The video from the 2012 Gold Coast Underwater Grand Prix held yesterday off Pompano Beach, FL is up:
Video in 720p resolution
Video in lower resolution for slower connections
https://vimeo.com/46256455
Racers Meeting conducted by Jeff Torode of South Florida Diving Headquarters at their operation byside Hillsboro Inlet.
Joe Weatherby of the Wreck Racing League also conducts the Racers Meeting. Joe with
REEFMAKERS just sunk the latest artificial reef in Florida, the "USS Mohawk," off Ft. Myers, FL along with racer Mike Campbell of Lee County Natural Resources and others.. That is Lisa Mongy seated in the foreground. It is thanks to Lisa's organizational efforts in large measure that we were able to have this event. Thank you! She also writes for
DiveWire.
The sinking of
USS Mohawk CGC Veterans Memorial Reef
http://casaybelresort.wordpress.com/
A rectangular course was setup over the area shown below:
Motoring down the coast to the wreck of the Copenhagen on the Aquaview. The Copenhagen is immediately seaward of the east facing second reef ledge off the north end of the Seawatch Restaurant in Lauderdale By-The-Sea, FL.
Bitchn' Mitch with
ScubaNation shows full face mask appreciation. ScubaNation is a syndicated TV program focused on intriguing diving stories throughout the region. They have a ton of past episodes on their website so check it out. That is John to the right, able Grand Prix flagman and all around helper. He made a difference in the event going off smoothly and thanks! What a great experience for a 15 year old. Keep at it and have fun.
Something about the history of the S. S. Copenhagen. The wreck site was declared a State Underwater Archaeological Preserve in 1994.
"A schooner-rigged cargo steamship. Per 1 (data 60% down), 2 (brief wreck ref.), 3 (wreck data page 149 & modest wreck image), 4 & 5 (wreck listings), 6 (dive images), 7 (site plan & images, page from Czechoslovakia), 8 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 325 ft. long, speed of 10 knots. Built for 'Glasgow Shipowners Company, Ltd.' (Glen & Co. managers?), & registered Glasgow. Intended for use on North Atlantic routes. On May 27, 1900, while en route from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Havana, Cuba, in good weather & with a cargo of coal, ran aground 3 miles S of Hillsboro Inlet, Florida. Efforts were made to free the vessel, including unloading the cargo. Efforts continued until Jul. 17, 1900, when vessel was abandoned, a total loss. I read that the vessel & cargo were respectively valued at $250,000 & $12,500. Her most valuable items (engine, boilers, propeller etc.) were salvaged, including vessel's mahogany saloon table, which was used (still is, I wonder?) as a boardroom table by the 'Biscayne Yacht Club'. Crew of 26 stayed with vessel until Jun. 1st. Cause of the accident, per investigation, was the 'improper navigation' of her Captain (William S. Jones). The wreck was used for Navy fighter plane target practice during WW2. Scattered wreck remains today are in 16-31 ft. of water, 3/4 mile off Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida. A popular dive site. The wreck would seem to be known locally also as the 'Cumberland Barge' (I wonder why). In 1994, the site was dedicated as the 5th Florida Underwater Archeological Preserve. Can you correct the above, or provide additional data? An image perhaps."
From:
http://www.searlecanada.org/sunderla...erland076.html
The Copenhagen "may" have resembled aspects of the 324 ft. 3075 ton "Glenmoor" (1896) also constructed by Sir John Priestman at the Sunderland shipyard. Confirmation of this would be welcome. The Glenmoor was captured and sunk by a German U-boat off Algeria in 1915.
http://www.searlecanada.org/sunderla....html#glenmoor
A summary of findings from the Board of Trade Wreck Report (1900) on the grounding and loss of the Copenhagen:
"On the 20th of May last the "Copenhagen" left Philadelphia, under the command of Mr. William S. Jones, who holds a certificate of competency as master—number 31,208—with a crew of twenty-six hands, and a cargo of 4,940 tons of coal, bound for Havana; her draught of water being 21 feet 9 inches forward and 22 feet 8 inches aft. All went well on the voyage until the 26th of May, on which date, at 2.20 a.m., Jupiter Light, on the coast of Florida, was abeam, being W. by S. 3/4 S., and found, by a four-point bearing, to be distant 1 3/4 miles, At this point the course was altered to S.S.E., by standard compass. The vessel was going full speed, making about 8 knots. The weather was fine and clear, and the sea smooth. "
Continued at:
http://www.plimsoll.org/resources/SC...orts/17906.asp
A chart of the wreckage field
http://www.museumsinthesea.com/copenhagen/index.htm
Joe Weatherby gets things organized on the wreck for the race. The race was started in the debris field of the aft section of the Copenhagen.
UPI photographer Joe Marino bringing his considerable talents to shooting the event underwater.
Bitchn' Mitch with
ScubaNation switches back to his Gates video camera after giving Michael Campbell's Torpedo DPV a whirl.
The racers line up at the starting line shortly before things get going.
The race starts with respective scooter classes completing three and five laps of the course.
The finish line
All the participants in this years race and the first place winners.
You can checkout the images in Cooliris by clicking:
The results of the race follow:
"Mike Vivona Dive X Unlimited 7:11 1st
Wayne Turner Magnus Unlimited 7:15 2nd
Anthony Recine Apollo Expedition A 8:00 1st
Rick Iossi Apollo Expedition A 8:54 2nd
Kerry Dillon Silent Submerge Expedition A 10:07 3rd
Lisa Mongelia Pegasus Thruster Expedition B 10:15 1st
Kathy Kelly Torpedo 3500 Expedition B 12:45 2nd
Mike Campbell Torpedo 3500 Expedition B DNF 4 laps only
Eric Alvarez Sea Doo Recreational 6:51 1st
Kelly Friend Torpedo 2500 Recreational 7:00 2nd"
Many thanks to Jeff Torode of South Florida Diving Headquarters,
Joe Weatherby of Forumula H2O - Wreck Racing League,
and to all the volunteers, racers and sponsors.
Next race at http://wreckracingleague.com/?page_id=249]Weeki Wachee!
.