TEAM PROFILE
The #46 Spirit Of Portomaso team has a new crew for 2008 – Benjamin van Riet and son Robbe. It seems appropriate to keep it a family affair, because this boat was in the hands of brother-sister combo Aaron and Audrienne Ciantar last season. That’s Ciantar, as in the family business that built this boat and all other Chaudrons…
With Aaron moving to the defending Supersport champion #44 Racing Project boat, and Audrienne taking a shore-based Powerboat P1 role, the way is clear for the two van Riets to show what the Mercruiser-powered Chaudron 33 can do in their hands.
They’ve certainly got some championship-winning navigation experience behind them, as Mike Shelton moves from the 2007 SuperSport title-winning #01 Extremeboat squad to take the #44 Racing Project team’s third seat. The Chaudron 33 may be one of the smaller boats in the Supersport class, but that hasn’t stopped it from taking a few prized scalps in the past. The van Riets and Shelton will be keep to capitalise on its giant-killing potential.
2007 RECORD
In the hands of the Ciantar siblings, this Mercruiser-powered Chaudron 33 finished sixth in the Supersport championship. Although the Ciantars ensured that the boat was a regular points finisher, they only got on the podium once, in Italy. New crew Benjamin van Riet, Robbe van Riet and Mike Shelton will be keen to improve on that form this year.