Read the latest eNEWS:

Fabio Buzzi Killed in Powerboat Record Attempt

Back to all news

19.09.2019

Fabio Buzzi Killed in Powerboat Record Attempt

Fabio Buzzi - 1943 to 2019 Powerboat Racing Legend

Powerboat racing legend Fabio Buzzi and two other racers have died after their vessel hit an artificial reef near Venice.

Around 2100 on 17 September the powerboat crashed during an attempt to break the offshore speed record from Monte Carlo to Venice.

It is understood that the boat was travelling at around 80 knots when the incident occurred.

The boat ran into a spit of large boulders which have been placed on the seabed to protect the dam, which serves as a flood barrier to protect Venice. An official at Venice’s port authority said, ‘The boat took off and flew 30 metres through the air, landing on its stern on the other side of the causeway where the victims died on impact’. A fourth crew member, is being treated in hospital after being thrown from the vessel.

Fabio Buzzi - 1943 to 2019

Fabio Buzzi was born in Lecco, Italy. His powerboat racing career started in 1960. In 1971 he graduated from the Polytechnical University of Turin where he took a degree in mechanical engineering with a thesis on a self-constructed vehicle. Fabio Buzzi founded his industrial activity in the boating sector in 1972, under the FB Design trademark.

Fabio Buzzi began to compete in offshore racing in 1978, when he won the Italian and European Class 3 Championships. The following year he set the world speed record for diesel boats using a VM engine at a top speed of 191 km/h.

In 1986 he designed the Seatek engine, founding this company to produce diesel engines with a very high performance. With this engine in 1988 he became Italian, European and World Champion of the Open class.

In 1992, using a Seatek-powered boat he again succeeded in beating the diesel record at the speed of 252 km/h.

In 2004 Fabio Buzzi was again world champion of P classes in Key West. He won the Harmsworth Trophy, set two long distance records (Venice - Montecarlo and Tampa - Miami) and won the Pavia-Venezia race at an average speed of 198 km/h with a hydroplane powered by a gas turbine - at the respectable age of 61!

In 2008 he won the 182 mile Cowes-Torquay-Cowes offshore race, with the restored Cesa 1882 / Red FPT. He completed the race in 2 hours 18 minutes at an average speed of 91 mph.

In 2010 Fabio Buzzi, with Emilio Riganti and Simon Powell in Red FPT, won both heat 1 "Cowes 100" and heat 2 "Cowes-Torquay-Cowes" of the UIM Marathon World Cup.

In 2012 he set a new long distance record for New York - Bermuda with the FB Design FB 41' SF. The distance of 684 nautical miles was covered in 17 hours 6 minutes at an average speed of 40 knots.

In 2018 Fabio Buzzi achieved the new Diesel Powerboats World Speed Record, with a boat designed by himself and built by FB Design. The record was set on Lake Como, when the futuristic red "hydroplane" reached the speed of 277 km/h.

Fabio Buzzi won 10 World Championships.

He was a true legend whose legacy lives on in the high speed craft

he designed and built for professional mariners around the world.


Image Credits: FB Design / Sunseeker International

READ MORE

READ LESS

As a boat designer Fabio Buzzi’s projects stand out for winning many trophies. FB Design boats have won 52 World Offshore Championships, 22 European Offshore Championships, 27 Italian Offshore Championships, The Harmsworth Trophy 7 times, all the main endurance contests and have set 40 world speed records.

Fabio was not only a champion powerboat racer, but an outstanding engineer, boat builder, innovator and legendary figure within the marine industry. Sunseeker have collaborated with Fabio Buzzi Design since the late 1990s, which resulted in several iconic models including the XS2000 and XS Sport.

Andrea Frabetti, CEO of Sunseeker International said, ‘We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Fabio Buzzi, our long-time partner and esteemed friend. Most recently, we worked with Fabio on our new high performance Hawk 38, in which he created a cutting-edge and patented stepped hull which has justly received remarkable acclaim.'

Click images for larger versions

23.09.2024
MCA MGN550 - Lithium-ion Batteries Guidance

Marine Guidance Note 550: 'Electrical Installations - Guidance for…

Read more >

05.01.2024
The Challenges of Unpredictable Marine Energy

From military to superyacht, it is clear there is an urgent…

Read more >

International WorkBoat Show 2024

Dates:
12 to 14 November 2024
Location:
Morial Convention Center, New

Read more >

Foiling and Flying RIBs

Foiling powerboat designed to meet military needs - fast, stable, silent, fuel-saving. Collaboration by SEAir Foiling Systems and Sillinger RIBs.…

Read more >