1.
GV PAN RACE IN PROGRESS
0.16

2.
GV BOAT AT SPEED
0.19

3.
SV ANOTHER BOAT AT SPEED, HELICOPTER OVERHEAD
0.22

4.
AERIAL VIEW ANOTHER BOAT
0.25

5.
SV ANOTHER COMPETITOR AT SPEED
0.36

6.
AERIAL VIEW ANOTHER COMPETITOR WITH PROW WELL UP
0.48

7.
SV COMPETITOR HEAD-ON
0.52

8.
CU ZOOM TO MV DON ARONOW BEING CONGRATULATED
0.59

9.
CU ARONOW
1.02

10.
MV ARONOW POSES WITH CUP-- BRANDY POURED INTO CUP
1.21

11.
SV CUTAWAY OF BOAT
1.23

12.
SV ARONOW WITH GIRL AND OFFICIALS ROUND CUP
1.28



Initials GL/N/JF/LAD


SPORT: POWERBOAT RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FLORIDA'S DON ARONOW DROVE HIS 32-FOOT (9.7 METRE) BOAT TO A NARROW VICTORY IN THE FIFTH ANNUAL HENNESSEY CUP OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACE IN CALIFORNIA, USA, SATURDAY. HE FINISHED THE COURSE JUST FIVE SECONDS AND 150 YARDS (METRES) AHEAD OF CALIFORNIAN PETER ROTHSCHILD.

TWENTY-SIX BOATS STARTED THE 206-MILE RACE FROM LONG BEACH TO OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA, BUT ONLY SIX FINISHED. THE RACE WAS RUN UNDER SUNNY SKIES BUT WATER CONDITIONS WERE CHOPPY AND SLOWED THE RACING TIMES.

ARONOW FINISHED IN 4 HOURS 12 MINUTES AND 16 SECONDS, AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 48.6 MILES PER HOUR (78 KPHS). HE HAD GONE INTO AN EARLY LEAD BUT FELL BACK TO SEVENTH PLACE WHEN A PROPELLER BLADE CRACKED. LATER HE PULLED BACK TO PASS ROTHSCHILD IN THE FINAL STAGES OF THE RACE.

BOTH MEN WERE DRIVING INBOARD STERN-DRIVE CRAFT POWERED BY TWIN 475-HORSEPOWER ENGINES.

VICTORY EARNED ARONOW THE CUP, FILLED WITH THE PROMOTERS' BRANDY. THE ADMIRATION OF A PRETTY GIRL, AND 1.000 DOLLARS (417 STERLING) CASH.