Ocean City, Maryland, race. The start line is decided at the morning driver’s meeting before the race by pulling a card.
Unfortunately for our team, the card gave us the exterior line, thus making the first lap a bit longer and bringing us closer to the beach where the backwash of the swell is tricky. Therefore, and with a high-speed potential and a perfect set-up of the boat, and starting in 4th position, Gladiator passed two boats and with a good 4 mph faster than the leader, it decided to head for first position before turn one. Unfortunately, at the time of passing the leader, the proximity to the beach and passing over a sand bank played their role and the boat hit an unexpected bigger hole.
As a result, our 38’ Catamaran while running at 112 mph, and still gaining speed, was launched in the air and felt down on its starboard side hull with the engine fins losing contact with the water. Thus, Ervin Grant, the driver, had no more control over the steering and the boat rolled.
Luckily, the boat felt down on the right side.
The starboard side engine was the first one to hit the water and the shock was so violent that the engine bolts broke, and the engine ended up on the seabed.
Both driver and throttleman came out of the boat with no injury, a testimonial of the importance of the quality of the lamination of a boat when extreme events happen!
