April 28, 2003 – A wrong turn around a racing marker sent the most anticipated match of the 2003 Carnival water sports competition into controversy Sunday afternoon.
Hundreds of spectators waited close to three hours for the start of the race pitting the boat C-44 against its closest rival, X-Rated. The two speedboats, along with an unnamed 42-foot vessel, vied for a $2,500 top prize in the unlimited class match with a course whipping three times around Hassel Island.
While C-44 crossed the finish line first and was handed the victory flag, a protest by the other competitors led to a change of heart.
"There was a discrepancy between the winner and the judges," said Carnival Watersports co-chairman Glenville "Slim" Ross. "One of the drivers cut the buoy short."
As a result, none of the prizes, totaling $6,300, were handed out in the offshore class.
Speedboat races were the highlight of a day-long event featuring jet skis, kayaks, and a grease pole suspended over Charlotte Amalie Harbor. Competitors from Puerto Rico, Tortola and St. John joined those from St. Thomas at the starting line.
The prize moneys came from vendors who paid fees to set up along the waterfront for the event, Ross said. But until the big boats got going, vendors said they were still waiting for a return on their investments.
Many waited without complaint, like ice cream vendor Leonard Finley, who lounged in a folding chair with 8-month-old daughter, Lennycia, who chomped playfully on a comb.
Asked how well he though he'd do, Finley said he'd wait and see. "About now is when I sell most of my stuff, so it's hard to tell," he said.
A little further down the waterfront, deejay and record store Otis Martin jammed behind a table stocked with CDs to a tune he was pumping out over a nearby set of speakers. "It's slow but it's all right," he said.
Out in the water, a heat between large jet skis was getting under way. Ross said visiting racers from Puerto Rico dominated this event, with George Gonzalez getting the best of Ramon Fuentes and Robert Laware.
A smaller class of jet skis ran their course a few moments earlier, with Aeron Roach beating out Curtis Goncales.
Kayak champ Charles Matthews basked in his victory near the organizer's station, saying he would like to see more participation in his event. He said better promotion prior to the race might bring the needed response.
Ross said the winner of the greased pole contest had a problem that almost got him tossed from competition. "One guy tried to lie down and crawl across, but we disqualified him. He was desperate. He came back and did a good showing," Ross said. For his effort Miles Michael won $100.
By the time the big boats moved into view, the crowd filled the concrete bulkhead, some milling through, others dangling legs over the water's edge. Some came for the thrill of the game.
Others, like Kiba Edwards, came for the atmosphere and people. "I haven't even seen a race yet, but I'm having a good time seeing all the lovely people and having fun and enjoying Carnival," he said.
With the offshore race set aside by the judges, the highlight race became the match between Sex Appeal, Top That, and a third, unnamed boat. Sex Appeal beat Top That by about 15 seconds to win a purse of $2,000. Dana Joseph was the winning driver.
Among the smaller boats, Larry Aubain beat Osa McCleverty in a handicap match featuring 60 to 90 horsepower vessels and a $1,000 purse.
Jose Davalos beat Miguel Rodriquez and Maurice Alvazz in a race for boats running 150 to 225 horsepower engines. The winning driver took home $1,200.
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