Tom Barry Cotter and Ross Willaton have won the 2019 XCat World Championship after winning the final round in Dubai.
Team Maritimo of Australia, with the Aussies Tom Barry Cotter and Ross Willaton, on a Maritimo boat built in Australia, won the 2019 UIM XCAT World Championship.
In a well-balanced fight during the whole season, with four boats eligible for the world title until the very last race, it’s not been easy for the Maritimo duo to be the best.
The pole of race 2 in Dubai, the final race of the season championship was for Abu Dhabi 4 of Shaun Torrente and Faleh al Mansoori, leaders of the overall ranking, so they seemed the favourite. Behind them, Maritimo, Abu Dhabi 5 and Dubai Police.
Maritimo had to get four points more than Abu Dhabi 4, but the start went smooth and they all kept positions. The latter also increase their advantage having clear water in front, while the former chase them crossing their wake from side to side in a desperate attempt to close the gap. But – out of thin air – the leaders miss a buoy and get a penalty long lap! Torrente and Al Mansoori immediately take it and find themselves behind. Where Dubai Police is trying to play a perfect strategy and overtake Abu Dhabi 5, in a desperate attempt to get in front and run away with the bone (the world title) while the other two (Maritimo and Abu Dhabi 4) fight for it.
But Barry Cotter and Willaton are in front, they are fully concentrated, and their boat is amazingly fast: they pile up seconds after seconds of advantage until they feel safe. At lap 13 they still have the second long lap to take, and Abu Dhabi 5 now in P2 has a chance. But no, Maritimo is too much ahead, and there’s nothing to do.
After the penalty Abu Dhabi 4 is fourth but very close to Dubai Police, so here’s another fight, as Arif al Zaffein and Nadir bin Hendi are not fast as usual. The gap gets thinner and thinner, but.. the checkered flag waves and the season is over.
Maritimo turns the prevision around and wins the 2019 UIM XCAT World Championship, while Abu Dhabi 4 second and Dubai Police third by two points.
Fourth place went to 222 Offshore with the Italian Giovanni Carpitella and the Australian Daren Nicholson, and they ended fifth in the overall season championship.
