UAE powerboat crew makes a clean sweep at world championships

NETTUNO - The Fazza powerboat crew of Arif Al Zafeen and Nader Bin Hindi had their third straight win here at the UIM Class 3 World Championship, WAM news agency reported Monday.

With the world crown already wrapped up after back-to-back wins in the opening two races, the Fazza duo Sunday had a race-long battle with Britain’s Kingfisher S14, crewed by Peter Little and Ian Blacker, to win by 14 seconds. Third home were Lorenzo Bacchi and Saul Bubacco of Italy in Siempre Adelante Bacchi S8.

It was a fitting end to Bin Hindi and Al Zafeen’s Class 3 (six litre) debut. Despite a rain lashed race and intermittent thunderstorms, Fazza S3 and its British rivals lit up the with a closely fought duel.

Bin Hindi and Al Zafeen scored 1,200 points from three races to win the world title by 600 points from Blacker and Little.

“We’ve been really impressed with the boat and the engines,” said Bin Hindi. “Today was all about finding out the capabilities of the Kingfisher guys as we will no doubt be facing them many more times in the months ahead. They have a good boat and an excellent crew but I believe we have the edge,” he added.

Three wins from three starts means one UIM world crown is heading back to Dubai, while Bin Hindi and Al Zafeen turn their sights back to the Class 1 World Championship which resumes in Stresa, near Milan, in two weeks time.