2011............Modern Era???
The Yamato 80 was brought over here in 1976.....35 years ago. The motor is still running today......The number of people that have raced a Yamato is probably triple the current number of boat racers in America...........it is an OLD MOTOR but a good motor and a new 302 Yamato can be purchased for $2,200.....A BMX racing bike can cost that much.
So why aren't more people racing boats....In 1976 finding smooth water lakes was real tough, today, it is close to impossible.
I attended a water Ski race the other day. They race three heats per day. 30 minute Novice Marathon....20 plus boats raced.. Second race was a 40 minute Woman's Marathon. And the final race was 40 minute Men's Marathon. They raced on a lake that was NOT closed to the public. Water Ski Racer's skis are about as long as a C Hydro....
They started at 10. Finished at 2. They all, 50 or more boats, seemed to be having a great time. Nice boat, nice trailers, nice motor homes...nice bar-b-ques....
To my point. The DeSilva Delta is nothing more than a MOD VP bottom. A Mod VP boat can and has raced in the open ocean. The Delta DeSilva would have opened up hundreds of places to race that are considered too rough.
A stock Yamato on a "REGULAR" runabout needs water with less than 6 inch chop and no rollers....A Delta could probably go over 12 inch chop and two foot rollers.... Like many things, AHEAD of its time...
possibly something that had to do with banning was.......
it was approved by a Commission before one racing season. I wonder if the Commission that
then took that approval away was the subsequent Commission from the next election. In other words enough different members who might not have approved it the first time and were elected to the subsequent Commission just for that purpose. As previously stated, I know there were petitions, etc., for ban it after initial approval. The next natural step if that did not work would be to change the Commission enough to get it done that way.
I have given all my old rule books away so have no reference anymore to see who was on the 86/87 Commission versus the next one. That might tell a lot about the situation to know all the personalities involved, if anyone is still that interested.