From birth it is a human nature quality that when one encounters challenges with enthusiasm these could become opportunities while one who just assumes an indifferent attitude normally fail to grasp or simply disregard any chance. Luckily through sport I meet by far more enthusiastic characters whose commitment, belief in their ability and aspiration make them pleasant personalities to know and an enjoyable talent to watch and follow.
One of such upbeat characters is Ukrainian Viktor Shemchuk, a 41-year-old Doctor of Philosophy in Law by profession and a powerboat sports aficionado and also the president of the National Ukrainian Powerboat Federation. In 2009 he formed a successful partnership with Maltese boat builder—driver Aaron Ciantar to taste immediate glory in their first P1 Championship challenge, with ‘Seagull Chaudron’, a 13-metre boat with twin 570hp inboard engines, by winning the SuperSport Class Championship.
In season 2010 racing team owner Mr. Shemchuk ordered another 13-metre powerboat, a Chaudron Canopy 41 model, however this time having twin inboard 800hp engines and moved over to the Evolution Class. The project was ‘Ukrainian Spirit’ where Victor Shemchuk, as navigator, and Aaron Ciantar as driver, had quite an interesting but mixed fortune season.
Today the successful Ukrainian-Maltese partnership strengthened their affiliation by agreeing to extend their team association by another year and furthermore plan to venture outside the Mediterranean and Europe to test their driving ability and powerful machine, the team 'Ukrainian Spirit', in Super Boat racing in America.
Super Boat racing in America is organized by the Super Boat International (SBI), the brainchild of John Carbonell which he founded in 1989. Carbonell has more than 35 years experience as a powerboat events promoter in addition to 10 years experience racing powerboats. In 2011, seven events in seven different cities made up the SBI calendar, a series of events which over the years has attracted many celebrity racers and where it is estimated that its program is seen by some 20 million race fans. SBI events include the World's fastest Vee Bottom and Catamaran style powerboats, reaching speeds in excess of 200 mph.
Participants in the Super Boat International World Championship are divided into 12 Classes and normally about seventy boats make up the racing fleet. 'Ukrainian Spirit' will feature in the 'Manufacturer Production 1 Class'. Including the most exotic classes, Super Boat Unlimited and Super Boat Extreme, there are four Manufacturer Production Classes; a 'Series' which is meant to serve as a showcase for some of the newest equipment available in the sport boat industry today - besides providing boat, engine and accessory manufacturers an opportunity to test, display and sell their products in the most demanding environment possible. A boat that competes in the Manufacturer Classes will be assigned a class by an SBI inspector based on the top speed of that boat in perfect water conditions.
In this thrilling and resourceful scenario Viktor Shemchuk talks about his forthcoming adventure in the USA and beyond.
What made you decide to take part in the Super Boat International 2011 Championship going from European to American waters?
“What we saw in America - the World Championship in Key West is now held 31 years in a row and is one of the most prestigious racing events in the world. All the world famous racers dream of participating and winning in this Championship. The number of the teams participating increases year by year. This is the real World Championship as teams from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia take part in it. The owner of the Super Boat International Productions Inc., John Carbonell, conducts the races for 35 years and they were never canceled or postponed. Moreover the calendar is approved for the next three years.
The financial part of the participating teams is not irrelevant – unlike European promoters, the Super Boat International Productions Inc. does not do business on the teams’ fee. Summarizing all the above: analyzing risks and opportunities we have made the right decision although at some stage we have not been understood by some colleagues. Time proved the rightness of our choice – the Championship in Europe has failed and we are actively preparing to race in America”.
Are you aware if there are more participants taking part in the Super Boat International 2011 Championship who before like you also raced in the P1 events?
“Traditionally in the World Championship at Key West the teams-participants of the European Championship take part. Some of them have several boats – in Europe and the USA as the Lucas Oil team that will take part in the USA. Other teams are now shipping their boats to participate in the World Championship. This year the Al&Al team from Naples will participate in the USA World Championship with two boats. Their participation has already been announced. We’ll take part with two boats in two classes. This issue is also resolved. After the cancellation of the last stages of the OGP Championship was announced and the failure of the World Championship in Europe, many other teams expressed their wish to compete for the World Champion title in Key West. Three more teams are negotiating at the moment. Maybe they will be in time to take part in these races”.
Are you confident that 'Ukrainian Spirit' can do well in this new challenge?
“We have no doubt in our consistency. We have a strong Ukrainian team supported by credible investors. The infrastructure of the team in the USA and assistance of the organizers, the Super Boat International Productions Inc., give us confidence in a successful presentation. Besides Aaron Ciantar’s return to the team will play an important role”.
Further to racing the SBI Championship what other projects you envisage to conquer through this American connection?
“We also have signed a contract with the Super Boat International Productions Inc. so that we are their representatives in Europe. It gives us the right to organize the SBI Championships in Europe and provides the guarantees that the races in which the teams invest their hard work and a lot of money will have a perspective. Very soon we’ll offer our own idea of the races to the teams. We believe they will support us and you can witness a new great World Championship racing on the water”.
Does Malta feature in your plans for the SBI Championships in Europe?
“Definitely, Malta always has a special place in our plans not only for business development but primarily as a country traditionally strong in powerboating that can hold and organize the world championships. Our general plan with the SBI idea is to conduct a real world championship, confrontation races between the strongest teams who are the winners of the world championships held in the USA, Europe and other continents. I believe we will succeed. We will seek to determine the absolute world champion. We don’t exclude it may be in Malta. Undoubtedly Malta today is the ideal setting for a truly fantastic race – The Millennium Race”.
Yes, ‘Ukrainian Spirit' is set to venture into the thrilling and resourceful spectacle of Super Boat racing in America which is not only related to the driving abilities of Ukrainian owner/throttle Viktor Shemchuk and Maltese driver Aaron Ciantar and their powerful Malta-built machine but an experience which could be the doorway to more inspiring challenges and opportunities.