'Grumpy Mongrel' crew on the mend

1:47 AM Tue 17 Mar 2009 GMT

'Peter Jack and Jamie Callan after ’Grumpy Mongrel’ crash in the Offshore Superboat Championships Geelong round. Parmedics were quickly on the scene and both men were rushed to hospital. Their injuries, although nasty, were not life threatening and both will make a full recovery. - Geelong accident' Andrew Gricks Click Here to view large photo

Peter Jack and Jamie Callan, crew of the Super Vee Lite boat which crashed during Geelong's fourth round of the Offshore Superboat Championships, are well on the road to recovery.

Peter is due to have pins removed from a broken right ankle next week, but is still somewhat immobile due to severe bruising to the left ankle.

Jamie's damaged eye socket has responded well, while the small fractures in his back have been labelled as not serious and will heal in time.

Grumpy Mongrel hauled from the water after crashing mid-race - Offshore Superboat Championships Round Four at Geelong - Greg Maunder&copy Click Here to view large photo

'Grumpy Mongrel' was damaged in the incident, but Peter says it remains structurally sound.

'One wing has been torn off, but it can be repaired fairly easily and there will be some work done on the 250HO Evinrude which, of course, took a lengthy 'bath'.

'We're probably unlikely to make it for the fifth round at Newcastle (May 2/3), but we have not given up all hope.

'If we do miss it, we'll certainly line up at Townsville,' he added.

'Grumpy Mongrel' is a B23 Bat Boat, a Swedish design built under licence in New Zealand.

It's the only example in Australia. The crew have been hoping the new boat might attract some additional competitors to the Super Vee Lite class.

'There have been a few showing interest, but no one had made a commitment yet,' Peter said.

On the Geelong flip, Peter recalls coming off a wave and the bow 'nose diving'.

'I was thrown out one side, Jamie the other,' he remembered. 'I'm fairly certain the injuries to my ankles were caused by the steering wheel, which was quite severely bent.

'Can't say for sure what part of the boat Jamie hit, but the important thing is all the injuries we sustained will come good. 'what happened does not in any way indicate that offshore racing is unsafe. 'We'll be back into it as soon as we can.'

Why do they punish themselves so? Current national titleholders in Super Vee Lite, Peter Jack and James Callan take ’Grumpy Mongrel’ clear of the water. - Williamstown Offshore - Andrew Gricks

by Bob Wonders

Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Sailing

'Grumpy Mongrel' crew on the mend

Sports/News

Weather Forecasts & Live Reports

Buy & Sell/Classifieds