Key West World Finals Crash- Big Thunder Marine

[tomstoys2]

Prayers go out to friends and family of both men.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YPAxuoPpXo

Motley Crew also flipped

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059765/Super-Boat-World-Championship-crash-Robert-M-Morgan-Jeffrey-Tillman-dead.html

Quote from the Miami newspaper:
"Big Thunder Marine _ a 46-foot Skater catamaran with four 1,200 horsepower engines _ crashed during the third lap of Wednesday's race inside Key West Harbor. Robert M. Morgan, of Sunrise Beach, Mo., and Jeffrey Tillman, of Kaiser, Mo., were piloting the boat as throttleman and driver respectively."

[sailr]

Wow! The crash didn't look that violent. I'm surprised they didn't survive it. I assume they were using all the usual safety restraints, etc.

[Griff]

very sad, thoughts with the families.

[tomstoys2]

Wow! The crash didn't look that violent. I'm surprised they didn't survive it. I assume they were using all the usual safety restraints, etc.

I agree, I was shocked to see they had passed. Rescue crew was right on it.

[FighterCat57]

Just saw this on AP.

This is a sad situation indeed.

[Flying Scotsman]

I still can not believe the throttle man did not release the throttle, very sad. The setup looked way too dry but that is racing.

Douggie

[Rumdog]

Once the tunnel is losded with too much air, throttle means nothing. I wonder if they died on impact, or drown.

[tomstoys2]

http://frodesblog.com/big-accident-in-key-west/?t=Big+accident+in+Key+W

Just found this. Can't believe the damage done to the canopy. I agree with rumdog, once that boat started to go bow up, nothing they could do. So sad.

[tiqueman]

http://frodesblog.com/big-accident-i...ident+in+Key+W

Just found this. Can't believe the damage done to the canopy. I agree with rumdog, once that boat started to go bow up, nothing they could do. So sad.

seeing the first vid youd have no idea there was that much impact. truly a tragic event. As always, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends as well as all the offshore race circuit. Very sad to see that kinda thing happen.

[Jeff Wohlt]

They hit a lower pocket which began the launch. That cat was not built like newer ones with CF and kevlar in the canopy. I got to walk the deck on her just as he was building it many years ago. Certainly a big loss for our Lake area. I have many runs of video from the shootout. We always waited for Bob to run because it was so large and loud and most of us never saw a big boat run 100 miles an hour then. He always brought his lambo to the races...great guy with a big heart and a showman.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Bob was the #1 Baja dealer in the nation for many years. Oh and Bob ran the throttles and Jeff was pilot. Bob knew how to run throttles that is for sure. He raced drag boats years ago.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Not my video but check out how high he trimmed it for 171 mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RL0y05RUNA&feature=related

[siberianhusky]

I'm always amazed there is anything left to a boat after hitting the water at that speed, couldn't imagine being in one during a crash, the impact and deceleration must be unreal.
ABout 10 years ago I took a ride in an ex's fathers twin big block offshore race boat, never again! Violent! I swear it touched water every 75'. I'll do 200 mph on a bike without thinking about it. I never, ever want to go anywhere near 100mph on water again! Those guys have my respect!.
Been a terrible few weeks for racing, lets all hope Abu Dabi has a safe race to close out the F1 season.

[tomstoys2]

They hit a lower pocket which began the launch. That cat was not built like newer ones with CF and kevlar in the canopy. I got to walk the deck on her just as he was building it many years ago. Certainly a big loss for our Lake area. I have many runs of video from the shootout. We always waited for Bob to run because it was so large and loud and most of us never saw a big boat run 100 miles an hour then. He always brought his lambo to the races...great guy with a big heart and a showman.

Wow Jeff, I would have loved to see them run at the shootout. That was one bad ash boat. With 4 - 1,2000 HP motors that must have been a lot of weight when it came down on the canopy.
In this video that someone took, you can hear how loud it hit the front sponson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCuylpOa2IE&feature=related

[srislash]

Not my video but check out how high he trimmed it for 171 mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RL0y...eature=related

Holy that is pushing it.Very sad my thoughts go out to all.