The schedule is:

8-10 a.m. – Boat Inspection
9:30-10 a.m. – Coffee and goodies
10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Lectures

Lunch will also be available for $5 per person, from 12:30-1:15 p.m.

Topics will include:

Safety Trends WorldWide
Lifting Requirements For 2010
Hearing Retention
Radios Communication
Dynamic Racing Loads
Capsule Care & Maintenance
Rescue Panel
SRP (Safety Equipment & Rules Updates)
Safety From a Drivers Standpoint
Five Things You Absolutely Have to Pay Attention To in Order to Improve Your Racing Performance

For those who can’t attend, the seminar will be webcast live at www.ulhra.org .

Please contact any of the following to help planners in setting up the event:
Bob Wartinger, 206-409-8978, bobwartinger@comcast.net; Rick Sandtsrom, 425-481-3911,
info@propshopltd.com; or John Paramore, 425-672-2757, watertoyz@verizon.net.

UIM SITE LINK HERE

Starting from the opening race of the 2010 season in Yalta, Ukraine, the entire world championship racing fleet will be using customised Powerboat P1 torque sensors produced by market leader ABB in Sweden.

The cutting edge technology, already successfully used in Formula 1 motor racing, is being used for the first time in a powerboat racing competition.

The advanced engine power output monitoring system is designed to police discrepancies associated with the power-to-weight ratio of the competing boats, as well as providing the Powerboat P1 technical team with real-time engine power monitoring.

Powerboat P1 Chief Operating Officer, Robert Wicks, said: “This is a breakthrough for the whole sport and it’s good to know that Powerboat P1 has been the first to introduce this technology. It’s been a considerable investment on our part but something which we have felt is absolutely necessary to ensure parity in the field of competition.”

Renowned for producing some of the most robust power and automation systems available on the market, ABB represents unbeatable accuracy and dependable torque measurement in demanding environments.

Sergio Castagna, Torque Sensor Manager for ABB, said: “The robust and durable design of the device ensures reliable and continuous real-time torque measurement at all times. This will act as an aid for racers, where they can optimise the power without exceeding the limits.

“Working with Powerboat P1 has given us the opportunity to once again prove the capability of our sensor technology. Through close co-operation with Powerboat P1, we have managed to design a sensor for a totally new application. We will be following this year’s championship with great interest.”

Discussions regarding the adoption of a torque sensor to monitor engine power output began in early 2009 before a decision was made to commission ABB to build an initial prototype designed by Powerboat P1’s powertrain consultant, David Wood. This prototype went through extensive testing in the second half of the 2009 season ahead of the full production run.

Wood believes the Powerboat P1 ABB torque sensors represent a “major step in the right direction” for the championship. Following positive initial responses from the teams to

Powerboat P1’s latest technical initiative, Wood is looking forward to ensuring this season’s racing has the highest level of parity to date and is more exciting than ever.  He said: “During the last two Championship seasons, the DPO (Designated Power Output) of the engines was monitored by recording a number of critical engine parameters in order to ensure that they did not exceed data gathered in the mandatory, pre-season engine tests.

“This process and the data gathered were used to establish each boat’s DPO, and although rigorously monitored throughout the seasons by the Championship’s Technical Compliance Committee (TCC), the system needed enhancing and improving to ensure there were no possible loopholes or discrepancies.”

Each powerboat will carry two Powerboat P1 ABB torque sensors, one on each engine, fitted between the engine power take off unit and the drive shaft to the stern drive. Using standard SAE1410 flange couplings with the torque sensors stainless steel construction sealed to MIL-SPEC standards, the ABB torque sensor incorporates both torque and speed measurement.

The component’s torque module, measuring only 102mm long, carries a total capacity of ±2000Nm and a maximum yield torque of ±4300Nm. Using the current 2009 Powerboat P1 Race Technology data logger, the Powerboat P1 ABB torque sensor comes with a three-year design life and guarantees accurate readings within ±1% of its total scale reading.

Data will be available to the teams after it has been downloaded from the Race Technology data logger with teams able to obtain the power output of their engines during each race.

Built to be maintenance free for the whole season, the torque sensors will be randomly selected for inspection and calibration checks during the events.

The Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea, in Ukraine will launch the 2010 World Championship on May 7-9.

More photos on my facebook profile.

Official statement by Our President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli during his speech at the UIM Awards Ceremony, Monaco, 6^th of March 2010

Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, UIM World Champions, power boating friends. As President of the International Powerboating Federation I’m delighted to be here with you all at this very special UIM Awards Ceremony.

Let me thank all of you for having accepted our invitation and for your continuous support of our sport and to our Secretary General Régine Vandekerckhove and the UIM Staff for a remarkable effort in organising this event.

Tonight, the awards will be given to those drivers who achieved the ultimate prize in the sport, earning a World Championship and becoming Gold Medalists in their racing disciplines.

Since the UIM headquarters is in the Principality of Monaco, it seemed  the obvious location for this first ceremony. We are pleased to have 260 attendees including National Federation representatives, Top Level Sports Leaders, Sports Celebrities, UIM Promoters, UIM Council Members, Media representatives, and last but not least the Gold Medalists.

We felt it was the duty of the UIM to honour them with our recognition and we have chosen this prestigious location in Monaco, the magnificent Salle Des Etoiles for this evenings Gala dinner.

We are proud that over 70 World Champions are present from throughout the world and as far away as New Zealand. This evening has brought together 25 different nations, and many Champions have chosen to be accompanied by their National Authority delegates, their sponsors and their friends who will share this memorable evening with them.

Now, I ask all of you to stand-up as we observe a moment of silence to honour our drivers and officers who passed away during the last racing season. Thank you.

As President of the UIM I am committed to making the UIM more relevant to our sport and as part of this changing process I am delighted to be here this evening with you all at the first UIM Awards Ceremony. In our UIM Strategic Plan we promised to share the pride of our World Champions and tonight this has been realised. We are also pleased to acknowledge the sponsors and business partners who have joined forces with the UIM to support this initiative.

The new UIM strategic approach brought a significant change to our sport. The strategic plan we have developed and implemented certainly contributed to our recent significant achievements. At the last UIM Open Forum and General Assembly, we had the opportunity to share the UIM road map and strategic plan and to review objectives, work in progress, and accomplishments. It was the opinion of those who attended, that the UIM is becoming increasingly successful, has carried out significant changes in power boating, and that we, together, are delivering on our promises.

As per our promises, our priority projects are moving forward:

Youth Development Programme: “growing the sport to secure a bright future for our teens”;

Race for Peace: “bringing friendship in post-conflict areas such as N/S Ireland, which was among the awardees at the HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sport and Peace”;

Communication & Marketing: “to know us, to like us, to support us”;

Environment, Alternative Energies, and Sustainable Development: “the three motor sports world bodies UIM-FIA-FIM agreed to jointly focus on optimal use of resources, reduction of pollution, reduction of noise.

The next joint UIM-FIA-FIM Environmental and Alternative Energies meeting will be held here in Monaco also with the attendance of UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program) and FAI (Federation of World Aero Sports). To emphasise the significance and focus on Sustainable Development, the UIM created an ad hoc Working Group and assigned the first UIM Environmental Award to Earth Race for the UIM world record in circumnavigation of the globe using 100% bio fuels and 100% recycled materials.

The UIM is also cooperating in the development of innovative technologies and applications on boats powered by solar energy.

Safety, is among the main priorities and the UIM has raised its focus on safety. There is still a lot of work to do but significant progress has been made in the areas of Education (safety seminars at racing sites, drivers’ safety guide), Communication with more frequent face-to-face interaction between drivers and UIM officials, Enforcement (comprehensive review of safety rules) and Technology (cross-fertilization with other motorsports experts).

We have further strengthened our co-operation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), introduced the Court of Arbitration in Sport in Lausanne as independent arbitrator, and fully adopted the new WADA anti-doping code. The last General Assembly approved unanimously the UIM Code of Ethics, in line with IOC values and principles, and based on its five main pillars, namely, Equality, Fair Play, Respect, Integrity, and Environment.

Let me take this opportunity also to share with you our pride for the Olympic recognition given to the Union Internationale Motonautique. As you know, the International Olympic Committee in Vancouver, Canada approved its Executive Board’s decision to give to the Union Internationale Motonautique ‘full recognition’.

We are extremely proud and honored of the recognition given by the International Olympic Committee to the UIM and to our sport. This is a significant acknowledgment and appreciation and will strengthen the UIM position as an active and loyal member of the Olympic family.

On a personal level, I was honored to be elected ARISF Council Director. ARISF is the Association representing all 32 International Sports Federations recognised by the International Olympic Committee. I have been working hard to strengthen our relationship with the IOC and I promised that we would spare no effort to unify our sport. In this context, the UIM signed the agreement that stopped a conflict in Norway between two competing authorities. Furthermore the UIM, WPPA and IOTA Presidents came to a common agreement regarding the full re-integration of the Class 1 World Championship in the UIM, under UIM rules. The UIM and WPPA also agreed on managing the UIM X-Cat World Series.

Furthermore, the UIM successfully managed to re-unify Aquabike and will be the sole power boating governing body to award World and European titles recognised by the IOC. The UIM continues to support Junior Classes in their development of young talent. We have seen the participation of many young drivers from a number of nations, competing for prestigious junior titles and showing the promise and talent to progress to the senior UIM classes.

At the environment and sustainable development workshop held in Arendal, Norway, we outlined clearly the importance of the environment for our sport and for our youth and demonstrated how power boating can promote environmentally friendly behaviours and technologies. Water sports and Environment: Yes, we care!

The UIM further strengthened its collaboration with the UAE in the areas of Environment, Alternative Energies, Sustainable Development, and Youth Development and we are delighted to have here with us a man who feels passionately about these, His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, UIM Honorary Vice-President – Middle East and West Asia.

On behalf of the UIM I can say that we are proud of the progress made so far. During the last season in over fifty countries around the world powerboat races have been organised under UIM leadership with a growing number of participating drivers and nationalities.

I count on your ongoing support for the work ahead of us and I assure you that I am committed to continue to strengthen the UIM position as the world’s governing body and the driving force behind power boating, and to make our sport one of the worlds premier motorsports.

Dr Raffaele Chiulli

President, UIM

“Unfortunatly Bin Hindi is sick, and Arif is in meetings – but we are proud to be here” said Venturelli in a comment.

Nicolo San Germano expressed that he is really sorry that Mr Cappellini is not here, and he is sure he misses out on a great party. ” I called Guido, and tried to convince him, but his decision is final. Up to him” says Nicolo San Germano who is accompanied by a lot of Formula 1 drivers. Fabian Kaslow is here, so is Massimo Roggiero along side with Phillippe Dessertenne – Endurance F1 champion and team manager and my super special friend Francesco Cantando rolled in the door.

Steve Michael and Andrea Dini is havin a full night of work, as there will be 77 World-champions to be honored.

It will be one grand show, watch it says Steve Michael when he was running off to the rehearsal.

Check out the facebook photo gallery ; MONACO AWARD GALLERY

As I checked into the hotel in Monaco, I downloaded my emails. I was looking fwd till tomorrows Award giving ceremony, and especially to celebrate with my friend Guido Cappellini his 10th World title, but unfortunately Mr Cappellini is absent. Check out their press release here:

Official protest of the Italian Powerboat Federation:

the FIM will not attend the UIM awards giving of the

International Champions

Italy side by side with the world  pluri-champion Guido Cappellini, also polemically absent in Montecarlo

The Italian Powerboat Federation will not be present on Saturday 6 March at the Awards Giving of the 2009 International Champions organized by the Union International Motonautique (UIM) in Montecarlo.

The decision has principally sprung from the behaviour showed by the main international powerboating body towards Mr. Guido Cappellini on the occasion of his excellent conquest of his tenth  world title in F1, happened last December 2009.

The FIM formally protests against the UIM for how the most famous and titled powerboating athlete all over the world, Guido Cappellini, has been the subject of a blatant  attempt of alienation to which the International Union not only has not reacted the way it should, but also has avoided any kind of intervention.

The decision not to take part at the UIM awards giving ceremony in Montecarlo happens for the very first time in the history of the Italian Powerboating and it has been unanimously deliberated by the Federal Council of the FIM who thinks that the UIM activities are more and more marked to the barren political activity while, instead, this sport needs more and more  an International Federation that could constitute a guide mostly in technical matters and safety.  Within  safety matters, in particular, the UIM has omitted to adopt safety systems fundamental for the safety of the drivers. The FIM, furthermore, complains about the excessively invading role of the promoters (organisers of international events) who are inclined more and more to substitute the National Federations, annulling their representation and national identity, as well as preventing the development of the Promotional Categories.

GUIDO CAPPELLINI, ten times F1 world champion, excellent goal hit just in 2009, will not be present at the awards giving that should had to see him as an absolute protagonist. A sensational protest for which he explains the reasons:

“Mine is an act of protest towards the International Federation and his President Raffaele Chiulli.

I won’t go to get my golden medal because I am enormously disappointed by the recent choices operated by the UIM. The political questions interfere by now with sports activity and also it is even put under discussion the safety; they have been, in fact, reasons of low political opportunity the ones which determined a modification of the rules that make smaller the minimum exit space of the driver from the cockpit only to safe a wrong technical  project.

In this way 20 years of work for safety are made fruitless and this happens just in the moment in which the top management of the International Federation is ruled by an Italian President, Raffaele Chiulli.”

Yesterday I was spending time together with Ali Ghramah M Al Shehri, a true Saudi patriot.

Ali, what is your background in powerboat racing?

Ah, he says with a smile – first of all, I have always been in connection with the sea. In 2000 I started with diving activities, and we did local pleasure boat racing here in Saudi.  In 2007 I was the local organizer in the Asir sea festival hosted by Asir government, Ministry of Sport and Ministry of tourism. Including in this festival we had the F2 Continental championship promoted by Abdul Salam Fairooz, and Formula World Sports. I can say, from this day I was really involved in racing. It became my passion.

With my experience from this time, until now – I realized that my country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was behind the rest of the world in this sport. In this moment, I committed my self to bring the sport here, and do something special for my country and young sportsmen.

The more time I invested, I learned that I knew nothing about this sport, so I moved to Dubai, and worked with Formula World Sports and invested two years there. We travelled the world, and my experience gained.

I always had Saudi Arabia in my mind, and I realized that one day my dream would become real.

So, what is your real dream and plan?

I love big ideas. Not only did I dream about racing one of these boats one time,  (witch I now did) but I had already a vision of what we needed. I quickly realized that I needed a partner. At that time I joined forces with Mrs Baiba Veisa from Latvia. I knew Baiba from racing, and she had worked both locally in here country and international. We decided to start together.

We had weeks of brainstorming; I even spend several months in Latvia. We open also an office there, as Europe is more advance in racing. It’s a Very cold country by the way, Ali smiles, as he remembers the time he was in Latvia in the winter.

The different ideas grew up along side with the government’s decision of a federation, hosting all water sport events. Saudi Arabian Maritime Sports Federation was established on April 6^th 2008.

With our experience, and looking at what UIM did – we decided to see power boating all over, with new fresh ideas and eyes.

We decided, that since we started from zero, we had to start with education of drivers. We established also a school, and we even got license to do so from General Authority for Vocational Training under Ministry of higher education.

Our general idea was to educate, train and eventually promote sportsmen to reach a high international level. We have a clear target. Within our first year, we will have 45 teams in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We have signed contracts with boat manufactures, trainers and drivers from around the world. We have also education programs lined up for OOD and judges, timekeepers, rescue personnel etc. All with the eyes on the UIM rules and std.

This mean, in our mind, we should be able to start with national races very soon in our country. To start it up, u always need some help, that’s why we have invited drivers from around the world on our cost to join us in an International Ordinary event in Al Wajh. This is the first step, witch will start up all our activity. In this event, we have already invited, and on standby all our partners.

As you understand, my focus is to build up the sport here in Saudi Arabia, and by inviting the powerboat friends from around the world we will have the start help we need. After all, there have only been 4 events hosted in Saudi Arabia since 2004. We have the full support from our government, and our AB Water Sports is one out of many clubs established with license under Saudi maritime Sports Federation. Maybe hard for many to understand our structure, but we are directly linked to governments sportsections, like any other sport in Europe – Ali explains. That’s why also the Saudi Olympic committee has announced Saudi Arabian Maritime Sport Federation as the only partner for this sport in the Kingdom.

Having a meeting with the NGP organizers in Arendal, we had the pleasure to also meet Mr Svein Elgvin, and we will make sure that every event in our Kingdom will follow the guidelines on environmental issues as well, established by the new committee in UIM.

So, where are you now?

Ali smiles, and answers very fast. “We are one step away. The President of the UIM have informed me that the situation will be discuss on the next council meeting on 7^th of March. All our documents are submitted, and the activity should be able to start up” Ali says.

The first race of the Saudi Championship has been delayed 2 times, and Ali explains;  “ We have teams from 15 different nations waiting in the Jeddah Port. We, as Saudi local organizers gave promise to the drivers that it should be hosted under the UIM umbrella, of cause – it was not done over night. However like we say, we have worked hard, achieved all the support we understand is necessary, and we are appointed by Saudi Olympic committee, like UIM – so I’m sure we are one step away. “ Says Ali who hopes that within very short time, the Saudi Arabian Maritime Sports Federation will join forces with the UIM and its President of the International federation.

As you see already on the UIM calendar. We as AB Water Sports are also involved, and the club behind the Class 1 World Championship scheduled in Jeddah.

So, hopefully, Saudi Arabia will be more than sailing in the future

‘Simply put, the time frame was too short, but the signs for a Sydney round are definitely promising,’ Offshore Superboat Championships chairman, Paul Gibbs, explained.

‘We have had detailed discussions with the powers that be in Sydney and have been told to submit our application and all relevant paperwork now for the chance of a Sydney Harbour round in 2011,’ he added.

The six rounds of the 2010 championships will begin at Newcastle over the weekend of April 10 and 11.

Queensland then hosts the next three rounds. Mackay (June 26/27), Townsville (July 3/4) and Redcliffe (September 18/19).

The championships then move south to Victoria for the final two rounds.

Geelong will host round five over the weekend of November 6 and 7, with Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay the venue for the final round one week later, November 13 and 14.

Mackay has not previously been used for the Offshore Superboat Championships, but organisers are confident it will prove an effective setting for the racing.

Newcastle, Townsville, Redcliffe and Geelong have all proven successful venues in the past.

The second Melbourne race was previously staged at Williamstown, but for 2010 the round has been switched to a Port Phillip Bay venue closer to the city of Melbourne due to sponsorship arrangements.

Crews generally speaking have been more than happy with the chosen venues, although Mackay has yet to prove itself.

Reigning Class 1 champion, Tom Barry-Cotter (Maritimo) rates Geelong has his favourite course, but many other crews shower equal praise on Redcliffe, outside Brisbane.

Horses for courses, as the saying goes, the scene is set for an exciting 2010 championships.

Teams are now busily engaged in preparing boats and engines in readiness.

by Bob Wonders

The President with Malaysian friends.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Vancouver, Canada approved its Executive Board’s decision to give to the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) ‘full recognition’.

The UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli stated: ‘The UIM is extremely proud and honored of the recognition given by the International Olympic Committee to the UIM and to our sport.

This is a significant acknowledgment and appreciation and will strengthen the UIM position as active and loyal member of the Olympic family’. IOC spokesman Mark Adams said after the IOC Session in Vancouver: “They are recognized Federations by us, which now means they can take part in IOC events and eventually obviously postulate themselves if they wish to take part in future Olympics,” and then he added “Until you’re a recognized sport, you can’t do that. It could be seen as the first stage. It allows them to take part in programmes that the IOC runs.”

To be recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), an International Sports Federation (IF) must comply with a stringent set of criteria. These criteria comprise universality, popularity, governance, athlete welfare and development. Before an IF can be considered by the IOC, the sport it governs must be practised and organised in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Furthermore, the Federation must have an anti-doping policy which is compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency; stage regular world and continental championships; be committed to youth development; have robust and independent governance structures. Olympic Charter Rules govern the recognition of an International Sport Federation by the International Olympic Committee.