THE START
Three minutes before the start, the three-minute gun is fired
and the green flag is raised allowing the drivers to come onto
the race course. Exactly sixty seconds before the start, a one-minute
gun is fired and the green flag is replaced with a white flag
and the clock is started. At the end of sixty seconds, the dropping
of the white flag indicates the official start. In the event that
any boats start ahead of the gun, those boats are disqualified.
The intent of the drivers is to cross the starting line at full
speed when the clock reaches zero. Boats approaching the starting
line at other than ninety degrees or weaving to reduce speed are
disqualified. Turning to restart is forbidden. When a red flag
is flown immediately after the start, it is an indication of a
false start and all boats must return for a new start.
THE FINISH
A white flag indicates the beginning of the last lap. As each
boat finishes, a checkered flag indicates the finish.
SCORING
Each race is composed of two heats. Drivers accumulate points
for each heat according to their finishing place. First place
receives 400 points, second place 300, third place 225, fourth
place 169, fifth place 127, and so on. Points for both heats are
totaled, and the winner is determined by the highest number of
points. In the event of a tie in points, the driver with the fastest
time is declared the winner.
BOAT AND MOTOR INFORMATION
A HYDROPLANE is a type of boat used for racing because it planes
on top of the water’s surface and does not have to cut through,
eliminating drag and friction, resulting in greater speed and
action like an airplane. The bottom of the hydroplane is designed
to create the least water friction possible and to take advantage
of the wind foiled underneath. This gives lift to the boat making
it lighter and raising it from the water.
THE TUNNEL BOAT
The tunnel boat has sponsons that run the full length of the boat.
The “tunnel effect” does not work to the ultimate
without lots of horsepower on the transom. Thus, you do not see
them used on boats with less than 50 horsepower. The “tunnel”
traps many cubic feet of air between the sponsons which literally
allows the boat “to fly.”
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