Hail Paramount, new champions of the Carib Great Race 2016. The crew of Donald Webster (throttleman), Jason Laing (driver) and crew chief Patrick Balgobin made the trek from Trinidad to the sister isle of Tobago in a time of one hour and 10 minutes to claim the win in the A Class category for boats 130 mph.
However, the race was marred by mechanical problems that prevented more than half the field from finishing. Among the casualties of the open seas were 16-time winner Mr Solo Too, which was seeking its 17th title in this the 48th edition of the prestigious event.
The T&T Guardian understands that from the 22 competitors that started, only ten were sucessful in the 90-mile journey from the lookout at the Foreshore, Audrey Jeffers Highway, to Scarborough, Tobago.
Afterwards, Webster said his crew will be aiming at breaking the record next year as they experienced mechanical problems at Grande Riviere which prevented them from reaching Tobago sooner.
Total Monster, the 2015 champion, did not compete yesterday, but holds the record for the fastest boat to Tobago, a blinding one hour and 08 minutes, which was set last year.
"We were actually predicting a sub 1-hour finish and we were well on the way to achieving it had it not been for the Grande Riviere experience," Webster said.
Their closest rival Mr Solo Too, for a second time in a competitive environment, could not handle the water conditions and broke down, despite sporting a new boat.
Webster said in spite of the respect for Mr Solo, they were always confident of victory, having beaten all his opponents in all events this year. "We had to take a technical and tactical approach to the race this year which we did, by allowing our main rival Mr Solo Too to take the lead as they entered Maracas Bay and as we were about to exit the bay, we took the lead and headed for home."
Webster noted that at one point they were up to speeds of 110 mph which later diminished tremendously as they drove through Grande Riviere.
"We were down to a pace of about 60-70 mph and we didn't know what caused it.
We tried everything to correct it but nothing happened. We went like that for about three miles before we picked up speed afterwards and drove to Tobago" Webster explained.
Their victory comes years after they contested and won the G-Class category for boats 60 mph back in the 1980s. Now with a new boat that has been built for speed, Webster is hoping that Total Monster, Mr Solo Too and the other fast boats in their category could sort out their problems and face him in a race in the future.
With Total Monster out and Mr Solo down, Gulf Ironman secured the runner-up spot in the class in 1hr: 17 minutes, while newcomer Big Thunder was third in 1hr, 18 minutes.
In the D Class, lone participant Sheriff Lobo claimed the win after 1hr and 31 minutes while Outlaw got the better of White Heat to secure the victory in the E Class as Energiza failed to finish.
In the F-Class for boats 70 mph, Chris Gone Wild capitalised on the mechanical failure of Extreme Measures for the win in 1hr, 56 minutes. Extreme Measures did not finish. However in the G-Class Limitless, continued its winning ways from the pre-Great Race event last month, by securing the top spot again.
He was followed in second place by PP Conqueror and third Power By God.
2016 Carib Great Race Overall Results
1. Paramount -1hr:10mins
2. Gulf Ironman -1hr:17mins
3. Big Thunder -1hr: 18mins
4. Sherriff Lobo -1hr:31mins
5. Outlaw -1hr:32mins
6. Limitless -1hr:35mins
7. PP Conqueror -1hr:41mins
8. White Heat -1hr:46mins
9. Chris GoneWild -1hr:56mins
10. Powered By God -2hr mins
Yesterday's Class Finishers
A Class 130mph
Paramount-1hr: 10mins
Gulf Ironman-1hr: 17mins
Big Thunder-1hr: 18mins
D Class 95 mph
Sherriff Lobo-1hr: 31mins
E Class 80mph
Outlaw-1hr: 32mins
White Heat-1hr: 46mins
F Class 70mph
Chris GoneWild-1hr: 56mins
G Class 60mph
Limitless (Tobago) -1hr: 35mins
PP Conqueror -1hr: 41mins
Powered By God (Tobago) -2hr: 0min