DUBAI HOLDS THE KEY TO CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Gulf’, a sea fairing city where East meets West, it is appropriate that Dubai provides the unique setting for the last two rounds of the 1998 UIM Class 1 World Offshore Championship and the stage where the final dramas of the season will unfold.
With its heritage buried deep in the history of Arab civilization, Dubai has grown from a small trading port and has developed to reveal its potential as one of the most significant international cities of the 21st century. But as modern day Dubai expands, the essence of Arabia can still be found in the many gold and spice souks along the creek and on the waterfront where traditional dhows wait to be loaded with cargo.
Of the eleven boats lining up in Dubai only two, Spirit of Norway and Victory 7, are in with a chance of lifting the coveted Class 1 crown. However, the supporting cast of nine may ultimately hold the key and will all play a vital role in the Championship deciders.
The Anglo-Norwegian pairing of Bjorn Gjelsten and Steve Curtis are clear favourites carrying a 33 points advantage and needing just eight points from two starts to clinch the title. For Bjorn Gjelsten this is unknown territory, but for his British throttleman, Steve Curtis, there is a daunting feeling of déjà vu as he bids to be the first person in the history of the sport to win the world title three times. "They will be the toughest points of the season to pick-up," said Curtis. "Yes we have a good lead, but we have a lot of work to do yet. Bjorn and I have talked about the last two races and which tactics to employ. We are confident that we can set the boat up for any conditions, but no doubt we will exercise a degree of caution."
Randy Scism and Ali Nasser in Victory 7, second in the Championship and the leading boat of the locally based Victory Team, know that to stand any realistic chance of winning the title they must win the last two races. "It’s a tough call but we are still in with an outside chance and will give it everything we’ve got," commented Scism. Although the title is beyond their grasp, stablemates Saeed Al Tayer and Felix Serralles in Victory 5 and Khalfan Harib and Mohamed Al-Ghaith in Victory 4, will be looking to perform well and impress on home waters. Both crews are running the latest specification, Michael Peters designed boats and have already demonstrated their outstanding potential with Victory 4 winning in Nettuno and Victory 5 taking second place in Fujairah on its first competitive outing.
Both Lamberto Leoni and Massimo Lippi will be wondering if winning races brings bad luck. Since taking the honours in Istanbul, the crew of Jolly Motor have picked up only 5 points and were forced to retire last time out despite leading from the start for four laps.
For the chasing pack of diesel powered boats, it is a question of patience and realising the potential. Ken Thorne and Matteo Nicolini on board Caesar Marine, have produced top six placing in their last two outings and clearly have more to come. For the crew of Riviera it has been a torrid season, dogged by misfortune and the crew of Bill Barry-Cotter and Keith Hanson will be hoping for a trouble free run. While further down the field, the various crews of Nastro Azzurro, Immersion and Brazil enjoy their own private battles.
As all crews look ahead to the final two races, the ominous roar of the flame red Bilba tells them that its development period is over. Edoardo Polli and Laith Pharaon proved in Fujairah what they have been promising all season, taking an exciting fourth place, despite spinning out twice. Polli and Pharaon enjoy a 23 point lead in the Pole Position Championship and while their focus will be to win the trophy, victory in either of the Dubai races and a top 6 placing overall would be some compensation for outgoing World Champion Laith Pharaon.
The final two races of the 1998 season, the Dubai Duty Free and Emirates Grands Prix, will be run over the same 12 lap 126.79 Nm course off the Dubai coast, unquestionably the watersports capital of the Middle-East.