Making waves!

WARM weather and breaking waves were the order of the day as mighty machines motored around Amwaj Islands and sailing craft used the wind and sails to compete in Bahrain Yacht Club's autumn regatta at Sitra.

Smiling faces filled the Amwaj Marina over the weekend as powerboat pilots revved their engines gearing up for what turned out to be an exciting Bahrain F2 Powerboat Grand Prix and a great start to the 2009 Union Internaionale Motonautique (UIM) F2 World Championship.

Abdul Salam Fairooz, managing director of Formula World Sports, organiser and promoter of the event, said: "We have witnessed a successful first round. The competition was fierce and it showed how eager the racers were on claiming the points.

"The crowds and the interaction gave us a push forward to present the best that we have in the kingdom."

Boating enthusiast Mohammed Al Shaikh, 23, an AMA student from Muharraq, said: "It was a great race and I loved that the start of the season took place in Bahrain.

"There were so many activities as well. I was rooting for the Kuwait team to win but I still really enjoyed myself with my friends."

Italian Alex Carella, 24, of the Italian Baba powerboat team came first with a speed record of 34 minutes 02.69 seconds and secured 20 points. Uvis Slakteris of the Lativian team came second with a speed of 34:05.97 and took15 points and third place went to Johan Coenradi from the Netherlands with a speed of 34:11.86.

The F2 championship now heads to Port Ghalib in Egypt for round two on November 6 and 7.

In Sitra, the Audi-sponsored regatta's top prize went to project manager Andy Ventura, 44, a New Zealander who lives in Adliya, who proved that names can be deceptive by conquering the waves onboard Organised Chaos.

He said: "I would like to thank my crew - Vicky McKeown and Dudley Haigh - it was a great day."