The day was always intended to be a memorial to a deceased power boat racer and it was - but not really to the one for whom it was planned.

In what was originally to be a gesture of respect and remembrance of Ken Dear who died in a powerboat crash 21 years ago, the Bermuda Power Boat Association's (BPBA) fraternity came together in a muted gathering at Ferry Reach yesterday.

Despite their best intentions - most notably a five-minute exhibition race between two models of the boat that Dear once raced - powerboat enthusiasts could be forgiven if their thoughts and memories were of a much fresher tragedy; one just a week old.Last Sunday many of them had converged on the same location eagerly awaiting the thrilling showpiece of their season - the annual Around The Island race. However, the tragic death of New Zealand expatriate Stuart Smith - co-piloting a C-Class catamaran - left them numb to the core.

The sight of the New Zealand flag, fluttering on the mast of the Race Control bus, plus the presence of Smith's pilot - a grim-faced Michael Araujo; his right arm in a sling - were stark reminders of the deadly crash that occurred off Astwood Park.

Embracing each other and both crying, Araujo and BPBA President Chris Roque addressed the crowd following a minute's silence in which only the whirr of passing traffic and the gentle lapping of the sea along the shoreline interrupted the solemn observance.

"This week has been tough, mourning the loss of a great racer. We're back out here today to put on a good show for the public and also to pay tribute to racers who have gone. It's become a double tribute," Roque told The Royal Gazette.

Some members, he noted, felt yesterday's programme should be cancelled but he, Araujo and other friends of Smith's thought otherwise.

"They all agreed with me that it's time to get back on the water and that's what Stuart would want us to do."

Araujo expressed a similar sentiment in addressing his BPBA colleagues.

"He (Smith) would want to see you guys back out there. He wouldn't want to see us mourning," he said, hiding his tears behind sunglasses.

The man who was with Smith in his final moments alive urged the powerboat membership to contribute to the scholarship fund established for Smith's eight-year-old son, Connor.

"That's one way we can feel we've done something for Stu and (it would be as if) the son would still benefit from Stu."

Though previously indicating he is finished with the sport, Araujo - who has raced for eight years - seemed to leave the door ajar for a return to the high-speed activity in the future.

"For me, I'm stepping down for a bit - maybe forever. I have many unanswered questions."

Before leaving Ferry Reach with his family, Araujo paid a final salute to those who perished in powerboat accidents by waving a Bermuda flag to start the exhibition race between two SST 45 inshore tunnel boats. That event was a special tribute to Dear who died on August 23, 1981, when he crashed at Ferry Reach.

"Ken used to race a bigger version of that boat and this is the first time in about five years that these boats are racing in Bermuda. So this is a cross between a tribute and an effort to get that class (of boat) racing again," explained Craig Selly, who brought the first-ever SST 45 into the Island.

Meanwhile, the racing spirit of another driver who crashed last Sunday has not dimmed. Michael Lopes vows to be back in action shortly.

"I'll be back next week hopefully," said the B-Class competitor as he worked on an engine.

The 25-year-old, who was detained in hospital for observation, escaped without injury and said he was just "a bit sore" after he and Joe Vieira crashed.

"Nothing is broken. I've just got two black eyes like (if) Mike Tyson beat me," he noted, smiling and pointing to the dark lines under both eyes.