THE JET RAID-THE DAKAR OF THE WATER, FORMULA ONE JET SKI RACING

When Patrick Nassogne first embarked upon the project that was to become the Corona Extra Jetraid in 1998 he never imagined that years later, the event would have acquired such international renown and status.
The first Jetraid started out with 11 pilots and a handful of volunteers - billed as a rally raid adventure on watercraft.
The number of participants has increased by 35 % each year since then and the event is the World Raid Championship.
Over the years, pilots from 15 different countries have joined us in this great adventure that remains as unpredictable as it is addictive.
The Jetraid has grown in stature over the years and has visited 8 different countries (Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Uruguay, Argentina,Peru,Brazil and  GREECE) but make no mistake; the race is still aimed at everyone looking for a challenge to test their wits and their stamina.
It’s a race through uncharted territory for professionals and amateurs alike, and it’s not all about being the fastest or having the most powerful machine. It’s all about reading the situation, reacting well under pressure, taking the right decisions at the right time, and finding hidden inner strengths.
Some people join us for the scenery and culture. Some people join us for the adventure. Some people join us to win and some people join us just to reach the finish. The Jetraid lives up to the expectations of each and every one of them no matter what that expectation or their own capabilities might be.

o The JETRAID through the years. As years come by and editions pass many things began to change.
The first change, and most common to happen was the PWC pilots used. Over the years the technology used on the engines was improved. They become faster and larger on cc`s
The second change was the increase of pilots and nationalities. Nowadays there are 15 countries on this event with a 20% of growth in people related to this event.
Another important change is the retrieval of Corona as main Sponsor after the sixth edition in Turkey had to be suspended due to budget and sponsors.
The return of the JETRAID was on 2006 in Uruguay, where many things changed in contrast to the other five editions. The most important change was location. It shifted from the African continent to the American with everything that implies; change of culture, change of scenery, etc. Also the incorporation of new pilots witch had never participated in this kind of event. It was the return of something lost that many were willing it came back. 

 
The 12TH edition has positive  changes. The good ones were the extension of the race programme with much more kilometers per day, harder sea conditions and more complex navigations. Other positive change is the incorporation of new pilots .

By the way in BRAZIL the JETRAID become a really world class event with a massive TV coverage from all over the world This year in  CRETE, GREECE the event continued on the same line  , with a lot of countires and more  navigation becoming the most technical event in the world.

What can we expect for the next edition? First of all the hardest sea the jetraid has faced, much more complex navigations were a mistake can decide whether you come first or last, obstacles so difficult some of you wont be able to go through. With no hesitation I can say that this 12th edition will be as the others, unique, but there is something common to all editions that will never change.     The spirit of joining once a year to live an adventure witch gives you something to talk till the next edition. 

Types of competitions

• Close course: close circuit between buoys of 45 minutes of race.
• Oval race: speed race in a circle of 30 minutes with no refuelling.
• Flash race: speed race in a short distance on a river.
• Off shore: speed race in an open sea between two points with refuelling. Use of GPS.
• Navigation race: Navigation between GPS points with refuelling and generally inside a river delta.
• Endurance: Speed race in an open circuit of 90 minutes with refuelling on race time.
• Slalom: Small race in a slalom one against the other or by time.
• Enlace: part of the race that the pilot must done in caravan and arrive to have the points.

Most of these competitions have critical consumptions of gas or complex GPS navigations, so probably the fastest pilot will not win but the smartest one with the best strategy of race.

Categories

The pilot can choose to participate in F1 (1 pilot, 1 PWC) or F2 (2 pilots, 1 PWC), where you can change the driver each time your want in the refuelling points how many times you want.. The maximum number of PWC accepted for the race it will be 50.- This year we will incorporate the athmosferic 4 stroke category (no supercharged) with a smaller budget to be in

PWC

The PWC allowed are JETRAID super stock but as you know it is a long race, so we recommend a stock one, 3 seaters,  four stroke.

PWC equipment

 
The pilot must have on the PWC the following:
• GPS.
• Cellular.
• First aid kit.
• Towing rope.
• Whistle.
• Signal mirror.
• Smoke fireworks.
• Aluminium radar cover.
• Anchor with 20 meters rope.
• Ten litters gasoline can.
• Water.

Lodging and transportation

 
The organization provides to the participants all the lodging and food during the event, that means from the start line till the award ceremony inclusive. As well provides the logistic of transportation of luggage and repair kits by sea or earth during the event.
The lodging is going to be from hotels to campgrounds that is why the participants must bring tent and a sleeping bag.
Transportation of PWC
It is the option of the pilot to bring by his own the PWC to the starting grid. The organization will provides a place for the loading in Europe for the PWC and all the cost of this are going to be pay by the pilot..

Race numbers

 
The numbers 1 to 10 are going to be reserved for the ranking of the 2011 edition. You can choose 11 to 100 if it is not occupied. You must put your number on both sides of the PWC in black on white with no less than 20 cm high. The organization will provide you the number to use on the back of your life vest.

Sponsors

The pilot can show his sponsors on the PWC, clothes and boxes with no restrictions and it is his decision if he wants to put the official ones on his PWC.

Medical insurance

The organization will provide a medical team in case of emergency and will give the transportation to the closer hospital without cost. After that, you have to have a medical insurance and if not, you can buy one trough us. Let us know if not, we understand that you have one.  

Plane ticket

There is no a special flight to come to the event. You must be ready on the starting line and leave after the award ceremony. If you arrive earlier the organisation will give you an optional hotel but costs will be taken by the pilot.

ALL THE COST TO BE PART OF THE JETRAID CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE. ALSO PWC FOR RENT AVIABLES AT THE RACE SITE BY APPOINTMENT Also the event is following by several magazines and tv European channels that give  to the local places where the JETRAID arrives  a huge  diffusion of images  for the future tourism and promotion FOX SPORTS and several european tv like TELEVISION ESPAÑOLA, TF 1 FRANCE  gives the images that our tv team makes for them Check our last video release at http://www.jetraid.org/2010/11/jetraid-videos.html