World Powerboat Championship: Curtis seals glory in powerboating season climax

Saturday 13 December 2003 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Competition is intense just after the start of yesterday's Dubai Grand Prix, the final round of the 2003 Superfund Class 1 World Powerboat Championship as (left) Qatar, driven by the Italian Matteo Nicolini and Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani, of Qatar, tries to pressure Highlander, raced by the Italians Edoardo Pilli and Lamberto Leoni, while (right) the Australia-New Zealand combination of Bill Barry-Cotter and Peter McGrath moves ahead in the Australian boat Maritimo. Highlander finished second, Maritimo third and Qatar sixth in a race won by Steve Curtis, of Britain, and the Norwegian Bjorn Gjelsten, in Spirit of Norway. It was the Anglo-Norwegian pair's seventh victory out of eight races, yesterday's being cut short after 12 of the scheduled 18 laps because of a sandstorm blowing in off the Arabian Gulf. Their success added the Middle East Championship to an impressive haul of titles. They have won the Class 1 World, European and Pole Position Championships and have broken the record for the number of wins in a season.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in