#66 Cranefields Wine plan longer hull in 2009

Tuesday 12 August 2008

The #66 Cranefields Wine crew scored a fourth-place finish in the Evolution Sprint race in Tunisia

#66 Cranefields Wine team boss and pilot Siegfried Grieve has said that his Searex Racing crew plan on switching to a longer hull in 2009 as they aim to improve on a tough second season in Powerboat P1’s Evolution class.

The #66 Cranefields Wine outfit currently use a Falcon 40-foot hull, built by Grieve’s Searex shipyard and powered by Mercury Racing petrol engines. The boat – which is throttled by Belgian Gino Passchier – has posted some strong results this year, but Grieve is keen to ensure he steals a march on the competition in 2009 and improve on their current seventh place in the championship standings.

Hull length is the subject of much debate in powerboat circles, with shorter, smaller hulls tending to prove quicker and more manoeuvrable in smooth seas, but longer, larger hulls tending to perform better in the sort of rough conditions that have been a factor at Powerboat P1 events this year. The #66 Cranefields Wine’s Falcon 40 is at the shorter end of the series’ scale.

“Looking at the sea conditions we’ve had this year, it could really help to have a longer boat,” Grieve said. “Especially if you look at how the #66 GFN Gibellato, the #88 Kiton Outerlimits and all the other boats with monster horsepower are performing. The new engines are perfectly designed for Powerboat P1’s regulations, and so everyone is reaching their top speed, even when the water is rough.

“All these boats are new generation, developed specifically for Powerboat P1 in 2008. If you don’t plan for what’s coming in 2009, then you get stuck at the back. If it’s rough next year, then I’m fine and well prepared.”

Searex’s new 48-foot hull is being planned as a base for both pleasure and heavy-duty work boats, with a series of different deck designs.