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Shielding themselves from drizzling rain Sunday morning, contestants and pit crews gazed hopefully at leaden skies over the Rio Dulce as spectators and the news media assembled on the dock at El
Relleno Marina.
Nerves were taut here at the start of the First Annual El Relleno Open Dinghy Competition, Feb. 11, 2007.
In the first class of 5 h.p. and under were Daphne and
Nathan. Daphne was at the helm of a thundering 3.5 h.p. while Nathan had a slight advantage with his finely tuned 4 h.p.
After a close inspection by her pit crew revealed faulty steering components,
Daphne was advised to switch classes to a 10 h.p. and Pierre was substituted to handle the behemoth 3.5.
But more problems were in store for Daphne when her 10 h.p., nicknamed Dead Don, expired and
was disqualified before the starting gun.
As the clock ticked its way to the 9 a.m. start, rain clouds dispersed and welcomed rays of sunshine flooded the beautiful Rio Dulce racecourse.
All classes started at the same nervously awaited moment. Throttles were savagely twisted wide open and the roar of the powerful machines overwhelmed spectators (Loudus obnoxious), nesting snowy egrets (Egretta thula)
and curious comorrants (Phalacrocorax auritus).
Collisions were, to say the least, delightfully numerous as the race craft increased speed out of the marina, heading for the first pylon then a
quick spin around some little ol’ island out there in the river. Even the officiating speed boat piloted by the cautious El Relleno (Las Vegas) Bob was rear-ended by an overzealous competitor.
Reported collisions occurred between Pierre and William, Pierre and Nathan, and Pierre and Ed. The only contestant who managed to avoid the unwelcomed advances of Pierre was the ever-so-nimble Jean Claude.
Halfway through the course Jean Claude provided some rather sporty wakes and waves to encourage even more steering difficulties for his opponents.
The affable Nathan in Little Terror followed closely
behind the very proper William of Tell around the island, roaring back to the dockside finish line.
Winner of the Wettest, Most-Fun-To-Watch, and Hazard-To-Himself Awards went to tempestuous Ed, ostensibly
piloting Little Humper, rumored to be a somewhat unstable and most likely overpowered rowing dinghy with its 9.8 h.p. engine. Ed was summarily disqualified since he violated racing commission rules by leaving his
craft to go swimming before crossing the finish line.
Ed objected to the ruling, claiming he was forced to abandon ship due to the dangerous and aggressive French style of dinghy racing displayed by the
not-so-gallant but grinning Pierre, who stretched out full length in his craft and steered with his rather large big toe.
A post race scuffle broke out between Ed and Pierre which was eventually broken up
by a gaggle of cheerful and pleasantly amused fans.
RESULTS
Overall Winner – Jean Claude (Limbo Lizzard) Winner of a can of beer since he declined the offering of a can of Pepsi.
Class Winner – William (William of Tell)
Second Place – Nathan (Little Terror)
No Finish – Ed (Little Humper)
Disqualified – Pierre (Dead Don)
Canceled – Mean Joe who broke his toe having too much fun the night before the race
Photography by Daphne, Race Coverage by Gracie, Officials El Relleno Bob and Great Scott.
The highly publicized clash between super boat contestants Lubie Ludwick and El Relleno
Bob did not occur since Lubie did not show.
So much fun was had by all that another race is scheduled in two or three weeks.
Race promoters hope that more entries in the larger classes (15 h.p.
and over) will participate.
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