Blue Sheets 1
Blue Sheets 1 are the current UK National Zapcat Champions, and the youngest ever holders after 4 years together. 20009 saw a very successful season winning all 3 major titles, the National Championship, National King of Surf, and National Team Championship, winning 6 out of 7 rounds, and going an unprecedented 14 races undefeated. The boys have shown they can race in all conditions whether flat or rough, and are a great team combined.
Craig was the youngest Zapcat pilot at 16 in the 2005 season, with his now co-pilot Rob joining him in the boat in the 2006 season, where they got their first taste of success in their very first season together winning the Southern Championship. The team stepped up to the season in 2007 with a very professional performance showing great consistency finishing 2nd in the National Championship with heat and grand prix wins along the way. 2008 was to be an up and down season having engine problems, though the boys showed determination to fight back to finish a well deserved 3rd in the National Championship, and great potential if they could find their 2007 consistency. 2009 was the year the boys, now Blue Sheets Racing 1, showed their true ability in the boat wiping the floor of the opposition to clean up with 3 National titles.
Racing under boat number 1 for 2010 the boys have come back stronger, and more determined to carry on with where they left off with new venues the length and breadth of the country to really test the boys all round boat skills. They are a team that is in red hot form, and one to keep an eye out for in 2010.
Achievements to Date
| 2006 Zapcat National Championship | 5th Place Overall | 2006 Zapcat Southern Championship | 1st Place Overall | 2007 Zapcat National Championship Round 9 | 1st Place | 2007 Zapcat Bournemouth Grand Prix | Winners | 2007 Zapcat Kings Of Surf | 2nd Overall | 2007 Zapcat National Championship | 2nd Overall | 2008 Zapcat National Championship Round 13 | 1st Place | 2008 Zapcat Bournemouth Grand Prix | Winners | 2008 Zapcat Watergate Grand Prix | Winners | 2008 Zapcat King Of Surf | 2nd Overall | 2008 Zapcat National Championship | 3rd Overall | 2009 Zapcat Bournemouth Grand Prix | Winners | 2009 Zapcat Watergate Grand Prix | Winners | 2009 Zapcat Plymouth Grand Prix | Winners | 2009 Zapcat Edinburgh Grand Prix | Winners | 2009 Zapcat Bournemouth 2 Grand Prix | Winners | 2009 Zapcat Watergate 2 Grand Prix | Winners | 2009 Zapcat King Of Surf | Winners | 2009 Zapcat Team Championship | Winners | 2009 National Championship | Winners |
The Team
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The team have been racing together for four years now and have gone from strength to strength year by year. Pilot Craig started his powerboat racing career in 2005 at just 16 years old making him the youngest pilot ever to enter the Worlds Largest One Design Powerboat Championship. A steady season for the youngster saw him joined by new co-pilot Rob Martin for the very last event of the 2005 season which saw them take a good result and a strong partnership for the 2006 season was born.
The team scored consistently throughout the 2006 season and managed a very respectable 5th overall finish in the 2006 Zapcat National Championship amidst a top class fleet. Meanwhile in the Zapcat Southern Championship they went a few better and managed to clinch their first major title as a team, as Zapcat Southern Champions of 2006.
Amongst studying and work commitments they spent hours training both on and off the water over the winter months, to ready themselves for the 2007 Zapcat National Championship. The season promised great things from the ever improving young team. With a new boat and engine, the season got off to a slow start for them, but as they gained in confidence during the season their experience and skill started to show. As the 2007 season drew to a close Craig and Rob were in top contention for a Championship Podium place, and dominating in the King of the Surf contest. Team Vortex finished the 2007 National Zapcat Championship 2nd Overall and equalled the achievement in the King of the Surf competition also taking 2nd overall.
2008 promised to be a spectacular season with a very close fort championship. Team Vortex were no exception with very steady results all season, and tussled hard for the number one spot. The team was strong with added experience and confidence together expected to battle for the number one spot. The season went well winning two weekends racing overall, and was in the medals every weekend consistently. The coveted King of Surf was the title the team wanted the most, with the prestige of being number one in the huge surf at Watergate Bay in Newquay being legendary on the Zapcat circuit. The team performed well in 2008 and had another very strong season, finishing a solid and very respectable 3rd in the National Zapcat Championship, and fort the King of Surf down to the final lap, missing out by 5 points in the championship less than 1 place, finishing agonisingly close in 2nd.
2009 developed into the most successful season that any Zapcat team has participated in, winning 6 of the 7 National rounds, starting the season going an unprecedented 13 races undefeated. The team worked very hard over the closed season, and made sure they had the boat running to its full capabilities, and putting into practice the experience the young team had put together over the previous 3 seasons. A mix of experience with youthful exuberance promised an eventful season. Only a single disqualification at Barry Island in Wales disrupted a perfect season. The newly formed Blue Sheets Racing 1 team finished the season very strongly claiming the National Zapcat Championship, National Zapcat Team Championship, and National King of Surf.
The young team are determined to retain the title, and come back even stronger in the 2010 National Zapcat Championship with a new boat, and have put in the hard work over the closed season to make sure the boat is running correctly for the first race at Fistral Beach Newquay.
