Round the Island Power Boat Race when Treadwell Nesbitt's "skater cat'' was involved in a spectacular crash during practise at Ferry Reach yesterday.

A broken "skag'' -- a fin on the bottom of the engine used for turning -- was believed to be the culprit for the mishap which occurred as the craft rounded "Stonecrusher Corner'' near the airport.

The boat proceeded to "barrel-roll'' before coming to a halt and was partially submerged.

No injuries were reported, but it is believed that two Americans imported to fine tune the boat were on board at the time.

A rescue team, including a barge, and marine police and others at the scene, helped haul the boat ashore and last night brothers Treadwell and Craig Nesbitt along with a team of mechanics were said to be hard at work getting the 21-foot racer back into shape for Sunday.

The incident marked the second time this season Nesbitt had incurred difficulty with the craft, having suffered a similar mishap during the second week of competition in the offshore circuit.

Meanwhile, "D'' Class participant Chris Frankes announced his intentions and laid down the gauntlet for defending champion Patrick Stamper.

Frankes, third in Class "B'' last year, indicated that he was one of those who believed the reigning champion possessed an illegal engine, which proved a hot topic at a race meeting on Monday night.

"I believe he (Stamper) has it, but it's not a threat,'' said Frankes, a six-year veteran of the race, who will have 21-year-old Jason Dennis as co-pilot on his 20-foot, multi-coloured Deep "V'' hull. "He can put on what he wants.

"I plan on winning this one...I have the right boat to do it.

"My plan is to make my move down North Shore, because it doesn't have the length, but South Shore is where the race will be won or lost.'' Stamper was just as vociferous in denial, saying that his motor was in line with regulations and challenged his opponents to "put their money up'' if they believed otherwise.

"We'd love to clear the air,'' said Stamper, competing in his third Round the Island Race. "We have nothing to hide.'' The "we'' is Stamper and co-pilot Luis Martin...and the former has no doubt about his chances of repeating his 1992 performance, although he noted longtime campaigner Clyde Boorman as a possible threat.

"I'd say that Clyde Boorman is probably next in line and will probably be in for second.

"But I wouldn't say that any of those other boats could come close.'' He added that preparations "couldn't be better'' and was looking at a time in the region of 45 minutes for the rounding if conditions were close to ideal and around 47 minutes if the weather resembled yesterday's.

Thirty-three have entered what is the glamour event of the local racing calender, which this year has a helicopter being employed to aid in the production of a television programme.

It is also known to have a sizeable following overseas, with many expected to fly in from the United States for the spectacle.