FAREHAM REACH GOSPORT ZAPCAT GP PREVIEW
Interview with Craig Davis
Craig we are looking ahead to the weekend and the return to Stokes Bay for the first time since 2008, wasn’t this where you made your race debut three years earlier?
We love Stokes Bay it’s close to home and you are correct it was where I made my first race debut back in 2005. It’s a great event as the conditions are always changing and the course is real close into the beach which makes it great for spectators too.
How old were you then, were you nervous? Do you ever get nervous before a race or is it trying to control the adrenalin?
I was 16 and I was bricking it as it was a real baptism of fire as the wind was on shore and gusting Force 6 -7. I then found out there was no divisions so I was up against all the top teams like Wet Willy and Wilson James who were the teams to beat then, but we finished our first ever heat in first place ahead of the then National champion which was a real surprise to us and most of the fleet!
We do still get nervous at the start of an event especially when you turn up to somewhere like Fistral and see boats get turned over my monstrous waves. I think it helps as it means that I am always alert and aware so won’t go doing something stupid which could risk the boat or my crew.
Does the racing still excite you after 6 years? What have been your highs and lows over the years?
I still get a real buzz from the racing. It’s the only sport where you can go belting off the start line on the beach and head out against 16ft surf. The boats are great fun to drive even after 6 years I still smile when I get out on the water in a Zapcat.
I would say my highlight would defiantly be the winning the 2009 season along with the King of the Surf which is one of the trophies everyone would like to have as it shows you can drive in the most challenging conditions. Both Robbie (my co-pilot) and I were really proud that we managed to start that season undefeated for the first 25 races and also take 15 out of 16 round wins.
One of the lows of our racing has to be back 2006 where we managed to flip the boat at Watergate Bay when we were only in a race with one other boat! Of course I made sure we did it in style right in front of the camera boat who got it in a six slide shot as we both rag dolled across the water!
We have seen some terrific racing at Stokes Bay and some quite spectacular incidents; do you think it is going to be as close and exciting this weekend?
Stokes Bay is always close as it’s an event where we normally have a very large pit lap. The best over take we have ever seen was at this event when Zapcats’ very own “Mav” (former Champion Mick Pritchard – now Race Director ) pulled an interesting overtake on team Predator back in 2008. I think we may see a few people parking on buoys but hopefully the flatter conditions should bring some good high speed action through the M section near to the beach.
So conditions have been fairly awkward here for teams at times with flat calm thrown in too, what do you expect to see next weekend?
Don’t be fooled it may be classed as a flat event but it’s far from it. The Solent chop will always cause problems as it can be very unpredictable. If the wind gets up and blows on shore it makes things very lumpy and uncomfortable. If conditions are flat it will make it interesting with fast tight corners but also the occasional gust which can really catch you off guard.
As a spectator for the first time at an event, explain what you would normally see, describe the boats for me as well.
The Zapcats are twin hulled inflatable powerboats, very light, very quick and are great fun to race or experience. They are so agile and turn on a penny giving amazing performance and control even though it does not look it sometimes as we race we take it to the edge!
Deep water starts are normal for this event so the spectators will get the excitement of watching all the boats fight it out for the first turn mark. Because of the way the beach shelves off the course is normally just a stone’s throw from the shore which makes it great when watching the boats through the corners. (Unfortunately we will have to situate the course further out this year) I remember coming to watch events here and seeing four boats try and come side by side around the inshore pit lap buoy. One boat I’m sure ran past with the right hand high-jacker (bottom rail of the twin hulled Zapcat) on the beach!
Stokes Bay will be a home venue for you; do you have many friends and supporters coming down to the beach over the weekend?
Being a local event we will have a number of friends and family both on and off the water that will come to watch. It’s nice that the sport is as social as we have a number of other racers who have become good friends over the years so it’s great to catch up with them.
I understand that it won’t be beach starts at the weekend, are rolling starts just as fun?
Rolling starts are great fun as its always great fun trying to get the nose ahead so you can be first to the turn buoy. I like rolling starts as it makes it much closer at the start of the race and if you get it wrong then you have to fight your way through the pack and pick the best time to pit.
You race like for like crew weights now? Do you think that will come more into play here than was seen in Newquay? Who are your main rivals this season? Is it a case now of really thinking just finals or consistent heats or worrying about who is doing well in the other class too?
Robbie and I are one of the lightest crews on the circuit and we don’t seem to struggle in the rough or flat so it does prove that it’s not all about the weight. It will make it fairer for the heavier weight teams as they will be evenly matched. There are a number of good team in our class so I think we will have some good battles as the season goes on. The new points system does make it interesting so we will certainly make sure we are consistent and always race to finish. Hopefully still finishing first!
We have a couple more Rookie teams entering this weekend, can you remember what advice you were given and what would you pass on now?
Teams starting now will be in the same boat as I was in that there are no divisions so a Rookie boat will be up against winning teams like Bluesheets, Angry Hornet and Speedy Hire. The best thing they can do is keep focused and if they lose don’t let it affect your racing. Try pushing the limits to where you feel comfortable. If you don’t feel comfortable back off and be safe. The last thing you want to do is go damaging your boat or another racers’ boat as it’s not the best way to make friends!
Best bit of advice is don’t be shy come and have a chat to other racers. If you’re not sure of something have a chat with us other teams as we are always happy to offer advice on setups and techniques – (but don’t believe everything you are told?)
Are any of your sponsors going to put in an appearance this weekend, they always love your results but we rarely see them?
Although we don’t see them supporting us I can assure you they are. Bluesheets have supported us for a number of years now and we are very thankful for this. They are incredibly busy throughout the season so if they had the time they would make it to all of the events. We are always on the phone with James keeping him up to date with our progress. We also have Sharon from Seavaction who has helped us out this year and she is always guaranteed to make and appearance as she loves to the social side of Zapcat and it wouldn’t be the same without her.
Thanks Craig, Good Luck for the weekend – one last question … what is it about you and your shoes?
Well it’s what keeps us as number one. It’s a great scare tactic. I have my wide selection of cool (replace cool with clown) shoes!
Interview and picture courtesy of ZapCat Racing.
