Shaki Easton and co-pilot Jauza James made a triumphant start to their season in the inaugural Commodore’s Endurance Cup Race.

The Devil’s Isle Racing pair overcame mechanical problems on the way to clinching D class honours by default after rivals Bobby and Francisco DeCosta were penalised for missing a turn buoy and venturing into a no-go zone on the second and final lap of the race.

“We had the lead but my boat dropped a cylinder and Bobby caught me,” Easton told The Royal Gazette. “The boat started working again but Bobby was well gone by then.

“But on the second lap Bobby missed a turn which gave him a time penalty and we got the win. It was pretty rough in some sections of the race course but overall it was an excellent race and a great day. The race committee did a great job and the race was well organised.”

Easton and James had been dealing with mechanical problems in the days leading up to the race.

“The week before the boat wasn’t working and Jauza stayed up to midnight the night before the race to get it running,” Easton said. “We ended up fixing the issue to get in the race.”

Despite their misfortune the DeCostas still managed to salvage a spot on the podium after crossing the finish line in third.

There was also cause for celebration for the team of Brandon DeSilva and Blake Burgess who came away with B class honours for their second win of the season after rival pair Steven Meireles and Aaron Daniel were issued a five-minute penalty for missing a safety buoy.

“B96 [Meireles and Daniel] was in the lead and we were giving it our best considering the boat was not handling well to keep them in our sight,” DeSilva said.

“Due to the five-minute penalty we ended up with the victory and the prize money, which goes to show you don’t give up because you never know until the race is over.”

DeSilva and Burgess also endured an eventful outing in rough conditions after breaking the engine mounting bracket on their boat on the first lap of the race.

“We struck a swell and launched well into the air and after we landed I could tell something wasn’t right,” DeSilva said. “

The boat wasn’t handling as well as usual and it wasn’t until we got back to shore we realised we had broken the engine mounting bracket, but it was a good race day and the Bermuda Power Boat Association committee did an awesome job putting the race together.”

The team of Ryan Resendes and Makinday Johansen finished third to round off the podium finishers in B class.

A class honours went to Shane Medeiros and Joshua Holder, who beat sole rivals Chris and Jacari Marshall to earn Devil’s Isle Racing their second win of the day.

“The race was half calm and half rough with a few navigational challenges, but thanks to Joshua my navigator for helping guide me in the right direction,” Medeiros said.

“The committee should be praised for their efforts. The course brought out a lot of spectators, which is a positive thing for the community in my eyes.”

The race began and finished at Ferry Reach and was held in memory of powerboat racing enthusiast Charles Crisson, who died in January.