for that one. The Land of The Long White Cloud (New Zealand) sent us over Norm McFarlane and a few others to entertain us with there antics and some great riding. And let’s not forget our home grown World Champions, Mick Anthony and Mitchell Young.
The show kicked off early Thursday morning with a demo day for skis and products to test out to great success, with plenty of keen riders ready to hit the water and try out some different hulls. Some of the boys we spoke with were really impressed and put in there orders then and there. The afternoon got a good session of riding in and gave the internationals a chance to get used to there skis. Generally these skis are borrowed. So a big thank you goes out to all the people that lent out their pride and joy.
Friday morning brought great conditions on the water with a good swell for all to show their. Backflips, Madonna’s and Flexflips were all on the trick list. The talent of some of these guys is unbelievable. Pierre pulled massive one-foot, one-handed flips, Brodie Copp showing his usual amazing extension on his flex flips, Gomez riding like a man possessed making the most out of every wave.
Saturday morning came around quick, especially getting to the beach at 5am for sunrise to get some shots of the new Rickter Edge. What a good looking machine it is too, and the word from all the riders that rode it was nothing but impressive. Getting up early meant we could also get a few shots of the pros before the wind picked up. This wasn’t easy, as getting some of those guys out of bed is a tough call. And we’re glad we did as the surf was perfect, with clear blue six-footers rolling in.
We’ve seen Pierre ride on the Gold Coast back in 2009, and remember him being unbelievable then. Nothing has changed. Whether it’s height or extension, he has got it all. Not to be out done, Gomez was on fire doing some of the biggest flips we’ve ever seen. Even Pierre and Brodie were cheering him on.
Brandon finally got to hit the water as he was sharing Pierre and Brodie’s ski. This was the First chance he had the really put the Edge through its paces. He was pulling off some super huge one-handed flips and clean barrel rolls. That was in the first five minutes of riding the ski. Lawlor shows such a natural talent.
It was also good to see Luke Emanuel back out on the water after taking a few months away from the ski. And you couldn’t tell that he had. The height this guy gets every time he rides is amazing; no mater what the size of the surf you can guarantee seeing some serious air that would give anyone else altitude sickness.
It’s so good to see an event that can have a rookie and a World Champion come head-to-head in a backflip battle. Tom Aiken and Pierre Maixent made it to the finals in a lighthearted competition that started a few heats back with four heats of four riders standing on the beach. The rules were the first one to get to their ski and do a backflip and land it makes to to the next round.
So it came to the final. Likened to a David versus Goliath battle, 16-year-old Tom was going to have his work cut out for him, and the pressure to beat one of his idols was overwhelming. On the horn, Tom was away first with on his FP1 with Pierre not far behind. We saw a wave in the distance that Tom had his eye on. “He’s going to win this,” we said to ourselves, but not so. The wave closed out just as he got there making him have to turn around a look again. Not going to let this opportunity slip away, Pierre hit a beauty of a wave and took the win.
The next competition was the Jet Pilot Best of the Best, which was judged on flow, height, landing and execution. Brodie Copp, Mick Anthony, Mark Gomez, Mitch Young, Pierre Maixent, Brandon Lawlor, Nick Barton and Luke Emanuel were chosen to compete from a long list of riders. Hitting the water in a five minutes solo run, it was going to be the longest five minutes of their lives.
Even though the conditions grew messy, the tricks got sicker. After everyone went through their rounds it came down to Mark Gomez, Pierre Maixent and Mick Anthony. Pierre and Mick were riding so well. Between the Rio’s Rolls and flips it was hard to pick who was in front of those two.
But one person was riding his heart out. Making the most of every wave, going from one to another; massive airs and stylish carves, Gomez was unstoppable and took out the title of Jet Pilots’ Best of the Best. The Watercraft Journal had a chat with Mark after his ride and told us, “That was the best I have ever rode in my life.” Second went to Mick Anthony and a close third to Pierre.
The final challenge was the “Sickest Trick” and went to Pierre. Trying something different, Pierre took out Stu from Player One’s Blaster who pulled off some awesome Madonnas, and one-hand, one-foot flips. It was good to see it on that couch, reminding us that Pierre used to ride and compete on those machines. Brodie Copp took the “Biggest Air” showing us how quickly he is progressing towards being one of the best riders in the world.
The presentation and drawing for a brand new Yamaha SuperJet and a 701-built Blaster (not to mention hundreds of other prizes) drew the whole crowd’s attention. Tom Akien was the lucky winner of the 701 Blaster and Hakan from Wetseat who took home the new SuperJet.
What a great weekend. Butch Pfrengle – the man that made this all happen – is a legend. The time and effort that goes into getting it all together and making it run smoothly is unbelievable. So many riders can’t wait for this time of year to roll around just to have the chance to hangout and ride with some mates. Oh, and the off chance take home a new ski.
All images courtesy of Photo by Skip, and are available in full size for purchase.
OK, we’re just gonna say it: the idea of traveling through México sounds pretty dangerous. Kidnappings, shootings, gang warfare and human trafficking is enough to deter most. But again, that’s just how the media is presenting our southern neighbors, so that’s not entirely a fair assessment. Nevertheless, México is still a pretty wild place for most, so that is why what we’ve found has the potential of being all the more daring:
Introducing the México Aquabike World Challenge. A 466-mile, 9-day survival/endurance/distance race is unlike anything we’ve seen before. If week-long races that beat the sternest of PWC racers into a pulp is what you’re in to, then you need to pay close attention. Traversing winding rivers, crystal blue lagoons, and the turbulent Atlantic Ocean, the México Aquabike World Challenge looks to pit racers against a wild variety of water conditions against a jungle background and tropical temperatures.
Cut from the same cloth as other multi-day races like the KaruJet, Russki Jet Racer, and Greece’s Jet Raid, the México Aquabike World Challenge looks to put México on the map of grueling personal watercraft destinations next year, May 15th through the 24th. If you’re looking to seek possibly one of the most insane events of your life, you need to read the original press release below:
The greatest, longest and most demanding personal watercraft racing challenge in history is being conceived. A 750 kilometer marathon on rivers, lagoons and the Atlantic Ocean that includes 50 turbulent rapids on the Usumacinta River in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, long and demanding legs across the jungle of the states of Tabasco and Campeche, and the back-breaking waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It will attract the toughest Aquabike riders on Planet Earth. An adventure that will be compared to the Paris-Dakar Rally, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500 or the one-of-a-kind International Balsas River Marathon. Take the challenge!
There are a few sacred rules to riding a personal watercraft that seem pretty easy to follow: don’t run your ski up a beach, don’t run into underwater obstacles, and don’t suck up anything into the jet pump (to name a few). These seem pretty easy right? Well, for the folks at AlumaSki, those are just too hard to follow. So, they discovered a solution: make an armored PWC.
The brainchild of Mackinnon Marine Technologies, the AlumaSki aims to eliminate all previous fears of puncturing or cracking your ski’s hull on rocks, tree branches or other unforeseen oddities. Pulling most of its running gear and propulsion components from a Yamaha VX, the AlumaSki replaces the traditional fiberglass hull with a durable, hand-formed quarter-inch thick aluminum deck. Surprisingly, it weighs in at 950 pounds (dry weight), which is only about 100 pounds heavier than the fiberglass PWC.
Powered with a Yamaha 1,100cc four-stroke, the 12-foot-long AlumaSki tops out at 60mph, which still ain’t too shabby. Really intended for some serious conditions, the AlumaSki truly shines in narrow, shallow or rough river riding, as well as hunting, fishing, work and rescue response. Unfortunately, the official page doesn’t mention much in the way protecting the jet pump from sucking up any debris or chewing up and spitting out gravel through the prop, so we’ll see how long that goes.
Now here’s the kicker: the AlumaSki will sell for just under of $25,000, which is almost $10,000 more expensive than Yamaha’s well equipped model, the FX SVHO Cruiser. So again, we’re not exactly sure of the exact market this machine is targeted for, but it’s pretty wild to see it in action.
This most recent ride hosted by the JetSkiShop.com is an epic adventure that saw 10 watercraft taken of an exclusive two-day expedition which clocked up 10 1/2 hours of ride time on the watercraft and traveled over 350kms (217 miles) and encountered wild dolphins and turtles, shot the mangroves, cruised the Tangalooma Island shipwrecks and Pumicestone passage, included a over night stay at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, maximizing the jet ski lifestyle to its fullest!
The group of riders gathered early at the boat ramp on Saturday morning eager to get out on the water. We had a safety meeting to address to any questions and to discuss the ride plan. Setting off at 7:30am sharp, we headed north past South Stradbroke Island and make our way to Slipping Sands for our first pit stop.
Here was our first chance to spread out and carve up the flat water before entering Moreton bay. Crossing this bay can go either one of two ways: dead flat or viscous chop. Fortunately, we got the dead flat water conditions. Pulling up at Peel Island offered us a chance to stretch our legs and use the amenities. After a quick regroup, we picked up the pace for breakfast and a fuel top off at Redland Bay Marina.
Fuel usage varied between brands. On average the Sea-Doo and Yamaha top up (ran empty – Ed.) around 42 liters (11 gallons), where the Honda didn’t top up and was still reading almost full. Leaving the Marina and heading north, the ride meandered past St. Helena Island. This island is home to so much history from the 1800’s, including a Penal Establishment.
Tangalooma Island was next on the list. Hosting some very iconic shipwrecks, and a magnet for all watercraft that can get there. The beautiful blue waters are full of lots of marine life and is a perfect getaway from the rat race of Brisbane, only a one hour ride away. After exploring the wrecks and taking in the sun, we continued on our trip north to Pumicestone Passage.
Entering the passage, we pulled into the dock to refuel both the bodies and watercraft. By now the Honda watercraft were down a total of 50 liters for the day and the other craft were on their second refuel. We grabbed a drink and an ice cream and got our butts into gear. We only had about two hours of daylight left in the day, and with 1 1/2 hours of riding to go we knew it would be tight. Making our way through with an out-going tide, we didn’t muck around. Only one ski got stuck in the mud when the rider diverted from the group. Finding out the hard way, pushing a 400kg (882 lbs.) jet ski off a mud bank is worth following the crowd.
Pulling in at our destination of Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, we secured the watercraft on the beach. We were met by the security guard who settled in for his 12 hour shift of some jet ski beach watching. Out for dinner at Hogs Breath and out for breakfast at the Coffee Club.
Sunday was time to turn around and head back home to the Gold Coast. We managed to squeeze in some attractions on the way like the Redcliff Street markets, airport fly over, and some mangroves tracks. All in all, it was an awesome weekend with friends using their jet skis to their maximum potential.
A calm, overcast start turned into a bright and sunny finish at the Jettribe Dana Point to Oceanside and Back offshore endurance race on Sunday, September 21, 2014. Promoted by Ross Wallach of RPM Enterprise and presented by Hydro-Turf, Sea-Doo, Hot Products, Sea-Tow, Jet Re-Nu, Oakley, Kawasaki, Watercraft Journal, ProRider Magazine, and www.pwcoffshore.com, all helped in bringing this race back after no race last year.
As the 17 racers gathered for the start of the race, the conditions were uncharacteristic for the Pacific: eerily smooth waters and a mere 1-2 feet of swell. When the green flagged waved, the calm conditions allowed a drag race start of top end performance at full throttle speeds.
Mike Klippenstein, riding his R&D turbo Yamaha FX Cruiser, quickly took the lead position with Chris Heinrich, riding a built Yamaha FZR, hot on his heels. Close behind the two leaders were John Feeney on his Pro Open Kawasaki Ultra, and Michael Perry of Factory Kawasaki on his Manufacturer Stock 310R. Hot on Perry’s wake were Manufacturer Stock riders Jeff Lane, on his new Kawasaki 310R, and Curtis Marker on his brand-new 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO. Abeam these fast paced Manufacturer Stock boats in another Yamaha and Kawasaki position battle were Santiago Kuan, riding his Yamaha FX, and Derek Newton on his Kawasaki Ultra.
Following this lead group was the rest of the field in an all-out sprint through glassy waters to the turn boat outside of Oceanside Harbor. The conditions going south were in the riders’ favor, going with the current and direction of the swell all the way down. After the turn boat, the seas gave the riders a little bit more of a challenge with oncoming swell and parting clouds giving way to bright, sunny and clear conditions.
Rider Evelyn Mangan suffered a late start due to battery issues, starting 18 minutes behind the field. But the trials were not over for Mangan, who was pulled over by Dana Point Harbor Patrol just seconds after crossing the start line for getting on the throttle just before the 5mph zone ended. This was a first for race director Ross Wallach and the RPM race series, having a racer pulled over during a competition.
At the top of the field, Mike Klippenstein rode his Yamaha through smooth conditions and across the finish line in a battle for the top spot, finishing just 3-seconds ahead of John Feeney on the Offshore Robot Kawasaki Ultra. Only one minute behind the Pro Open boats was the Manufacturer Stock class winner and impressive third overall finisher, Michael Perry on his Kawasaki Ultra.
Coming back from a knee injury sustained during the LB2CAT in July, was the #22 Yamaha of Brittany Marker, the first woman across the line at Dana Point and boasting a 10th place overall finish. Shortly after, Chris Heinrich finished in 12th place due to boost line issues on his impressive Yamaha FZR. One minute later, 15-year-old Brennan Newton, the younger brother of sixth place finisher Derek Newton, finished his first ever race on a borrowed Kawasaki from Shawn Alladio. Newton threw his hands in the air after crossing the finish line in excitement of his successful ride.
As racers continued crossing the finish line, more close battles ensued, and although a late start, Evelyn Mangan took advantage of the familiar “lake-like” conditions, setting a blistering pace and passing two riders before the finish line. A few minutes later, former world champion, Sheldon Messick, crossed finished on a borrowed Polaris, racing in order to qualify for the upcoming IJSBA World Finals.
All 17 starters finished the race under their own power within the time allowed, even with some mechanical issues and one rider being pulled over by the Harbor Patrol. Ross Wallach was happy to announce that it was the first offshore race in the series to finish without a single DNF in 8 years. This rare occasion made for a great day of racing and happy competitors all around.
We caught up with the winner, Mike Klippenstein, to get his thoughts on the race and his first place finish, “It was a great time racing with new friends and racers. It was great to see other racers helping new and old racers and the comradery by everyone is second to none. It was a fast course and my Yamaha FX Crusier (built by R&D) ran perfectly and I am very happy that I could bring home the win. I want to thank all my sponsors and the people that support the racing, because without them, it just wouldn’t happen. We will see everyone at World Finals or the Mark Hahn 300!”
2014 Dana Point to Oceanside & Back Offshore Sprint September 21, 2014
Overall Results: 1. Mike Klippenstein, 2. John Feeney, 3. Michael Perry, 4. Jeff Lane, 5. Santiago Kuan, 6. Derek Newton, 7. Akira Tanaka, 8. Bill Scott, 9. Curtis Marker, 10. Brittany Marker, 11. Shawn Mulkey, 12. Chris Heinrich, 13. Brennan Newton, 14. Renee Hill, 15. Evelyn Mangan, 16. Sheldon Messick, 17. Dan Schroepfer
PRO/AM OPEN: 1. Mike Klippenstein, 2. John Feeney, 3. Chris Heinrich, 4. Renee Hill; 4-STROKE STOCK: 1. Santiago Kuan, 2. Derek Newton, 3. Akira Tanaka, 4. Shawn Mulkey, 5. Brennan Newton, 6. Evelyn Mangan, MANF. STOCK: 1. Michael Perry, 2. Jeff Lane, 3. Bill Scott, 4. Curtis Marker, 5. Brittany Marker, 6. Sheldon Messick, 7. Dan Schroepfer
This PWC trail was researched and accomplished by the Jetski Junkies Bahamas Ride Crew with the intention to share with the world, not only our story, but the details and navigational information needed for anyone wishing to also make this journey.
This PWC Trail starts at the Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park in Boynton Beach, Florida. Crossing the Intra-Coastal Waterway out through the Boynton Beach Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean heading east to West End, Grand Bahama Island, home to Old Bahama Bay. The West End has your Customs & Immigration Dock, fuel dock, bathrooms and a small store to get a drink and snack if needed. From the West End, you head North to the Goodwill Channel. The Goodwill Channel is not too far up from the West End, just a mile or two.
Once reaching the Goodwill Channel, you take a bearing more northeast for a good ways until you reach the Dover Channel Cut. The Dover Channel Cut takes you Southeast at an approx 45 degree angle back towards the Island on your way to the Dover Channel, which is your entrance into the Grand Lucayan Waterway. The entrance is very well marked by tall red and green navigation pilings. Do yourself a favor and stay inside those markers as it is extremely shallow and rocky outside of it. The channel is dredged so at low mean tide you have at least 4-feet until you are inside the actual Grand Lucayan Waterway which is narrow but has minimum of 10-foot water depth.
The waterway is fun and beautifully colored, mostly sea-walled and only one bridge closer to the southern end of the waterway which has heights of 25-feet at low tide so very passable by many. The waterway itself is not well maintained and lined with scrub brush grown from what should have been a housing development. You will find a few homes along the waterway, some finished and some unfinished. Once through the waterway you will be in the Tongue of the Ocean on the south side of Grand Bahama Island just east of Port Lucaya.
From here you go right heading back West along the shoreline but not too close due to the many rocks and coral you can’t see. You will go down two canals to the Bell Channel, the Bell Channel takes you into Port Lucaya. As you come in the channel it will split going right or left; right is the way to the Flamingo Bay Resort and Marina, left will take you to Port Lucaya and the fuel dock.
Heading right to the hotel, you will take your next right into the Flamingo Bay Resort Channel. The docks are permanent wood docks, some have ladders so those are the best to use as the docks are tall. The resort does have floating docks but only for their PWC rentals. The great part about Flamingo Bay is they are attached to the Taino Beach Resort so all the amenities are open to guests at no extra charge.
Flamingo Bay is already a very reasonably priced hotel and your rooms are right at the marina overlooking your PWC. Twenty-four hour security is on site also, beautiful lagoon style pool and grotto with swim up bar along with pool volleyball, a waterslide and a lazy river. The beach is on the south side combined with a tiki hut and Taino Beach restaurant all within walking distance of the hotel. Of course, if you wish to go to Port Lucaya, the ferry dock is right in Flamingo’s Marina or you can rent scooters from the resort to go and explore the island on your own.
The ride in from the States will be a total of 127 miles give or take. From Boynton Beach to West End, Bahamas is approximately 69 miles and then from the West End to Flamingo Bay is another 58 miles give or take. When you are ready to head home, you will understand the title. You will leave out either from Flamingo Bay or the fuel dock in Port Lucaya heading out the Bell Channel and into Atlantic Ocean. From here, you will go right heading west following the shoreline of Grand Bahama Island.
Now I want to reiterate, do not try to run the shoreline; we had more than a few close calls the closer to shore we were, so it’s best to stay in that darker blue water. You will make your way to the West End of the island again but from the south side this time, this will be approximately 30 or so miles versus the 58 you did coming in from the North Sound. Refuel at West End and then head out due west for Boynton Beach. This totals approximately 227 miles.
You will find all the navigational waypoints, points of interest and links to informational websites that make up this PWC trail HERE.
