Commentary: Catch-222 – Speed on the Water
Effective marketing tool that it can be, social media is a malignant form of misinformation cancer. And with every ill-advised post on Facebook or the like, it metastasizes.
Case in point? Yesterday’s post from the 2023 Union Intenationale Motonautique Class 1 World Champion 222 Offshore Australia on its Facebook page denying any cheating during the entire the season. Digging into the subject, I learned the accusation, which comes from within the Class 1 ranks, stems from 222 Offshore’s high fuel-burn last month during the Race World Offshore Key West World Championships, which the team won handily.
The 222 Offshore Australia team dominated the 2023 UIM Class 1 World Championship Series. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“Apparently, in Key West they used 10 percent more fuel than any other team with the lightest boat and they were telling everyone they ‘didn’t even run hard,’” said a source inside the class who requested anonymity. “So none of it makes sense. Then the rumor mill gets rolling and—voila.”
Though he didn’t necessarily intend to, my source struck the heart of the issue when used the words “rumor mill.”
Why publicly address a rumor? Such actions only bring the worst form of gossip, most often spurred by jealousy—especially in offshore powerboat racing—to light. In so doing, you create speculation and draw media attention that would not have existed without such an unnecessary public denial. It’s an unforced error of consequence.
For the record, the Class 1 races in Key West Worlds were not part of the 2023 UIM Class 1 World Championships, which ended with the early September Powerboat P1 event in St. Petersburg, Fla. Also for the record, no official protest has been filed against the 222 Offshore Australia with the UIM in regard to its 2023 series performance.
So short message to rumor-mongers? Zip it or go public with an official protest.
None of this discussion needed to see the light of day and wouldn’t have without—once again—an ill-advised post on social media by a team that perceived itself to be under fire. It’s a self-inflicted wound that helps neither 2023 UIM World Champion Class 1 222 Offshore Australia nor the sport itself.
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