Hannes Bohinc goes ‘West’.

Recording over 100 knots, almost 200 kilometers per hour, and with four BiTurbo Diesel 9,113 cc engines providing 3,000 hp, the FB Design 46’ Racing boat ‘West’ was a force to be reckoned with, and in the right hands with Bohinc.

The 1999 European Endurance was the first continental championship to be officially recognised by the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique). Having established himself as a strong presence time and again in his first few years on the competitive powerboating circuit, the Austrian was unbeatable in Class P2 as he won all three rounds.

First up was the Viareggio – Bastia – Viareggio, eventually held over a reduced distance due to rough seas off Corsica, with the return buoy based at Capraia.

This did not stop Bohinc and ‘West’ as a first victory was secured.

It was followed by the Napoli – Monte Carlo and Monaco – Saint Tropez – Monaco as Bohinc and his team of Gianfranco Zanoni, Marco Johnson and Alessandro Conti proved to be simply too strong for the rest of the field, triumphing at a canter.

Following another groundbreaking 12 months, competitive powerboating and Hannes Bohinc were entering the new millennium in fine fettle.