FB80 Record 2001
During the last four decades, powerboating has witnessed many epic Endurance races and Marathon events. Offshore endurance has been headlined by the American classics: the ‘Miami–Nassau’, and the ‘Bahamas 500’; and European challenges such as the ‘Cowes–Torquay-Cowes’ and ‘Viareggio–Bastia–Viareggio’.
Marathon events have included the Round Britain (’69 and ’83) and the London–Monte Carlo ’73, but the economic climate halted any further races until the Italians started the ‘Venice–Monte Carlo’ in ‘90.
This was well supported in the early years, but the high costs associated with a long multi leg endurance challenge slowly reduced the number of competitors.
The scene was set for Fabio Buzzi to take up the challenge with a Venice–Monte Carlo NON STOP event.
A boat was needed to cope with all problems: the variety of sea conditions, the effects of sustained high speeds on the hull, the stress on machinery, the huge weight and size of fuel tanks, the fatigue of crew (especially at night or off watch), the reliability of navigation and technical equipment. If successful the record would be recognised by the U.I.M. (Union Internationale Motonautique), and the boat would be eligible to challenge other existing records and set new ones…and so FB 80’ RECORD! was born.
Venice–Monte Carlo 2001
Name: UIM-Endurance Long Distance Offshore World Record
Recognised by: UIM
Range: 1.141 nm
Holder: Bohinc Record.com
Skipper: Hannes Bohinc
Time: 58h. 53’ 51”
Avg. speed: 19,338 kts.
Record date: 18.06.2001
Craft: FB 80’ Record
Length: 24 m
Engines: 4 x 1500 hp MTU
There was no record to ‘break’, but Hannes and team still had to prepare and test the boat. They spent three weekends in Venice checking the engines and testing propellers before it was decided to use the Venice-Monte Carlo run as a ‘test bed’.
Buzzi memorably said, ‘we are not concerned with watching the weather, I designed this boat and there is ‘nothing’ to worry about relating to the weather’. This was truly a ‘shakedown’ run.
On June 16th FB 80‘ left Venice, travelled down through the Adriatic sea along the south coast of Italy and arrived in Messina (for a planned fuel stop) having averaged nearly 52 knots. Problems refuelling delayed the team and they left at approximately 20.00 with the weather turning infavourable.
The wind and sea reached Force 6-7 through the Tyrrhenian Sea on the way towards Corsica. One of the engines broke, they had lost some gears, and there were other problems, so the team decided to pull into Olbia. Repairs took 24 hours before they were able to set off again for Monte Carlo, arricing at 17.55 on Monday 18th June, a very tired and bruised crew, but with a record of 58h 53m 51s, a lot slower than hoped but still an average of 19.338 knots.
Nevertheless the FB 80’ proved unmatchable reliability in hull design and construction technology.
Monte Carlo-London 2001
Name: Steigenburger Trophy
Recognised by: UIM-RYA
Range: 2.080 nm
Holder: Bohinc Record.com
Skipper: Hannes Bohinc
Time: 63h. 14’ 05“
Avg. speed: 32.854 kts
Record date: 03.08.2001
Craft: FB 80’ Record
Length: 24 m
Engines: 4 x 1500 hp MTU
This time, there was a ‘record’ to break. In June ’92, Rolf Versen in a 19m Catamaran had set a time of 89h 18m 17s at an average speed of 23.29 knots for the 2.080 nautical miles distance and to win the ‘Steigenburger Trophy’.
After a month of activity, which included winning the World Championship, the crew were ready to go.
She set sail at 18.00 on the 31st of July and, similarly to their previous record, the first leg was quite reasonable albeit facing rough weather crossing the ‘Gulf of Lion’, and they arrived in Gibraltar setting an average speed of 43.18 knots.
The second refuelling stop was to be in El Ferrol (North West Spain) before they attempted the crossing of the Bay of Biscay.
Upon arrival, the fuel lorry did not show up for nearly half an hour, and when it did, it was thirty years old and so ‘clapped out’, they had to work for over two hours to get the fuel pumps working!
The weather had been deteriorating during this time and, as they turned ‘Cape Finisterre’ to head across the ‘Bay’, the cross sea storm unleashed itself and the crew of FB 80’ had a night of terrible conditions with waves continually breaking over the boat.
Dawn and the sighting of the English coast were a great relief to everyone, arriving under London‘s Tower Bridge at 09.54, welcomed by fellow powerboat racer and city broker David Hagan with the mandatory bottle of Champagne. Hannes and his crew had taken only 63h 14m 05s, smashing the previous record by over 26 hours. This had NOT been 63 hours of ‘pleasure boating’ and the team knew that their time and average speed of 32.854 kts would stand for a long time.
Round Britain Speed Record 2001
Name: The Norman Mackinnon Trophy
Recognised by: UIM-RYA
Range: 1.640 nm
Holder: Bohinc Record.com
Skipper: Hannes Bohinc
Time: 30h. 51’ 40”
Avg. speed: 44.198 kts
Record date: 22.09.2001
