Is Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Limiting Itself? (Part 2 of 3)

In part one of this three part series, I looked at the current condition of our beloved sport of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing. Next is a look at where we are (or should be) headed for the future of the sport.

The Future Direction of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing

One of the most significant topics of friction recently has been the focus on expansion to race sites outside the U.S. While Doha already has some experience, China is the more recent country with interest in the fastest boats in the world. (For this exercise, we will look exclusively at global expansion. However, sponsorships, attendance, venues, tech truck management, etc. are all areas that should be explored. For now, we’ll just think globally.)

Is this good or bad? Well, with most difficult and complex topics, it all depends.

In part one I suggested “confusing and conflicting schedules” as one possible constraint being placed on our sport. Let’s take a look at how expanding the schedule in Doha and adding China can be either “good or bad.”

Expansion globally could conceivably be the best way to improve the sport. Period. However, it can also be the single bullet that kills it once and for all. As long as global expansion is planned logically and methodically, it has the brightest opportunity for substantial improvement, and more importantly, expansion of the sport itself.

All fans of the sport of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing should be grateful (and I know many of us are!) for having such a devoted fan in Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani. By funding purses at levels that are orders of magnitude higher than domestic races, he is pulling expansion of the sport to the Middle East – and that is exactly what the sport needs.

This begs the question: at the current rate of compensation to teams, how many domestic races would have to be added to the schedule to match the pay-out to teams for ONE Doha race? In this case, global expansion becomes quite attractive.

By having a willing (and financially capable) participant in Sheikh Hassan, Unlimited Hydroplane Racing has already taken the first step to global expansion. Yes, there is more financial exposure for the owners, but for financially well-run teams, the Doha race covers that exposure. What that means is that if the China expansion materializes, we have a solid model on which to build that will allow teams to substantially (or at least partially) fund yet another international venue.

How can this be bad?

Bad might be a bit too aggressive. “A challenge” might be a better characterization. Let’s look at a couple of challenges that while not insurmountable, will take some careful planning to mitigate.

EQUIPMENT

Salt water: bad. Fresh water: good.


We all know that salt water racing requires substantially more maintenance. Turbine engines are air-cooled. The comforting sea air that we all love to breathe wreaks havoc on turbines. That smell that makes us smile holds minerals that make turbines frown.

  • Is this a reason to stay in the U.S.? Of course not. Hey, we already have a salt water venue in San Diego.
  • Is it critical though, that race schedules be considered carefully to help teams deal with the maintenance necessary when racing in salt water? Absolutely!

That also means that schedule transparency be the number one priority. Teams and owners must know what is being considered in the area of scheduling and have an opportunity to help shape that schedule to manage their resources efficiently.

Remember, I’m a rookie. I don’t know if that means race all salt water races sequentially or spread them apart from each other as far as possible around the calendar. What I do know is that something as significant as turbine maintenance absolutely needs to be a critical part of strategically planning the race schedule – and communicating the thinking around scheduling is equally as critical.

If strategic scheduling isn’t performed, maybe we should stay home and imitate Eeyore. (see the reference in part one.)

TEAMS and OWNERS

Many of the crews are made up of volunteers – volunteers for whom owners rely on for critical support. Volunteers use vacation time from their day jobs to participate in what is technically a “hobby” for them. Conducting races in places, and on a schedule that allows easy travel and minimal negative impact on their regular lives is nothing to be overlooked.

OK, so you say, “owners could put more volunteers on ‘the payroll.’” Fine, but I might argue that the real solution is much broader and more aggressive than that. The financial success of the sport overall (sanctioning, venues, teams, etc.) must be the first and most immediate goal. That is the only way to ensure expansion, more teams, and more venues. Trying to expand too quickly or too early might just be a burial at sea.

We could join Eeyore and moan, or we could play a fun game. Let’s take a slightly different look at this and play “what if?”

  • What if teams started looking for more volunteers to create interchangeable and multiple teams to support each boat?
  • What if this expanded crew base allowed more flexibility to race twice in Doha, or an exhibition run in China, or more domestic test runs?
  • What if this greater visibility (being in more locations, more often) raised interest and pulled in more sponsors?
  • What if that larger sponsorship base, coupled with broader reach, enticed participation by more owners, more boats, and more teams and boats per owner?
  • What if that expanded sport could then easily support multiple Doha, China, or other international venues, beyond those on today’s horizon?
  • What if a sport with global reach garnered more and heavier multi-national sponsoring companies?

You get the idea.

I think you can see that a carefully constructed strategy creates a virtuous cycle that any of us would enjoy riding. Not doing so could fire that bullet, killing the sport and Eeyore at the same time.

Check back soon for part three of this three part series.

Dave

 


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2 thoughts on “Is Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Limiting Itself? (Part 2 of 3)

  • June 10, 2014 at 4:19 AM
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    I believe getting the hydro races on TV to increase exposure would help promote the sport tremendously. There is excellent coverage for foot ball, which I am sick of, and exceptional coverage for the Americas Cup sailboat racing, which I love, why is there never coverage for unlimited hydro and outboard hydro and runabout racing? The only way I get to see outboard hydro and runabout racing along with the unlimited racing, is to poke around on the internet and hope I can find something new on the subject. When I speak of the subject with my friends they say the never heard of it. Sad, to say the least.
    Spectator,
    Charles

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