Despite Missing Finals, Hindley Celebrates Win

Had Heat 1-B in Sunday’s 30th Columbia Cup been a horse race, somebody could have come away with a big payday by betting on the ultimate longshot, Tom Hindley.

Hindley piloted Spokane’s U-19 Appian Renegade to an unlikely victory in the first heat before pulling the boat out for the day after a problem with the propeller in the second heat.

The odds of winning the first heat were astounding considering:

This was Hindley’s first actual competition in the U-19.

The field consisted of two of the race’s top qualifiers, Pico American Dream and the T-Plus.

Hindley began the race by going dead momentarily in Turns 3 and 4. He trailed the pack of boats by nearly a straightaway at the start.

Hindley had to cut the power to avoid hitting Pico, which had gone dead and was drifting back into the course.

As quickly as the heat started, things began to unravel for the leaders - just as they fell into place for Hindley.

T-Plus had the early lead in the heat over Pico, but Dave Villwock’s boat went dead in Turns 1 and 2. T-Plus then missed a buoy, and proceeded to race the shorter race course for the unlimited light class. Shortly after, it went dead in the water.

When Hindley picked up speed after trying to steer clear of Villwock, he suddenly - and surprisingly - found himself in the lead when all the remaining boats played follow-the-leader onto the shorter course.

“I wasn’t sure what happened,” Hindley said. “Then my crew told me over the radio that I was in the lead.”

The victory was the boat’s first since 1991 when it won in San Diego.

The elation experienced in Heat 1-B was short-lived for the U-19, however. The Spokane boat drew a tough draw in Heat 2-A, including top qualifiers Smokin’ Joe’s and Miss Budweiser.

Heading into Turns 3 and 4 while preparing for the start, Hindley suddenly shut the boat down.

“I felt a vibration,” Hindley said. “From my experience, I thought the prop was leaving the boat. When the prop goes, the whole back of the boat goes.”

As it turned out, the problem was not with the prop, but with a loose rudder cable. The decision to pull out cost Hindley a spot in the final.

“We missed qualifying for the final heat by 50 points,” Hindley said. “If I could have just kept it going, we would have gotten the points we needed.”