british offshore powerboat racing

UNITED KINGDOM OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING ASSOCIATION

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August 19, 2024

Newly-named Cowes Powerboat Festival to feature three races over August Bank Holiday weekend. British Powerboat Racing Club in new partnership with Powerboat P1 to grow the event. World-famous tourism destination Experience Kissimmee becomes presenting sponsor.

Powerboat P1, the international marine motorsport promoter, and the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) have jointly announced a new partnership for this year’s Cowes Torquay Cowes offshore powerboat race that sees P1 provide marketing, communications and sponsorship support for the 63rd staging of the famous event in August.

Based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the British Powerboat Racing Club organises the Cowes Torquay race which has been running since 1961. This was the first powerboat race outside the USA and is the longest running race in the world. Held every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend with international teams competing in different classes, the race covers a challenging 210-mile course along the south coast of England. Boats reach speeds in excess of 100mph, with the fleet racing non-stop to Torquay on the South Devon coast, where the teams will stop for approximately 90 minutes to the delight of local crowds, before returning non-stop to Cowes.

Earlier this month Powerboat P1 announced details of a unique agreement with Experience Kissimmee that sees the world-famous tourism destination in Central Florida sponsor both UIM Class 1 offshore racing and this year’s Cowes Torquay Cowes event. “We are thrilled with the evolution of our established partnership with P1 and joining the historic and prestigious Cowes endurance race in the UK presents another exciting opportunity for us to spotlight Kissimmee and its family-friendly attractions in one of our top international visitor markets,” commented DT Minich, President/CEO of Experience Kissimmee.

The racing fleet will assemble at Cowes Yacht Haven for scrutineering and safety inspection on Friday 23 August. The Cowes Torquay Cowes race will start at 9.30 the following morning (Saturday 24 August) followed immediately afterwards by the Cowes Poole Cowes race at 10.00am. Both races will start off the Squadron Line, Egypt Point, in the Solent. Sunday will see the start of the Round the Island Race at 10.00am, a unique event that the founders of the BPRC started in 1968 for all sizes of both race and leisure boats, old and new.

Fri Aug 23 - Sun Aug 25 2024 The British Powerboat Racing Club presents the Cowes Powerboat Festival presented by Experience Kissimmee
Sat 24 Aug - Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Race 09:00 am start
Sat 24 Aug - Cowes - Poole - Cowes Race 09:15 am start
Sun 25 Aug - Round the Island Race

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Offshore powerboat racing history

Mike taylor traces the uk origins of long-distance offshore powerboat racing, from the first cowes-torquay in 1961.

In 1959, newspaper tycoon Sir Maxwell Aitken and fellow powerboat enthusiast John Coote had seen the exciting Miami-Nassau powerboat race and, fired with enthusiasm, Sir Max decided to participate in the following year’s event alongside his wife, Lady Violet. This event would prove to be the inspiration for offshore power boating in the UK.

Unfortunately, the day of the race saw fairly typical Bank Holiday conditions, with threatening weather, overcast skies, and the wind picking up. However, undaunted, some 27 craft lined up at the start by the Cowes Royal Yacht Squadron at 10am sharp. The Cowes-Torquay race was about to commence.

The line-up included some of the best of the world’s offshore fast powerboats: Faireys, Christinas, Bertrams, Port Hamble Hunt 34s and Pacemaker 19s. Among the drivers were holiday entrepreneur Billy Butlin, ex-motor racing driver Tommy Sopwith and boat designer Don Shead. But such was the novelty of the event that the start line also included a Shakespeare cabin cruiser, a 40ft (12.1m) Dorset Lake cruiser, and a Prout catamaran.

When the flag dropped, the powerboats roared off in a froth of foam and exhaust smoke toward Southsea, Butlin’s elegant Fairey Huntsman taking an early lead with Dick Bertram in Glass Moppie close behind followed by Bruce Campbell in Christina and Sopwith driving Thunderbolt . Italian designer, Soni Levi was in fifth position in A’Speranziella .

After rounding the Isle of Wight, the flotilla headed west, into a windy Bournemouth Bay. Here conditions were much rougher with a driving Force 5 on the bow. Throttles were eased back and Soni Levi took the lead, but as they pressed on conditions took their toll; a gashed hull caused the Prout to beach while Butlin’s Fairey threw a prop.

After 7 hours and 25 minutes of bruising conditions, Sopwith’s Thunderbolt roared into Torquay Bay, having averaged 25mph (40.3kmh) for the 159-mile trip. It had been a baptism of fi re setting the tone for UK powerboating for years to come.

It’s a measure of the quick rise in the fame of the race that in 1962, though only in its second year, the Cowes-Torquay attracted powerboats from US design giants such as Ray Hunt, Jim Wynne and Dick Bertram, as well as British designers Keith Nelson, Uffa Fox, Colin Mudie and Peter Du Cane. Du Cane was responsible for designing the eventual winner, Tramontana , for stockbroker Dick Wilkins. Built by Vosper & Co and powered by twin 1,150hp CRM engines, she was driven by Supermarine Spitfire test pilot, Jeffrey Quill who easily took the lead, finishing ahead of the field.

After sitting out the first race, Sir Max Aitken purchased Glass Moppie for 1962, and had the boat taken to Bruce Campbell’s yard where a sleek cabin was added. The boat was then painted in the yellow and white colours that were to become synonymous with Aitken and the craft he raced. Sir Max finished fifth overall in the race.

Engine size regulations

The ease with which Tramontana had eclipsed all the other contenders in the ’62 event resulted in changes to the engine size regulations, and so for 1963 Du Cane styled a new, lighter craft, Tramontana II , powered by four 250hp engines from the Jaguar E-type sportscar. Also competing in ’63 was Levi’s redesigned A’Speranziella , fitted with twin American 400hp Ford engines. Fresh for the event, Sir Max had a new Uffa Fox-designed 40ft (12.1m) stepped-hull boat built by Pochins. Called Black Maria she was powered by Rolls Royce diesels.

It was to be Levi’s race, though, and the Italian came home to a hero’s welcome. Tramontana II finished third, only to be disqualified later for an infringement, while Aitken crossed the line in 10th, well behind his wife, Lady Violet, driving a Bertram 31, Ultra Violet , in 5th place.

For 1964 a decision was made by the governing body to include Class I Powerboats. At a stroke the race took on an altogether different atmosphere with the purpose-built all-out race boats taking centre stage.

A new boat on the water that year was Surfrider , designed by Hunt and Bertram and driven by the Gardner brothers. On the Torquay promenade the spectators watched as she arrived home first. Sir Max finished seventh in Vivacity , an all the more impressive achievement since he had stopped to help a fellow competitor with a broken engine belt. Lady Violet was 15th, once again driving Ultra Violet .

The field in 1965 was dominated by craft from three designers: Jim Wynn, Soni Levi and Ray Hunt. Initially, Thunderfish led the race before being overtaken by the eventual winner, Brave Moppie , in the hands of Dick Bertram. Surfury also passed Thunderfish though eventually one of her engine mounts collapsed, and she limped in on one engine way down the field. Sir Max finished in 11th place, driving Vivacity , while his wife was 22nd in the old Wynn and Bertram craft, YO YO .

In 1966, poor weather once again produced some very difficult conditions.

Jim Wynn was driving his own-designed Ghost Rider for owner Hugh Doyle, and it says something about the nature of the powerboats as well as conditions that co-driver Bob Sherbert suffered broken ankles when the boat caught a wave and landed awkwardly. Bob lay slumped on deck in agony for much of the race as the boat went on to win. Sir Max had commissioned a new boat from Levi, based on the Surfrider shape. Called Merry Go Round she was powered by Cummins diesels and had taken the World Diesel Speed Record, though she could only achieve 16th in the race.

By now the Cowes-Torquay was firmly established and casting an influence over boat design, engine technology and race strategy. Engineers and designers would closely watch each other’s performances in an attempt to ascertain the future direction of development. The race had taken on a very different tone as well as adopting a whole new set of rules from those of Aitken’s first event.

In 1967, Surfury convincingly won the event with the Gardner brothers: this was their second win in four years. Designed by Levi, Surfury was powered by twin Daytona engines producing around 1,000hp, driving through a single shaft. With her semi-open cockpit she was considered the epitome of offshore racing powerboats of her time.

That year Sir Max had commissioned a new 40ft (12.1m) Ray Hunt design, Gypsie Girl, powered by Cummins diesels. She would become one of his most successful race boats, finishing third in class and eighth overall. Lady Violet retired for a second year running, driving Ultra Violet . To make the race much tougher, in 1968 Torquay became its halfway point with the fi nish back at Cowes, making a round trip of some 230 miles. To complement this longer race, conditions were once again abysmal, with low temperatures, drizzle and strong winds. A new boat in the running that year was Telstar , a 25ft (7.6m), Souters-built, single Daytona engined design from Shead. Driven by Sopwith, Telstar was a firm crowd favourite, though Surfury , racing against an Italian entrant, White Tornado , quickly took the lead. While the shortest route went through rougher conditions and favoured the bigger boats, Sopwith in Telstar took a smoother route, winning the race for the second time.

For most of the 1968 season Lady Violet had campaigned a Soni Levi-designed catamaran, called Fat Cat . However, curiously, for the C-T-C event she chose to enter old-stager, Ultra Violet . Again it let her down and she retired, while a well-pleased Sir Max stormed in to fi nish second in class and fifth overall, driving Gypsie Girl .

The man to be reckoned with at the 1969 event was the charismatic American racer, Don Aronow. Already world champion in his notorious Cigarette , Aronow and Cigarette lived up to the billing, covering the course in an impressive 31⁄2 hours: a round trip in less than half the time of the inaugural one-way race. Also competing was Miss Enfield . With her aluminium construction, powered by two V8 inboard/ outboards, she would pave the way for similar craft from her designer Don Shead through the next decade.

The first Round Britain race It was John Chitty, commodore of the British Powerboat Racing Club, who came up with idea of turning the one-day C-T-C event into a 1,700-mile dash around the shores of Britain, thus bringing to life the Round Britain Powerboat Race. Almost 12 months in the organisation and sponsored by the Daily Telegraph and BP, it was to be a bruising and battering experience that took its toll on crew, craft, engines and support teams, logistically, fi nancially and physically. Motorboat and Yachting took the view that “few competitors seemed to have considered the punishing impact of days at sea in a powerboat.”

The race attracted a variety of boats, from the pint-sized infl atable Psychedelic Surfer to an (unarmed) patrol boat. Also, a team of four Fairey cruisers – driven by Lady Aitken, Peter Twiss, Derek Morris and John Freeman – was entered for the purposes of diesel engine development by Ford Europe, while other racers included Avenger Too , Maltese Magnum Twin and UFO . Partly due to mercifully settled weather, 33 of the 42 starters reached Inverness, though much midnight oil was being burned keeping craft afl oat. The first leg of the trip south saw a change in conditions: rougher seas and a blanket of fog vastly reduced speeds as contenders groped their way to Dundee. Both Maltese Magnum and UFO ran aground, while the team of Makinen, Watson and Hendicot, in Avenger Too, wisely followed radar-equipped craft to find their way. At the line it was Avenger Too first with UFO second. David Morris, at the helm of Fordpower , was third, Peter Twiss in Fordsport fourth and Lady Aitken’s Fairey fifth. It was a hugely impressive performance by Faireys and Ford Europe; however, it would be some time before another Round Britain was raced.

The next ten years saw a marked downturn in affluence in the UK and that limited the desire for racing. Through this time the C-T-C was dominated by US designer Aronow, with Cigarette , and Don Shead with his Enfield designs, the eventual tally

becoming four wins apiece. A one-off ‘international’ event was staged by the Daily Telegraph in 1971, however this and a London-Monte Carlo event in 1972 failed to attract much interest.

To make matters worse, in 1972 the UK government introduced 20 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on boats, immediately causing fi rms such as Fairey Marine to redirect their efforts toward the military and service craft markets. However, race-boat development continued unabated with an increase in the use of light, rigid laminates linked to ever more powerful engines resulting in exciting racing.

In 1973, at the age of 63, Sir Max Aitken withdrew from powerboat racing having established one of the most enduring races in the UK, considered by many to be the pinnacle of the sport.

Round Britain Race returns

Through the early 1980s there was a perceived impression that enthusiasm for another Round Britain race was beginning to emerge and the window manufacturer, Everest Double Glazing stepped in to sponsor the event’s relaunch in 1984. In the intervening years much had changed, and the event became dominated by Italian-made Class 1 racers.

The two main contenders were Buzzi cruiser-based White Iveco , raced by company owner Fabio Buzzi, and Renato della Valle’s Ego Lamborghini. White Iveco was a single-step monohull powered by four Iveco diesels, while Ego was a Don Shead designed 38ft (11.6m) hull powered by a pair of brutal 7-litre, marinised V12 Lamborghini petrol engines.

Weather conditions for the first leg were poor and of the 28 starters at Portsmouth, only 18 boats reached Falmouth. By the end of the second leg only 12 remained. By the halfway stage, White Iveco led on elapsed time with Ego Lamborghini behind.

British hopes lay in the hands of Double Two Shirts , a 40ft (12.1m) Shead-designed, Planatec-built racer with Sabre Diesel power, lying two hours back.

An indication of the performance of these powerboats can be gauged from the Dundee to Whitby leg. Over a distance of 157 miles White Iveco averaged 69 knots, though Buzzi dismissed this with a typical Italian shrug saying, “In Italy this is just a cruising boat.”

However, at Ramsgate, while White Iveco was being craned out of the water for an overhaul she slipped from her cradle, landing on a bollard and gashing her hull.

A feverish 36 hours followed while repairs were made so that she could complete the fi nal leg. At the fi nish she was in fi rst place with The Legend second and Ego Lamborghini third.

Significantly, Motorboats and Yachting commented that the number of retirements demonstrated that though undoubtedly fast, some Class I craft had proved themselves to be unsafe in anything other than calm waters.

Though offshore powerboating continued, it still failed to draw the crowds it once had – until now, perhaps. For, due to the work of Mike Lloyd and his team, 2008 will see a return of the Round Britain Powerboat Race, in which six classics from the 1969 and 1984 races are scheduled to take part. In addition, the British Powerboat Racing Club will be holding the Cowes- Torquay-Cowes race in August 2008.

There is still huge enthusiasm for offshore powerboat racing in the UK; all that remains is to rekindle public interest to see the crowds return.

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June 27, 2024

Based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the British Powerboat Racing Club organizes the Cowes Torquay race which has been running since 1961. This was the first powerboat race outside the USA and is the longest running race in the world. Held every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend with international teams competing in different classes, the race covers a challenging 210-mile course along the south coast of England. Boats reach speeds in excess of 100 mph, with the fleet racing non-stop to Torquay on the South Devon coast, where the teams will stop for approximately 90 minutes to the delight of local crowds, before returning non-stop to Cowes.

Earlier this month, Powerboat P1 announced details of a unique agreement with Experience Kissimmee that sees the world-famous tourism destination in Central Florida sponsor both UIM Class 1 offshore racing and this year’s Cowes Torquay Cowes event. “We are thrilled with the evolution of our established partnership with P1 and joining the historic and prestigious Cowes endurance race in the UK presents another exciting opportunity for us to spotlight Kissimmee and its family-friendly attractions in one of our top international visitor markets,” said DT Minich , President/CEO of Experience Kissimmee.

Since the company was founded in 2002, P1 has staged more than 700 marine motorsport races in 19 countries on four continents. “With our worldwide head office in England and our international race headquarters in Florida less than 40 miles from Kissimmee, these twin partnerships are an exciting development for us," said P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala . "Our role will focus on the wider digital marketing and social media opportunity this famous event presents and on defining the value proposition going forward. We will aim to maintain and build existing partnerships, both commercial and media, and to extend the reach of the communications program.”

“We are delighted to be working with Powerboat P1 and Experience Kissimmee this year for the running of the longest, toughest and most famous offshore powerboat race in the world," said Christian Toll , Vice Chairman of the BPRC. "The team at P1 brings a wealth of top-level racing experience. Following tradition, the newly-named Cowes Powerboat Festival will be held over the Bank Holiday weekend in late August and this year will see three races staged over two days. The BPRC, Powerboat P1 and Experience Kissimmee very much look forward to welcoming all competitors and spectators to the ultimate in powerboating activity.”

The racing fleet will assemble at Cowes Yacht Haven for scrutineering and safety inspection on Friday 23 August. The Cowes Torquay Cowes race will start at 9.30 the following morning (Saturday 24 August) followed immediately afterwards by the Cowes Poole Cowes race at 10 a.m. Both races will start off the Squadron Line, Egypt Point, in the Solent. Sunday will see the start of the Round the Island Race at 10.00am, a unique event that the founders of the BPRC started in 1968 for all sizes of both race and leisure boats, old and new.

The President of the BPRC is Steve Curtis MBE, considered by many to be the best international powerboat racer of all time. The multiple world champion, who won his first Class 1 World Championship title in 1985 at the age of 21, would often watch the Cowes Torquay Cowes event with his father, Clive. “It’s always been a big part of my life,” explained Steve, “and my father won the race in 1969. To have the race back under the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) banner and partnering with P1 is a great move and exciting for powerboat racing in the UK. Remember that this is the most famous marathon race in the world—it’s been running every year since 1961. Racing fans can now follow it on social media from anywhere in the world and we are planning on building the event into a true spectacle over the next few years. The hard work has already started.”

Powerboat P1 promotes the UIM Class 1 World Championship and one of Steve’s Class 1 racing colleagues in the United States is 29-year-old Alex Pratt from Florida. Alex travelled to England last year to compete in the Cowes Torquay Cowes race with his English friend Rob Lockyer and he will return in August. “I’m very happy to see P1 partnering with the BPRC, said Alex. “They do an outstanding job and we as racers truly appreciate their role in the sport. I will be back on the island to compete in the Good Boy Vodka boat and I’m hugely optimistic about our chances!”

Photo credits: Race fleet leaving Cowes: Malc Attrill Silverline Team in race action: Anthony Hadaway

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The current members of Team 25 came together in 2021, initially with the Class 1 Dragon followed by the Class 3 V24 Bat Boat in late 2022. Most of us are known in powerboat racing over the years but this is the first time we are all together with a concentrated effort.

COWES TORQUAY COWES

A Legendary Offshore Challenge for the Passionate and Fearless

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race, a British classic and an icon in the world of offshore powerboat racing, has been thrilling fans and participants alike since its inception in 1961. Organized by the renowned British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC), this prestigious event pushes the limits of both man and machine as teams battle it out across the unforgiving waters of the English Channel.

The race covers a daunting 190-mile (306-kilometer) course, starting from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, then traversing along the southern coast of England to the picturesque harbor of Torquay, before returning to Cowes. It demands precision, skill, and relentless determination from its competitors, who come from various countries and represent diverse boat classes.

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Race is not for the faint-hearted; it tests the resolve of crews and the capabilities of their powerboats. To withstand the grueling conditions, the boats are often designed with cutting-edge technology, incorporating advanced materials and innovative engineering solutions. These high-performance vessels are capable of reaching speeds in excess of 125 mph (200 km/h), making them the ultimate offshore machines.

The race attracts a wide array of competitors, ranging from seasoned professionals to ambitious amateurs, all vying for the honor of claiming prestigious trophies such as the Harmsworth Trophy, the Martini Trophy, or the Marathon Class Cup. Additionally, the race is part of the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) Offshore Championship, which further elevates its status within the global powerboat racing community.

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race is more than just a test of speed and endurance; it also showcases the spirit of camaraderie among racers and the shared passion for the sport. This event, steeped in tradition and adrenaline, continues to captivate the hearts of powerboat enthusiasts and inspires the next generation of offshore racers.

In conclusion, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race stands as a testament to the unyielding pursuit of excellence in offshore racing. It is a celebration of human determination, technological innovation, and the unbreakable bond that connects all those who dare to challenge the mighty waves of the English Channel.

The Long Road to Victory at Cowes Torquay Cowes and the Development of the Perfect Racing Machine:

Drew Langdon competed a total of 20 times in the legendary waters of Cowes Torquay Cowes, with 16 attempts under his belt before finally achieving his first victories. His journey to success was marked by determination, passion, and the relentless pursuit of the perfect racing machine. After triumphing for the first time in 2018, Drew managed to win the prestigious race a total of four times – in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. This impressive success was the result of years of effort and those 16 initial attempts, during which he tried various boats to find the ideal balance of speed and stability. His dedication and tenacity paid off, with 20 total race participations making his accomplishments even more remarkable.

Drew began his search for the perfect racing machine with a 23-foot Oke Mannerfelt RIB with a 200hp Mercury V6 outboard in his first Cowes Torquay Cowes entry in 2001.

He then progressed to a Scorpion 25-foot boat with two Mercury V6 150hp in 2002.

His third vessel was a 10-meter Buzzi RIB with two Mercury V6 300HP engines, named BuzziBullet.

Next, he moved on to a FB 40 SuperSport open with two Cummins QSB 480 hp diesel

As the fifth boat, he tried a 40-foot Fabio Buzzi with a canopy and two Seatek 660hp diesels.

After that, he switched to a 42-foot Fountain Evolution with two Sterling 750hp engines, another top-tier racing boat that offered its own advantages in terms of speed and handling.

Finally, Drew found the key to success with the impressive Outerlimits SV43 with two mercury racing 1075hp supercharged engines, a boat that combined the best features of its predecessors and allowed him to fully utilize his skills. In a breathtaking interplay of adrenaline, speed, and the power of the waves, Drew raced across the sea with his perfectly tuned Outerlimits SV43, securing his place in the history of Cowes Torquay Cowes

His determination and dedication to powerboat racing are testament to the fact that success is often the result of adaptability, perseverance, and tireless effort. Drew Langdon’s exciting successes leave no doubt that he is a true master of his craft and his name will continue to shine in powerboat racing.

The quality of the boats he experimented with over the years will always be remembered as an important part of his success story. The ability to adapt to different racing conditions and boat types demonstrates Langdon’s masterful control and technical prowess. Each success he achieves is the result of hard work, intense preparation, and a willingness to constantly refine his technique and knowledge. This relentless progress has made him a true champion and promises an even more exciting future in powerboat racing.

Drew Langdon’s impressive career shows that success in powerboat racing is a combination of talent, dedication, and the ability to consistently get the best out of oneself and the resources available. With numerous titles and records to his name, Drew has already proven that he is one of the best powerboat racers in the world.

Drew’s ambition continues to soar, as he sets his sights on breaking his own Cowes Torquay Cowes Time Record. In 2021, he achieved a remarkable milestone by securing the course record with a blazing time of 2 hours and 25 minutes, maintaining an astounding average speed of 94.7 mph. Now, driven by his unrelenting passion since childhood, the unwavering support of his family and dedicated team, and his determination and talent, Drew aims to surpass his own impressive achievement.

THE RACE COURSE

The race starts in Cowes on the Isle of Wight and heads westward to the Needles, a series of chalk cliffs that mark the westernmost point of the island. The boats then turn south and follow the coast of Dorset, passing through Lyme Bay and eventually arriving at Torquay in Devon. From there, the boats turn around and head back to Cowes, completing a total distance of 200 nautical miles

The route takes the participants through some of the most beautiful and challenging waters along the south coast of England. The boats have to navigate through rough seas, strong winds, and unpredictable weather conditions, making the race a true test of skill and endurance.

The course also takes the boats past several notable landmarks and locations, including:

The Needles, a series of chalk cliffs that are a prominent feature of the western tip of the Isle of Wight.
Portland Bill, a narrow promontory on the coast of Dorset that is notorious for its strong tides and currents.
Lyme Bay, a large bay on the south coast of England that is known for its rough seas and challenging conditions.
Start Point, a rocky headland on the south coast of Devon that marks the start of the English Channel.
Berry Head, a prominent headland on the coast of Devon that offers stunning views of the surrounding coastline.

we can say the course of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race is a challenging and exciting route that takes the participants through some of the most beautiful and demanding waters along the south coast of England.

THE HISTORY OF THE RACE

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes (CTC) Powerboat Race has a long and storied history, dating back to its inception in 1961. The race was the brainchild of Sir Max Aitken, a British newspaper magnate and powerboat enthusiast who suggested to the Royal Yacht Squadron that a race be held from Cowes on the Isle of Wight to Torquay in Devon and back.

The first CTC race was held on September 23, 1961, and it attracted a field of seven boats. The race was won by Tommy Sopwith and his co-driver Peter Du Cane, who completed the course in their boat “Thunderbolt” in a time of 4 hours and 5 minutes.

The success of the first CTC race led to the establishment of the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC), which was responsible for organizing and promoting the race in the years that followed. The BPRC worked to build the profile of the race, and by the mid-1960s, the CTC race had become one of the most prestigious and challenging powerboat races in the world.

Over the years, the CTC race has seen some memorable moments. In 1972, the race was cancelled due to rough seas, and in 1978, only two boats finished due to extremely challenging conditions. In 2003, the CTC race was cancelled due to the Iraq War, and it was not held again until 2008.

Despite these challenges, the CTC race has continued to attract some of the best powerboat racers from around the world. The race has evolved over the years, with changes to the rules, the introduction of different classes of boats, and the addition of new technology and safety measures.

Today, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race remains one of the most prestigious and challenging powerboat races in the world. The race attracts thousands of fans and spectators every year, and it is considered a true test of skill, endurance, and technological innovation. The history of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race is a testament to the resilience, determination, and passion of powerboat enthusiasts around the world. It is a race that has evolved and adapted over the years, but one that remains true to its roots and continues to captivate and inspire powerboat enthusiasts everywhere

THE TROPHIES

THE COWES-TORQUAY-COWES POWERBOAT RACE IS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AND CHALLENGING POWERBOAT RACES IN THE WORLD, BUT IT ALSO FEATURES SEVERAL COVETED TROPHIES THAT ARE AWARDED TO THE WINNERS OF THE RACE.

The esteemed Beaverbrook Trophy represents the pinnacle of success in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race, as it is awarded to the event’s victors. This highly coveted trophy epitomizes the dedication, skill, and passion required to excel in the competitive world of powerboat racing.Drew Langdon and his team take immense pride in having captured the prestigious Beaverbrook Trophy on four occasions. These triumphs reflect the unwavering commitment to excellence, as well as the ability to continually adapt and evolve in this challenging sport, demonstrated by both Langdon and his team members. Their success in securing the Beaverbrook Trophy serves as a testament to the hard work, determination, and expertise of the entire team.

The Montagu Trophy is a distinguished award in powerboat racing, presented to the boat that completes the race with the fastest average speed. Named in honor of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, a prominent figure in the early days of powerboat racing, this trophy has become a symbol of exceptional performance and skill.Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, a British Conservative politician and the founder of the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, played a significant role in the development of powerboat racing. The Montagu Trophy serves as a tribute to his contributions to the sport and honors the achievements of those who excel in this thrilling and demanding competition.

The BPRC International Trophy is a prestigious award in powerboat racing, specifically associated with the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race. This trophy is presented to the winner of the race in the International Class, which consists of competitors from various countries, adding an extra layer of excitement and challenge to the event. Crafted from silver, the BPRC International Trophy features a beautifully designed figure of a powerboat on top, highlighting the connection to the sport and the skill required to achieve victory. Winning this trophy is a significant accomplishment for any team, as it showcases their ability to compete at an international level and stand out among a diverse group of participants.

The prestigious Harmsworth Trophy, awarded to the boat that sets the fastest time in the race, has a rich history dating back to its inception in 1903. Named after newspaper magnate Sir Alfred Harmsworth, this trophy has become a symbol of excellence in powerboat racing. The Harmsworth Trophy was last awarded in 2018 as part of a series of races culminating in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes event. We were honored to have won this distinguished trophy then, and as it has not been used since, it highlights the rarity and significance of this award. The Harmsworth Trophy is not frequently awarded, making our victory even more remarkable and memorable, as it is unlikely that we will have such an opportunity again.

EACH OF THESE TROPHIES HAS A UNIQUE HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE IN THE WORLD OF POWERBOAT RACING. THEY REPRESENT THE SKILL, DETERMINATION, AND DEDICATION OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND SERVE AS A TESTAMENT TO THE RICH HISTORY AND TRADITION OF THE COWES-TORQUAY-COWES POWERBOAT RACE.

Women in Offshore Powerboat Racing: Pioneers and Inspirations at the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Race and the British Powerboat Racing Club

Over the years, women have made significant contributions to offshore powerboat racing, particularly in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race. Their determination and passion have turned them into pioneers and role models, paving the way for future generations of female racers.A standout figure in the history of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race is Lady Violet Aitken, the wife of Sir Max Aitken, the founder of the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) and the race itself. Lady Violet was an enthusiastic supporter and active participant in powerboat racing. Her involvement and presence have helped the sport grow over the years and have made the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race one of the most well-known and prestigious races in offshore powerboat racing.

Betty Cook was another significant woman in offshore powerboat racing. The British racer and businesswoman won several races in the 1970s and 1980s, including the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race. Cook was the first woman to be inducted into the Offshore Racing Hall of Fame and is considered a pioneer for women in offshore racing.These and many other women have enriched the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race and the British Powerboat Racing Club, contributing to the sport’s further development through their determination, skills, and passion. Their accomplishments and dedication also encourage other women to participate in offshore racing events and inspire the next generation of female offshore racers. The history of women in offshore powerboat racing, particularly in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race and the British Powerboat Racing Club, demonstrates that they can be successful in a male-dominated environment. Their contributions to the sport are a testament to their pioneering spirit and their ability to drive change and pave the way for future generations of female racers.

THE ISLE OF WIGHT

The Isle of Wight is a stunningly beautiful location, with rolling hills, scenic coastlines, and picturesque villages. It is a popular destination for tourists, who come to enjoy the many outdoor activities available on the island, including hiking, cycling, and water sports.

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race is just one of many exciting events that take place on the island throughout the year. The race attracts competitors from around the world, who come to test their skills and endurance on the challenging 190-nautical mile course. The race begins in Cowes, on the northern tip of the island, and takes competitors across the English Channel to Torquay, on the south coast of England, before returning to Cowes. The course is known for its difficult conditions, including strong currents, changing tides, and challenging sea states, making it a true test of skill and endurance for even the most experienced powerboat racers.

In addition to the excitement of the race itself, visitors to the Isle of Wight can also experience the island’s unique culture and heritage. The local cuisine is a highlight, with fresh seafood, locally produced cheese and wine, and other regional specialties available throughout the island. Visitors can also explore the many historic sites on the island, including Osborne House, the former summer residence of Queen Victoria, and Carisbrooke Castle, a medieval fortress that played a key role in English history.

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race and the Isle of Wight offer a truly unique and unforgettable combination of natural beauty, culture, and thrilling sporting action. Whether you’re a powerboat racing enthusiast or simply looking to experience the best that the south coast of England has to offer, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race and the Isle of Wight are not to be missed.

DISCOVERING THE COASTLINE FROM COWES TO TORQUAY

Along the coastline between the Isle of Wight and Torquay lies an impressive and diverse landscape, offering both historical and natural beauty. This majestic backdrop for the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race adds an extra dimension of fascination to the event.

From the Solent, the picturesque waterway between the Isle of Wight and the English mainland, the course leads along the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its breathtaking cliffs and fossils. The cliffs rise like ancient guardians over the sea, telling stories of bygone times and geological wonders.

Further west lie the golden sandy beaches of Bournemouth and Poole, a paradise for sun-worshippers and water sports enthusiasts. The two towns offer a lively atmosphere and a wealth of leisure opportunities, ranging from luxurious spas and restaurants to thrilling water parks.

The coastlines of Dorset and Devon present a variety of enchanting fishing villages and small harbors, surrounded by the rolling hills and green meadows of the rural landscape. Places like Lyme Regis and Dartmouth are known for their historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and inviting pubs, offering visitors a glimpse into traditional English life.

Before reaching Torquay, the racecourse passes the stunning South Devon coastline, known for its picturesque bays, emerald-green hills, and pristine beaches. The coastal landscape offers spectacular views and a rich maritime heritage that has endured for centuries.

Upon reaching Torquay, the boats turn around just before the harbor to commence the return journey to Cowes. This turning point challenge adds an extra level of excitement and thrill to the event, as the participants of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race showcase their skill and endurance to successfully complete the entire course.

LEGENDS AND STORYS ABOUT THE RACE

According to one legend, the race was started in 1961 as a result of a bet between two wealthy businessmen who were arguing about the fastest way to travel from Cowes to Torquay. The two men decided to settle the argument by holding a powerboat race, and the rest is history.

ONE LEGEND TELLS THE STORY OF A MYSTERIOUS “GHOST BOAT” THAT HAS BEEN SEEN ON THE WATER DURING THE RACE. ACCORDING TO SOME REPORTS, THE BOAT APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE, RACES ALONGSIDE THE OTHER COMPETITORS FOR A SHORT TIME, AND THEN DISAPPEARS AGAIN WITHOUT A TRACE. NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE IF THE GHOST BOAT IS REAL OR JUST A LEGEND, BUT MANY COMPETITORS HAVE REPORTED SEEING STRANGE AND UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA ON THE WATER DURING THE RACE.

another one legend involves the infamous “Cowes Wash,” a stretch of water near the start of the race that is known for its unpredictable and turbulent currents. According to the legend, the Cowes Wash is cursed by a vengeful sea goddess who seeks to punish those who dare to race on her waters. Many competitors have reported feeling a sense of dread and unease as they approach the Cowes Wash, and some have even claimed to have seen strange and otherworldly creatures lurking beneath the surface of the water.

The Mysterious Portland Triangle

The sea holds many mysteries, and the Portland Triangle is one of them. This section of the Cowes Torquay Cowes Powerboat racecourse poses a unique challenge for the participants. In this captivating narrative, we follow Drew Langdon, an experienced and professional powerboat racer, who over the years has had some remarkable and dramatic encounters in this dreaded and mysterious section.

Fire Onboard in the Bewitched Triangle

It was a testing day before the race, and Drew Langdon and his son Ali found themselves in the Portland Triangle when suddenly a gearbox overheated. Flames burst out in the engine room. Despite the seemingly bewitched surroundings, Langdon saved the boat and returned to Cowes. Yet, fate had other plans, and on race day, the fire ignited again. Langdon preserved the boat from a catastrophic end

Collision on the High Seas in the Mysterious Triangle

Some years later, Drew and Ali found themselves in the rough waters of the Portland Triangle again. Their FB 40, the ‘Silverline’, seemed to cut through the waves like an arrow when suddenly the unthinkable happened: A competitor went completely out of control and rammed them. The boat groaned and creaked, but thanks to Langdon’s professionalism and experience, both survived this dramatic collision in the mysterious Triangle.

The Link to the Video you will found –>here<– (at 1min 20sec)

Lost and Found in the Enigmatic Triangle

In yet another year, with Giancarlo Cangano by his side, Drew Langdon experienced the unpredictability of the Portland Triangle once again. Amid the raging waves, one of the drives broke and tore a large hole in the hull of their boat. The sea seemed to want to swallow them, but at the last moment, they managed to escape to a rescue boat. The night, however, brought unexpected hope as a local salvage service found their boat in the dark waves and safely returned it to Weymouth.

Triumph Over Misfortune in the Enchanted Triangle:

After a year of rebuilding efforts, Drew Langdon and his new co-pilot Miles Jennings took on the challenge of the CTC race again. With determination and self-confidence, they reached the notorious Portland Triangle when suddenly the steering pump failed. Yet, fate had mercy this time, and they were able to continue the race. With unbroken fighting spirit and their professionalism, they repaired their boat in Torquay and not only won the race back to Cowes but also set an impressive record time in the process.

The Portland Triangle, with its dramatic encounters and seemingly inexplicable events, remains a mysterious and fascinating element of the Cowes Torquay Cowes Powerboat racecourse. Drew Langdon’s experiences in this enigmatic section bear witness to the unpredictability of these waters and the necessity of professionalism and determination to successfully master the challenges. Despite the difficulties and seemingly bewitched surroundings, Langdon has proven that with courage, perseverance, and skill, even the most mysterious waters can be conquered. The Portland Triangle remains a place full of mysteries and legends that continue to shape the thrill and fascination of the Cowes Torquay Cowes Powerboat Race and inspire participants to write their own stories in this enchanted section of the course.

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Top 10 powerboat racing icons that helped make boating what it is today

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Hugo Peel explores the top ten power-boating events, people and inventions that have influenced today’s sportsboats...

Powerboat racing may seem a world away from the type of cruising most of us do but the sportsboats we enjoy today wouldn’t be half as good as they are without the racers, designers and builders whose heroic efforts helped shape them.

Auto-boat racing, as it was originally known, traces its history back to the late 19th century and for a brief period was even an Olympic sport, with races staged off the Isle of Wight in 1908. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s and 1970s that the sport exploded in popularity as developments in engineering, materials, speed, safety and propulsion really took off.

Racing was the anvil on which these promising technologies were forged. So what are the ten most significant events, inventions and people that have contributed to today’s impressive levels of performance, safety and utility?

While many of these names and events may be unfamiliar now, they are the stuff of legend to all who recall the glory days of British powerboat racing.

1. The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes offshore powerboat race

Many people regard offshore powerboat racing as the ultimate challenge for craft and crew. Arguably the most challenging race of all and certainly one of the oldest is the legendary Cowes-Torquay competition.

Initiated in 1961 by Daily Express newspaper magnate and keen yachtsman, Sir Max Aitken, who foresaw it would help grow the UK marine industry, it bred a string of British and international heroes and brands. This 200-mile race, now known as the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes, and its coveted Harmsworth Trophy, intermittently awarded since 1903, is still the one all top powerboat racers yearn to win.

powerboat-racing-icons-Round-Britain-race-2008

The marathon Round Britain Powerboat Race started and finished off Portsmouth

2. The marathon Round Britain Powerboat Race

If a 200-mile race sounds challenging, the 1,500-mile endurance marathon that is the Round Britain Race is on an altogether different scale, yet it proved so appealing that it has been run three times over four decades.

The first BP-sponsored race in 1969 comprised ten stages over 1,459 miles and was won by Timo Mäkinen, a champion Finnish rally-driver in Avenger Too propelled by triple Mercury outboards – he averaged 37mph.

The 1984 race was sponsored by Everest double glazing and attracted famous names, including Italian racer/designer Fabio Buzzi driving White Iveco , a single-step GRP monohull with four 600bhp Iveco diesels. Against him was fellow Italian Renato della Valle in Ego Lamborghini , an aluminium-hull craft powered by two ear-splitting 800hp, race-tuned V12 Lamborghinis.

Article continues below…

Sunseeker-Hawk-38-prototype-test-drive-fabio-buzzi-credit-matt-higham

Test driving the Sunseeker Hawk 38 prototype with Fabio Buzzi

Lamborghini-boat-delivered-bow-running-shot-credit-tecnomar

Lamborghini boat: Tecnomar delivers first official ‘Fighting Bull’ branded yacht

Victory went to Buzzi who, after the 157-mile Dundee-Whitby leg, during which White Iveco averaged a staggering 69 knots, dismissed it with shrug saying: ‘In Italy, this is just a cruising boat.’

The race was revived in 2008 attracting a field of 47 raceboats old and new, including a number of production RIBs and sportsboats from companies like Scorpion , Goldfish and Scanner. The favourites included Fabio Buzzi again in his classic four-engined Red FPT , and Austrian casino millionaire Hannes Bohinc in another Buzzi-designed monohull Wettpunkt .

This time the overall winner was a Greek entry Blue FPT navigated by Britain’s Dag Pike, who at 75 years old, was the event’s oldest competitor. Many of the production boats also did remarkably well, showing just how far they have come in recent years.

Steve Curtis MBE is powerboat racing royalty

3. Powerboat racer Steve Curtis

If the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes is the benchmark, surely the top driver must be found among its winners? Home-grown contenders must include Tommy Sopwith, a winner in 1961, 1968 and 1970 and the Gardner brothers, Charles and Jimmy, who clocked up victories in 1964 with their Bertram 31 Surfrider , and again in 1967 in the iconic Sonny Levi-designed Surfury .

On the worldwide stage, Italy’s Renato Della Valle won four Cowes Torquay Cowes races in a row from 1982 to 1985. Hannes Bohinc collected the trophies in 1995 and 2003 and another German, Markus Hendricks, whose boat sank on the 2008 Round Britain, took a re-engined 34-year-old monohull, Cinzano , to victory in 2009 and 2011.

They are all brilliant in their way but how could this category ignore the UK’s Steve Curtis MBE, owner of Cougar Marine, with no fewer than eight Class One powerboat racing world championships in fearsome 175mph catamarans? Curtis’s 2016 victory in the roughest ever Cowes Torquay Cowes race, in a 30-year-old aluminium boat sealed his place in the history books.

powerboat-racing-icons-Lady-Violet-Aitken

4. Lady Violet Aitken – the first lady of fast

The field of legendary female powerboat racers may be smaller but is no less worthy for it with three principal candidates – two titled British ladies and an American grandmother.

From the USA, Betty Cook – focussed, smart, and tough – arrived with her 36ft Cigarette Kaama and blew away the opposition in the 1978 Cowes Torquay Cowes race. She went on to secure two world championships.

The British aristocracy provides the eccentric and brave Countess of Arran, who fielded fast if unconventional designs of three-pointers like Highland Fling among others. She was described by The Guardian in her obituary as ‘beautiful, vivacious, funny, fun and entrancing’.

But our top female driver is Lady Violet Aitken, wife of Cowes-Torquay founder Sir Max Aitken and Ladies’ Trophy winner on several occasions. Racing is still in the blood as her daughter Laura and granddaughter Lucci are both keen powerboat racers.

Buzzi’s legendary status stems from 40 years of work in the marine industry

5. Powerboat designer Fabio Buzzi

The late Fabio Buzzi is a legend, both behind the helm and at the drawing board. In more than 40 years of activity, his company FB Design has won a staggering 52 world championships; seven Harmsworth Trophies; two Round Britains; and set no less than 56 world speed records in both European and American classes.

Buzzi designed the boat that has won more races than any other powerboat in history, the quadruple-engined, be-winged 44ft Cesa/Gancia dei Gancia . Today, the descendants of these monohull designs are found in service with government and military agencies all around the world, as well as leisure craft like the Sunseeker XS2000 and Hawk 38 .

But the competition is hard-fought. Sonny Levi’s delta-shaped race-boats A’Speranziella , Merry-go-Round , Alto Volante , and Surfury leave lasting memories by their sheer performance and poise. And their legacy, the Levi Corsair, is still made today.

The UK’s Don Shead also runs Buzzi close having designed ten Cowes-Torquay winners and the 1984 Round Britain race winner. The early Sunseeker ranges also came from his drawing board.

Peter Thornycroft and Alan Burnard merit attention as designers of the iconic Nelson and Fairey hulls respectively, many of which are still in service today. But the sheer scale of Fabio’s achievements trumps them all.

The Mercury V8 took powerboating to another level

6. The Mercury V8 engine

Early racers only had American petrol V8s for choice, mainly Ford Dearborn Interceptors, tweaked to deliver big torque and 300-400bhp. There were also a few marinised Jaguar straight-six engines, which consumed oil at a terrifying rate and were fragile. Then Carl Kiekhaefer, head of US outboard giant Mercury, refined numerous Mercury Racing V8s and Lamborghini V12s providing up to 850bhp and things took off. Literally.

To this market came car racing engineers Ilmor in the 1990s with a tuned Dodge Viper V10 engine, pushing out a reliable 700-800bhp. The Italians, at the behest of Fabio Buzzi, developed the 16-litre 1,000hp Seatek diesel for ultra-marathon events, providing unparalleled torque with (relatively) light weight and reliability.

A special mention for the maddest motors must go to Tommy Sopwith, who put a pair of helicopter turbines into a 44ft Don Shead hull delivering over 1500bhp and Domenico Achilli, who ‘glued’ two Subaru flat-four rally car engines together, and split our eardrums while winning the 1990 Cowes Torquay Cowes race.

But for sheer consistency and the countless number of ever-faster, smoother, more reliable production engines its powerboat racing successes have spawned, Mercury and its big displacement V8s have to take the crown.

Offering horizontal thrust and reduced drag, the sterndrive greatly increased the speed and efficiency of both race and pleasure craft

7. The sterndrive unit

Early shaft-driven race-boats normally placed engines amidships with straight shafts to the propellers. Then the vee-drive option enabled engines to be moved astern for better weight distribution but, in both cases, the angle of thrust was still pushing the hull ‘uphill’.

With the arrival of the sterndrive came horizontal thrust to harness the growing power of engines, and hugely reduced hydrodynamic drag by doing away with separate rudders, shafts and P-brackets. This greatly increased both speed and efficiency while the ability to trim the angle of thrust also enabled drivers to adjust the boat’s trim to suit differing sea conditions.

Surface-drives from Arneson and Trimax reduced drag even further but at the cost of low speed manoeuvrability and we mustn’t overlook the impact of the outboard engine on both race and leisure sportsboats.

However, for sheer versatility, the impact it has had on both powerboat racing and leisure craft, and its ability to work equally well with both petrol and diesel engines, the sterndrive has to take it.

Hunt’s deep-vee design proved a powerboat game-changer

8. Racing hull designer Ray Hunt

The most successful hull builders embraced the fast-developing world of engineering and materials as well as developments in design. Cold-molded mahogany plywood gave way to GRP, which in turn surrendered to carbon-fibre reinforced by Kevlar.

However, it’s hard to think of a bigger leap in hull design than Ray Hunt’s deep-vee concept, demonstrating an immediate and staggering superiority over previous hard and rounded chines. Nothing underpins this assertion better than Dick Bertram’s 1961 Miami-Nassau victory in his prototype Moppie – finishing a whole day ahead of the third-placed boat.

The likes of Levi, Shead and Bertram all helped refine the concept but the winner has to be Ray Hunt who, along with Dick Bertram’s investment and encouragement, became the grandfather of today’s sportsboats.

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Peter Dredge skims Vector Martini to an average speed of 94.5mph during the 2015 Cowes Torquay Cowes race. Photo: Alamy

9. Speed record breaker Peter Dredge

World Water Speed records set by the likes of Donald Campbell’s Bluebird and Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Challenger II are momentous achievements in their fields but their designs have bred few, if any, current sportsboats. Offshore powerboat racing records may not be as well publicised but are arguably far more relevant.

The average speed records of historic races like the Cowes Torquay Cowes race are a perfect demonstration of the improvements made in powertrains, hull design and strength. The first race in 1961 was won by a 24ft wooden Christina averaging 24.5mph. It took another two years to break 40mph, and a further four to exceed 50mph. In 1969 the record tumbled again with an average speed of over 60mph.

A gap of six years then ensued before the record climbed over 70mph and a further 13 years for technology to reach an average exceeding 80mph. A very calm race in 1990 saw the Italians hit over 90mph average – and then we waited 25 years before that speed was finally exceeded in 2015.

So until that record is beaten, preferably with a speed of more than 100mph, our winner is the current record holder Peter Dredge who propelled the awesome 1,500bhp, 44ft Vector Martini to victory at a remarkable average speed of 94.5mph.

Dag Pike, the brains behind so many great powerboat victories

10. National treasure Dag Pike

No top ten list could be complete without mention of those quiet but significant contributors to the sport of offshore powerboat racing. Among those names must be Class-3 racer, commentator, sport historian and MBY ’s longest-serving contributor Ray Bulman, who passed away last year .

The racer, organiser, enthusiast and flamboyant, chain-smoking Tim Powell also has to be in the running. Other characters like Commander Petroni of Italy’s Tornado Racing Team and Tommy Sopwith’s regular crew Charles de Selincourt, who guided him to victory in several Cowes Torquay Cowes races also deserve mentions.

But my National Treasure award goes to Dag Pike; writer, raconteur and navigator extraordinaire who has been the brains behind countless race wins for dozens of different drivers. Having been shipwrecked eight times himself but also having rescued more than eight people in his long career offshore, he has in his own words ‘balanced the books’.

The last word

As with any top ten list it can never be comprehensive and will always be open to differences of opinion but that’s not the point of this article. We simply invite you to ponder that, whatever boat you drive and whatever propels it, its performance and seaworthiness possesses at least some of the DNA of the many great raceboats, designers, engineers and technologies, forged in the heat of offshore battle.

First published in the June 2019 issue of Motor Boat & Yachting.

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History of the Sport

Make way for the Ladies

Make way for the ladies….

In a sport dominated by men it was not entirely surprising that there should be interlopers of the fair sex, all possibly out to emulate the most famous Lady racer Miss Betty Carstairs.

When the pre war sport of power boat racing was reaching its peak in the 1920’s and 30’s, the years of Gar Wood, Campbell and Seagrave, who by the way also raced powerful cars. There was a small influx of Lady competitors who also raced cars and some then turned their attention to the powerboat scene also with great success. One of these ladies a certain Miss Betty Carstairs had the audacity to challenge the power boat master American Gar Wood in the 1928 staging in Detroit of the mighty Harmsworth Trophy. Her craft “Estelle II” was a single step hydroplane powered by a 900hp Napier aero engine.

Wood slightly disappointed that his challenger was a woman had the choice of 4 specially built Miss America’s, his original rebuilt 1920 boat plus Miss America 6,7 and 8 powered by Liberty engines producing 700 to 1000hp dependant on the craft.

Miss America VII won the contest at a speed of 93 miles and unfortunately Betty capsized Estelle.

But even before Betty Corsairs, Dorithy Levitt drove with and for Selwyn Edge and although his name appears on the Trophy it was Dorothy who piloted “NAPIER” to win the inaugural Harmsworth Trophy at Cork in 1903. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Levitt

Also in 1905 Camille Du Gast tackled the Mediterranean in a race from France to Morocco. www.historicracing.com/drivers_female.cfm

Then there was Delphine Dodge heiress to the Motor Empire in the 1920’s and Maude Rutherford in the 30’s.

When the sport was revived by Red Crise in the late 50’s with the Miami Nassau race entrants included the mother and daughter team, Gale and Rene Jacoby, whose mount one year was a Thunderbird Houseboat!

So if we roll forward to 1961 the start of modern day racing in Europe, the first Cowes Torquay international had no female competitors although Pamela Campbell was crew on board Christina. It was 1962 that saw several husband and wife teams participate including Sir Max and Lady Vi Aitken racing Glass Moppie plus Peter and Jane Hicks in Connie 2 (unfortunately Connie sank when her batteries broke loose). Pamela Campbell was certainly the first lady entrant and drove the previous years winner Thunderbolt with Lettice Curtis only to run out of fuel whilst placed 5th.

By 1963 Lady Aitken had her own Bertram 31 “Ultra Violet” for the CT in which she came 5th beating Sir Max, Thunderbolt was back again in the hands of Hilary Laing a member of the 1950 victorious Ski Slalom team, finishing 12th.

Charles and Jimmy Gardner started racing in 1963 with “Scorpion” but in 1964 Mrs N Gardner was now the entrant of the 25ft Betram special. Hilary Laing had teamed up with Hilary Twiss wife of air ace Peter, to race the 25ft Hunt designed HUMDRUM. Lady Vi again finished with Ultra Violet.

The ladies of the sport were not yet challenging for honours but there were certainly more of them taking up the sport. They included Miranda Cundy in her Ernie Freezer built Willick then Penny Carter made a glamorous impact with her Fairey huntsman “Flower Power” other Huntsman were raced by Mrs J Hawkes and Mrs B Currey.

Then of course there arrived a certain Fiona, Countess of Arran, where do you start with the exploits of such a colourful character? Countess Arran was a regular entrant not only in Class1 and 2 but also set records of which some still stand today and is deserving of her own entry.

Of course the men, in this male dominated sport were winning the world championship but this was to change with the emergence of an American grandmother by the name of Betty Cook. Before racing in her own right Betty had been part of husband Paul’s KUDU offshore team but with her own boats went on to win not just one but two world crowns in 1977 and 79 and the American championships twice also.

British fans will remember fondly her outstanding win in the 1978 Cowes Torquay Cowes with the Scarab KAAMA smashing in the process the record with an average speed of 77.42mph for the 230 mile round trip. The headlines that weekend read “Granny wins Powerboat race! Sadly Betty passed away after a battle with cancer on 23rd December 1990 aged 67. http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123658/1/index.htm

The changing face of the sport in the 1980’s saw Lady Aitken make a welcome return with daughter Laura competing in the cruiser class. This was where she had made her mark back in the 60’s and 70’s although it was an Italian that started making headlines in the top echelon of the sport, one Giovanna Repossi.

Wife of Italian racer and Precious Metal Scrap dealer Damiano Spelta, the family were instrumental in bringing to the sport the high powered diesel, their Isotta Franchini

motors, descendants of the CRM’s that powered Tramontana in 1962, powered Shead designed class 1 CUV built boats. It was in 1986 that Signora Spelta or as the lady preferred to be known Giovanna Repossi, won the CTC, in Nooxy Fresh and Clean. The race was over 2 parts, first leg winner Len Bylock arrived in Torquay only to start sinking dockside, Giovanna after hunting down replacement batteries left Torquay and all others in her wake as she sped back to Cowes, completing the trip at an average 74.3 mph.

This is a very brief history of the fair sex and their foray into the macho world of Offshore Powerboat Racing. As you have read they left a lasting memory and still in today’s sport the ladies are beating the men including one Shelly Jory who is out to put more history on the map, Sarah Donohue who is now a big hit in America and not forgetting the daughter of speed ace Donald Campbell, Gina who is now involved in the rebuilding of the salvaged Bluebird in which her father lost his life.

I am sure there will be more taking up the sport in the future and if I have forgotten to mention any one please forgive me it will be rectified, whoops sorry Jan! (Armstrong that is)

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Official results from the 2024 St. Clair River Classic Offshore Powerboat Race

ST. CLAIR — Everything is back to normal in St. Clair following Sunday's 30th running of the St. Clair River Classic. But before we can put a bow on this year's event, it's time for one last order of business.

The official results from the 2024 River Classic were released by the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) on Tuesday night.

Thirty-four teams participated across nine different classes. The table below is broke by down class, with each team listed in the order it placed, followed by the boat's number in parentheses.

MORE: 'So much action': 30th St. Clair River Classic delivers with steady powerboat races

1. American Custom Marine (12)

2. JBS (16)

FACTORY STOCK

1. The 8th / White Boy Rick (4)

2. Montlick Injury Attorneys (40)

SUPER STOCK

1. Jackhammer (S-42)

2. Big East Construction (S-89)

3. Coco's Monkey (S-39)

4. Atlas / BCC Fiber (S-14)

5. JS Racing / Tit for Tat (S-7)

1. Wazzup (3)

2. Twisted (71)

3. Knucklehead Racing (20)

1. Mr. Herbott-O (388)

1. Crazy Rhythm (420)

2. Gascot Marine (421)

3. 8 Ball (440)

1. TC Marine (514)

2. WeHaulBoats.com (513)

3. Shockey (521)

1. Logan's Heroes (614)

2. Money Monster (621)

3. Ultimate Boat Racing Experience (602)

4. Dirty Martini (620)

5. Rum Runners (622)

6. J&J Racing (654)

7. MDG Racing (684)

1. Jackhammer (744)

2. Shocker (714)

3. Just the Tip (789)

4. RedRum (730)

5. 3rd Edition (724)

6. Goofin Around (765)

7. Bad Habit (747)

8. Team Progression (721)

Contact Brenden Welper at [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper .

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Official results from the 30th St. Clair River Classic

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APBA Offshore Championship
Asia Powerboat Championship
Australian Offshore
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British Offshore Racing
P1 Offshore
P1 Superstock
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Race World Offshore
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Super Boat International
UIM Awards Giving Gala
UIM Class 1
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UIM V2 World Powerboat Championship
UIM XCAT Racing
UK ThunderCat Racing

Australian V8 Superboat Championships
Circuit Powerboat Association
E1 World Electric Powerboat Series
F1 Powerboat Championship Series.
Powerboat GP
UAE F4 Championship
UIM OSY400 European Championship
UIM World Circuit Endurance
Unlimited Hydroplane Racing
F1H2O Nations Cup

P1 AquaX Bahamas World Championship
UAE Aquabike Championship
UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship

Powerboat Racing World

Frode Sundsdal

What is prw.

It’s a powerboat racing website that has covered circuit racing, offshore racing and PWC since 2016. Maintained by The Race Factory based in Norway who have specialists in event planning and promotion, social media, graphic design, and photography. We are currently working on our vision and believe that we can and will make a different in powerboating. We will dedicate our time to produce accurate factual stories and to promote the sport to a wider global audience.

This week we have seen the publication of two equally important circuit racing calendars from two championships that have shown that we have a lot to look forward to this year.

First away from the grid was the one from RaceWKND (Please see Finland Racing into 2022). Then two hours later the Circuit Powerboat Association (CPA) published their 2022 British Championship calendar consisting of three rounds along with the British Sprint Championship event.

This championship has classes for GT15, GT30, OSY400, GT Mono Lite (T850-VP13), Formula GP Lite (F4) and Formula GP (F2).

Although we have seen him on the international racing scene competing in the UIM F2 World Championships Colin Jelf said that he was tempted to ‘blow the cobwebs away’ and perhaps compete at a championship round or two, though the teams primary focus in Formula GP would still be on Ian Blacker.

They also mentioned that Ben Jelf might even be making a comeback but that’s still to be confirmed.

CPA 2022 British Championship

28/29 May – Carr Mill Dam – Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club

23/24 July – Oulton Broad – Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club

17/18 September – Stewartby Lake – Stewartby Powerboat & Hydroplane Racing Club

CPA 2022 British Sprint Championship

13/14 August – Stewartby Lake – Stewartby Powerboat & Hydroplane Racing Club

Powerboat Racing World will be bringing you updates and race coverage throughout the 2022 championship and we wish those competing a safe and successful season.