Offshore competition
Speed as the only horizon
While powerboating was confined to sheltered or inland waterways, the innovation of the V-hull, able to weather rough seas, changes everything at the turn of the 1960s. In the late 1950s, pioneering races between Miami in Florida and Nassau in the Bahamas inspire British media mogul Sir Max Aitken to embark on a similar initiative. This leads to the first International Daily Express Offshore Powerboat Race from Cowes to Torquay in 1961. This inaugural race’s success sparks a new fervor among thrill-seekers and leads to the organization of a number of competitions across Europe. Following the time of pioneers competing in mismatched units, from family cruisers to primitive small catamarans, offshore racing becomes a standalone and rapidly growing specialty from the 1960s and the 1970s in particular. It is governed by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), which sets classifications to award various champion titles for categories based on the boat’s length and engine capacity for instance.
Legendary naval architects of the 1970s
The best naval architects from America, England and Italy dedicate themselves from the outset to developing increasingly high-performance boats, which will have a growing influence on the design and equipment of recreational models for decades. These designers often become builders themselves, either directly or indirectly. Among the most well-known in the American camp are Dick Bertram, Raymond Hunt and Don Aronow, who quickly launch series production ranges, with sleek lines and powerful engines, inspired by competition boats, that quickly become legendary in marinas around the world. The creativity of Don Aronow, with his Formula, Magnum Marine, Donzi and Cary brands, as well as the famous Cigarette models, will help shape the market for high-speed boats for a long time. His renowned 36-foot offshore hulls are still seen as the gold standard today in this area. Regularly spotted around the Mediterranean in the 1970s, the “Dry Martini” Cigarette for instance, launched in 1972, wins the world championship the following year and again in 1974, piloted by Italy’s Carlo Bonomi. Powered by two 600hp Aeromarine V8 engines, this very deep V-shaped monohull is the first to maintain average speeds of over 130 km/h on offshore courses like Viareggio-Bastia or off the coast of the Balearic Islands. The media exposure of exploits like this gives a decisive boost to the marketing of series versions, acquired by wealthy industrialists, renowned advertisers or Jet Set celebrities in Europe and the United States. Despite the astronomical fuel consumption figures, high speeds at sea become accessible for non-professionals. 10 meters 80 of powerful muscles, an aggressive bow, a central cockpit and below-deck accommodations in front of the windshield make it the prototype for future open cabin cruisers, with or without a flybridge, which will later generate widespread interest at the boat shows. The 1970s are seen as the golden age for the development of fast hulls through offshore competitions. Innovations from the world of racing are adopted by a number of recreational boat yards, which establish speed and design as decisive selling points that are increasingly appealing for a certain audience. For motorboats, as in the automotive sector, dreams sell well. The quest for extravagance and excess that will characterize the 1980s and beyond is underway.