The 60th Cowes Torquay Cowes this August Bank Holiday weekend (28th/29th August) will see teams competing for the second round of the UKOPRA Offshore Championship for the famous Beaverbrook Trophy.
Cowes-Poole-Cowes race will also see teams racing the second round of the UKOPRA Class 3/4 British Championships.
Biggest collection of offshore boats for some years
With over 30 teams already entered, including boats and drivers from the UK, America, Germany and Italy, the 60th Cowes Torquay Cowes powerboat race promises to be the biggest collection of offshore boats for some years.
One of powerboatings toughest challenges
The 200-mile Cowes Torquay Cowes race has long been recognised as one of powerboatings toughest challenges, and comparisons have been made with motorsport events such as Le Mans and the Indy 500.
The boats will be based in the Cowes Yacht Haven, and visitors/spectators will be able to get close up views from the Harbour walls all day Saturday and early Sunday.
Roaring engines
On Sunday, dawn in Cowes will break to the sound of roaring engines, and activity on the water will be evident from approximately 09:00 when the racing fleet will parade past Cowes Green before mustering to the east of the Cowes Harbour entrance.
Race boats will then pass at speed in a convoy past the Snowden sailing mark before starting the actual race to the sound of the cannon between The Royal Yacht Squadron line and the north of Gurnard North Cardinal Buoy at 10:00, the main race will be followed by the Cowes-Poole-Cowes race start at 10:15.
Cowes-Poole boats will start to appear back in the Solent to finishing line off Egypt Point from 11.00
Possible return time
Depending on the conditions, the fastest Cowes-Torquay boats should start to appear back in the western Solent from 12.00 for a finish off the Gurnard North Cardinal Mark at Egypt Point.
Local interest will be focused on the Cowes Poole Cowes with Adam Younger, Alan Goodwin, Hugo Peel and Simon and Daniel Pinder.
Both Adam and Alan have had a long history with Offshore Powerboat Racing, Adam started out training as naval architect and now designs powerboats one of which he will be racing in this Sunday alongside Amy Rickards.
Atlas Mr Noisy
Alan Goodwin will be racing in a 1983 built Velocity with partner Colls Sweeney and Solent Marine Services boatyard owner Tristan Ormiston in ‘Atlas Mr Noisy’.
Thunderstreak
Hugo Peel is a retired management consultant, and created Team:RYS. He campaigned Class 3 “Black Gipsy” in the 1970s and re-entered offshore racing after restoring Tommy Sopwith’s 1963 Bertram 31, “Thunderstreak”. Hugo will be accompanied by James Gaggero and Johnny Raymond and at present lead the Class 4 championship.
PIN-HER
Interestingly Cowes commercial fisherman Simon and Daniel Pinder will be racing in their first ever race having only just purchased an Class 3 Adam Younger Hull only last month. They have already made their personal mark by painting the boat PIN-HER an luminous pink colour.
Cowes-Torquay Cowes (193.5 nm non stop)
Round 2
• The 2021 UKOPRA Class 1/2/4 British Offshore Championship
Cowes Poole Cowes (90.5nm)
Round 2
• The 2021 UKOPRA Class 3 / 4 Offshore Championship
Timetable
Saturday 28th August
- 09:30 – 17:00 Scrutineering at Cowes Yacht Haven
- 13:00 – 15:00 Official testing period
Sunday 29th August
- 09:00 – Race boats depart Cowes Yacht Haven for parade
- 10:00 – Race start: Cowes-Torquay race
- 10.15 – Race start: Cowes-Poole race (return to Cowes within 1 hour
- 12:00 – CTC Boats arrive back in the Solent
- 16:00 – Podium presentation at Cowes Yacht Haven
Suggested viewing points for Islanders:
- Cowes Yacht Haven
- Cowes Parade and Green
- Egypt Point
- Yarmouth Pier
- Fort Victoria
All timings are approximate. For more information visit the Website or the Facebook Page.
News shared by Malc on behalf of British Powerboat Racing. Ed
Images: © Malc Attrill
