The introduction of new regulations
In 1993 the Inboard Racing R2000N class was officially banned from the Italian championships. It is a real shame that this glorious category, initially called R3N and then, from the mid-eighties, became R2000N, was suppressed.
In recent years it has made notable technical progress: from the three-points used, almost entirely, for several years, we have gradually moved on to the use of the first catamarans, to move on in recent seasons to the definitive presence of the latter, also equipped with a safety capsule, as required by the UIM regulations.
I believe that among the causes of this end there is not only the increase in costs due to the purchase of the catamaran equipped with a safety capsule, but also the expenses necessary for the preparation of the new engines and the related mechanics (trim, stern drive).
Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that at the beginning of the 90s many valid R2000N pilots, such as Brigada, Bernasconi, Muggiati, Pecci, Lambri, Leidi, Zantelli and the Cabrini became interested and switched to the new Formula 3000 outboard class introduced, precisely in that period, by the Italian Motorboat Federation. This category, not exactly cheap, nevertheless immediately had a good success in terms of attendance.

In 1993 we therefore witness a "return to the past"; an Italian Championship reserved entirely for 2000 cc racers was established, which re-evaluated the three-point hull. The 1993 calendar for this championship included a mix of races, some in line (Raid Pavia-Venezia), others on long circuits (Borgoforte, Stagno di Roccabianca, Rosolina Mare. Boretto with the Trofeo Due Ponti), and still others on short circuits (Campione d'Italia).
The list of entrants included twenty-nine competitors. This is a significant number that no category of In-Shore powerboating had reported in recent years. At the same time, it is a worrying figure, as it is too high to guarantee a certain safety in the race.

In Boretto, in the cross-country race (Trofeo Due Ponti), the fifth round of the Italian Racer 2000 cc Championship is held within the section reserved for all the Inboard Racing classes.
This day sees Maurizio Caramelli as the overall winner of the Trophy at an average speed of over 191 km/h with his F.3000 Lucini-Mercury outboard catamaran, but above all it sees a drama for him, as he suffers the loss of his son Simone, right during the first lap of the section reserved for the inboard classes.
The most reliable version of what happened, among the many formulated after the race, is that Simone Caramelli, thirty years old with a passion for rallies and motorboating (even if with less presence than his father Maurizio), shortly after the start, not sailing in the leading positions, finds himself in the middle of the enormous chaos due to the waves of the many competitors present and probably hits some debris, the hull rears up and then falls back on the slipway of his racing companion Fabrizio Benzi. The immediate and desperate transport to the nearby hospital of Guastalla (RE) is useless, since the unfortunate Caramelli arrives already lifeless (a fracture of the skull base is found). For the other driver involved, Fabrizio Benzi from Mantua, only a fracture of the nasal septum and a wound to a hand are found.
With the death of Simone Caramelli, the number of motorboaters who died during the Trofeo Due Ponti rises to two: as already reported in the 1979 news, another racer from Pavia had died: Antonio Massoni.
In the same section, Mauro Danini also capsized while tacking with the R.Molinari-Lamborghini catamaran of the Entrobordo Corsa R°° class, risking drowning due to problems encountered in exiting the cockpit, caused by the shallow riverbed. In the end, the pilot from Pomponesco (MN) fortunately came out unharmed, suffering only a great fright. After this experience, Danini decided to hang up his helmet.

Returning to the Italian Championship of the Racer 2000 cc class, we must mention the victory of Giuseppe Casanova with Maurizio Anselmi second and Antonio Bianchi third; followed by Roger Krattinger, Romancllo Balocchi, Dino Zantelli, Secondo Spacio and the unfortunate Simone Caramelli. Interesting in this championship is the presence of Italian-Swiss pilots such as the brothers Athos and Secondo Spacio and Roger Krattinger. These competitors, registered for the Classic Silver Boat of Campione d'Italia, are praiseworthy for having believed in and strongly supported the return of racer boats in a National Championship.

From the three points of the revitalized Racer class we move on to the catamarans of the international R2000 category, still maintained in the UIM programs with the dispute in the Swedish waters of Vastervik of the World Championship in a single event. Only four Italian pilots are joining the expedition: the reigning World Champion Cipriano Lambri (Lucini — Mercury), Paolo Zantelli (Clerici-Mercury), Arturo Bernasconi (DAC-Mercury) and Franco Leidi (Lucini-Mercury).
For the record, our Azzurri have to deal with the local pilots, especially the former 1991 World Champion Ears Norman and his Sjoeberg — Suzuki Turbo hull.
It is the Swedish pilot who takes back the title by winning, after the success of Arturo Bcinasconi in the opening heat, the remaining three events. In the final classification Norman precedes our Zantelli and Leidi. Only fifth Bernasconi, while in ninth position we find the outgoing champion Lambri, in serious difficulty with his complex. For our drivers who traditionally dominate this historic category, the valid team result obtained in Sweden is to be considered as a small "debacle", especially if related to the quality of the vehicles proposed in the race.

Leaving aside the chronicles of national and international championships, I would particularly like to point out the real inboard novelty of 1993, namely the Unlimited Eight class hull of American school built by Ron Jones in his own shipyards in Seattle and imported by Antonio Petrobelli. It is a marvelous hydroplane with a honeycomb structure and epoxy resins, equipped with a safety capsule for the pilot with a rescue opening under the driving seat. Certainly a valid aid in the event of a capsize. Petrobelli's craft is more innovative than ever for Europe: it has a limited load-bearing surface and is equipped with three sets of adjustable flaps. As for the engine, a very powerful 850 HP BPM V12 was chosen.

The champion from Padua, with the new craft, took part in the 53rd Raid Pavia-Venezia with the intention, of course, of establishing a new record for the race. Having abandoned his winning three-pointer from the Celli shipyard, he embarks on this new adventure but unfortunately retires after only 88 km. near Isola Serafini (PC).

He returns, with the same complex, also at Stagno di Roccabianca in the long circuit race valid for the Alcide Ballotta Trophy, but just after the start, he spins and has a "bad flight" from which he emerges completely unharmed thanks to the safety capsule.

1993 was definitely a year to forget for the Count from Padua who, however, had the serious intention of "trying again" in 1994.