Jet Boat Racing

[Dave]

Three from yesterday's JetSprint event. All shots: 1Ds2 400mm at f4 ISO100 -0.3ev tripod and wimberley head. I did try wider apertures to show some blur in the motion, but I was shooting through a fence which became visible at f11 and even f8 so I gave up on the idea. It was a very loud and wet event all taking place in an area not much bigger than a football pitch. Lots of fun.

[colin C]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

That third shot looks like he's going to have an intimate meeting with a tree!

Colin

[Dave]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

They stopped about 20m short of the tree line. Neither of them were injured but the boat wasn't fit to take part in any further heats.

[colin C]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

I have watched this on satellite TV. Am I right in recalling that this is primarily a New Zealand sport?

They certainly are furious and spectacular events.

Colin

[Woolley]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

I've seen them at Gisbourne, amazing things. V8 noise, 130kph down the straight (and there wasn't much of it) and turn on a sixpence.

I love the last shot with the mud being spat out of the impellar, giving a little clue as to how he got where he is.

[Dave]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

I have watched this on satellite TV. Am I right in recalling that this is primarily a New Zealand sport?

I think it is. The Hamilton Jet was developed here in NZ by Sir William Hamilton as a means of getting boats up shallow narrow rivers. It's caught on in Australia too. No doubt it'll take off wherever you have a bunch of nutters and a puddle of water.

[NigelL]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

Great set of shots, Dave. Is the co-pilot in the first shot really giving directions ?

Nigel

[colin C]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

Just to make me look clever ..........Yes.

(Please, please, please back me up Dave!)

Colin

[Woolley]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

Yes is the correct answer. it's too fast and too noisy to talk, so they point!

The course is typically a channel cut into a field with a series of islands. They're given a course to follow weaving around the islands and the co-driver tells the driver (pilot?) which way to turn next. The water's only a couple of feet deep.

The sport is mainly Aus and NZ, although there are some American crews as well. I think over there they race on open rivers.

[Dave]

Re: Jet Boat Racing

This video shows what happens when the co-pilot gets his/her hand signals wrong.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGzKcypnBlA

...and this one shows it being done right! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPkjhh9Itrc&NR=1