BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 17, 2021 / Powerboat racing is a thrilling and exhilarating sport. Professional racers often race across unpredictable waters at speeds reaching over 180 mph. The sport can be considered dangerous at times, and there is nothing like a bout of bad weather to push the risk of powerboat racing over the edge.
With more than two decades of professional powerboat racing experience and more than a few medals to his name, Hugh D. Fuller Jr. shares his experiences with different weather conditions and how each one can impact your race for better or worse.
Ideal Weather Conditions
There is nothing like sunshine and the perfect amount of wind to turn a good racing day into an exceptional one. With newer technology being developed, racers can see accurate marine weather predictions up to two weeks ahead of racing day directly on their phones. Hugh Fuller, however, raced during a different time. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, weather conditions on the water were more often than not left up to chance.
"It didn't happen that often, but every once in a while we would get the perfect conditions for powerboat racing. Sunshine, a cool breeze, great visibility, and perfect wind conditions over the water. It would almost feel like the conditions wanted us to race well. Today, we have fairly accurate weather forecasting that is useful when choosing what days we want to go out for test races and to simulate expected race conditions to help us better learn how to navigate through different types of weather. Of course, you never know what you're going to get weather-wise the day of the real race," shares Hugh D. Fuller.
Downpour
While perfect weather is ideal, climate conditions over the water are volatile and can quickly change. One risk while powerboat racing is the chance of a downpour. Not only does the rain create visibility problems for the racers, but heavy rain can also make the water choppy and thus more difficult to tread through.
"I remember this one time we were racing and it started pouring rain," recalls Hugh Fuller. "I couldn't see anything. That was really scary because we were going somewhere around 160 mph, and all of a sudden I had no idea what was in front of me. Luckily, we were able to slow the boat down and get out of the downpour to finish the race. For inexperienced racers, downpours can be detrimental to the outcome of their race."
Wind
One of the most dangerous weather conditions for powerboat racers is sudden strong winds. When hit with strong winds, catamarans traveling at high speeds are in danger of blowing over and potentially crashing into other boats. While the sport is inherently risky regardless of weather, bad weather can amplify the risk involved.
"Personally, I've never blown over, but I've seen it happen many times," says Hugh D. Fuller Jr. "I remember the first time I saw a boat blow over - I think my heart almost stopped - thankfully the driver was ok that time. Unfortunately, I have lost several friends due to bouts of bad weather while racing, which really puts things into perspective. It makes it hard to forget how dangerous our sport really is, but it's still something I love."
While powerboat racing can occur in a myriad of weather conditions, some conditions are ideal while others can be dangerous or even fatal. As Hugh Fuller describes through his personal experiences with racing, the weather can be a huge determining factor in how a racer will perform that day. Thankfully better weather forecasting technology has made it easier to predict conditions out on the water, however one should always exercise caution and be prepared before any kind of boating activity.
SOURCE: Hugh Fuller
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