THE driver of Hull's powerboat was taken to hospital after it the boat flipped over in the final race at the weekend.
Businessman Jono Searby suffered bruising to his leg after One Hull of a Boat flipped over in race three of the UK leg of the Powerboat P1 Superstock Championships.
The crew had safely returned from the previous races and set off in the final race with the sun beating down on the Humber.
One Hull of a Boat flipped after strong waves caused it to bounce.
Shaken navigator Sam Whitaker escaped the crash uninjured but was there to welcome his close friend back on to dry land.
"It was no different to any other bend that we had negotiated in the previous races," he said.
"We were much closer to the other boats than we had been in other races and the water was maybe a bit more choppy.
"The boats create a bit of a wash when the water is calm and we bounced a couple of times before it flipped over.
"I am absolutely gutted."
Spectators who had gathered at St Andrew's Quay looked on as the race was cancelled after the crash, so the tiger stripe-clad boat could be recovered and Jono could receive medical treatment.
Sam Collins, 34, of Cottingham, said: "They were going really well and then suddenly they flipped. They were quite close to another boat so we weren't sure wether they had hit it or not."
Jono, director of sponsor JS Power Limited, was given oxygen as he lay on a jetty close to the Minerva pub after being dragged out the water by rescue crews.
After an agonising wait, he was afforded a hero's welcome as he was transferred into a waiting ambulance and taken to Hull Royal Infirmary.
At first, it was feared he may have suffered a broken leg, but he later tweeted: "Now that was One Hull of a crash! I'm OK, no broken bones just a bad leg, which is OK. Being allowed home. Thanks for support #gutted!"
Crowds that had gathered applauded the driver as the stricken vessel was towed back in upside down before being lifted from the water.
According to race control, neither Jono or Sam could have done anything to prevent the boat from flipping.
Kate Carroll, team manager, said: "We are all so proud of what Jono and Sam have achieved. They have made the city proud.
"Everyone was rooting for them – they are heroes."
The boat was bought after business in the region clubbed together to raise £24,000.
Only 99 days after Sam first tweeted the idea of competing in the race, the team were on the water, being cheered on by thousands of people in the first race on Saturday.
Before the final race, team member Rob Macbeath said: "People are amazed at just how much it has done for the city and Jono and Sam deserve huge credit for their efforts.
"We should all be immensely proud of what they have achieved."
Despite the crash, the boat is expected to race again in future events.
The Hull crew finished bottom out of seven after two days of racing.
