Mercury excels at Feros Hotels Bridge-to-Bridge Classic

Skiboats powered by Mercury outboards took the honours in three categories at the recent Feros Hotels Sydney Bridge to Bridge classic, regarded by many as one of the year’s toughest skirace.

At this year’s race, boats powered by Mercury engines crossed first in the SMOC, MOC and F2 categories.

Mercury said the SMOC category is probably the most hotly contested field in modern skiracing, and the big prize was taken out by Vicious Rumours, powered by an OptiMax 250 XS, in 49 minutes and 47.21 seconds. The performance was sufficient to give the team a seventh place overall.

“SMOC really is ultra-competitive these days and if you don’t stay on the throttle the whole way you’re out of contention,” said Guy Williamson, Mercury’s director – service & quality.

“Andrew Donehue, the driver and owner of Vicious Rumours, did a fabulous job and hammered it the whole way,” he said. “Wayne Duggan and Rys Duggan did the skiing, with Tim Kelly the observer.”

In the MOC competition, Twisted took line honours in 47 minutes and 45.96 seconds. The result was three minutes clear of the competition, and was good enough for an overall fourth position.

Twisted was powered by a Mercury Pro Max 300X, and was driven by Chris Affoo. Phil Jeffree was observer while Ben Jeffree and Cam Mitchell the skiers.

Tuff E Nuff rounded out the day for Mercury, with a win in F2. Brett Wismantel drove the Mercury 300XS-powered boat over the line in 51 minutes and 7.32 seconds, more than two and a half minutes clear of the next boat. Andrew Fyfe was the observer for skiers Jack Houstan and Ben Hackett.

Mercury reminded crews that use its engines, and which score a podium finish in the SMOC category, can collect additional cash.

See your Mercury dealer or visit www.mercurymarine.com.au/news/news-items/smoc-ski-racers.aspx for more information.