WHEN TR hit the third split yesterday, the record did not seem out of the question.
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The defending champions were flying.
If the team could get home in with six and a half minutes, last year's time of 29.22 would have been shattered.
Even if they didn't, they had a 40 second lead on second-placed Superman.
But as the crowd at Victoria Park stared down the final straight, TR was no where to be seen.
The record time passed, then the 30-minute mark - still with no movement.
Well into the 31st minute of the run, TR finally emerged.
And, as Superman screamed around the corner, TR's lead and grasp on back-to-back titles was gone.
As they pulled in front of the banks, the team looked dejected at the loss of what had seemed like a certain victory.
Soon, it became clear why.
In the final section, the boat stopped as the engine went into guardian mode.
Driver Ian Tricker restarted it twice, eventually getting it running, but the delay cost them the race.
Skier Dylan Stevenson said his team was shattered.
“It was very unlucky,” he said.
“We we're running the pace we wanted, we made the splits we wanted, so when we saw the boat stop, it was gut wrenching.
“It went into guardian mode, so we will get it off and have a proper look at what happened and hopefully get it right.”
It was a sad end to a difficult week for TR and, while the time beat out Unlimited Inboard boat The Mistress for second spot on the podium, Stevenson said his team would be unable to enjoy the result.
“We should be able to celebrate it,” he said.
“It was a rough week, we worked through a lot, we did everything we could to get the win.
“But right now it's too raw. There is still the disbelief, the shock at what happened to us on the water. I think it's how we are going to remember this race, not for second, but for the problems we had.”
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