Two pilots involved in yesterday’s Around the Island Power Boat Race who were admitted to hospital have been discharged and are now on the road to recovery.

Racing stalwarts Craig Nisbett and Derek Simons had their victory hopes dashed after suffering mishaps prior to and during the 54-mile race, which starts and finishes at Ferry Reach.

Mr Nisbett, who was registered in the B-Class, was taken to hospital by ambulance after suffering a seizure prior to the start of the race, while Mr Simons sustained bruising to the head and a bloodied nose when his C-Class boat ran aground near Castle Islands.

According to Paul Wellman, Rear Commodore of the Bermuda Power Boat Association, both drivers are expected to make a full recovery from their ordeals and were in good spirits last night. “Apparently I was told at the track that Craig had not eaten or drank for a couple of days so I guess he had a diabetic seizure,” Mr Wellman said. “But he is doing fine and has gone home.

“Derek got in an accident on the boat and he’s doing fine now. They assessed him and he is resting at home.”

Yesterday’s race was drama filled as only six of the thirteen boats that started completed the race while five entries were scratched before racing began.

“It was a very long day,” Henry Talbot, the BPBA Commodore, said. “We had very bad weather in the beginning so we didn’t know what was going to happen with that.

“We had twenty entries and of the thirteen that took off we only had six return. A few boats broke down and some people have gone to the hospital.

“But I think overall it was quite an exciting day and we had a good crowd here at Ferry Reach.”

The D-Class power boat driven pilot Steven Eversley and co-pilot Brandon Franks coped best in the challenging conditions to seize both class and overall line honours in 43 mins and 22 secs.

It was the second straight year that the duo have won their class and the first time leading the overall fleet across the finish line.