2008 Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race
The Event
It is our firm intention that on Saturday 21st June 2008 we shall hold the greatest Offshore Powerboat Race in The World round the shores of the U. K. The 2008 Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race.
The Race
This will be an Historic Race and only the third time in the History of Offshore Powerboat Racing in this country that the race will have been held. The event will start and finish off Cowes, Isle of Wight and will probably follow the same format as the 1969 and 1984 events which will include ten legs over twelve days including two lay days via the Caledonian Canal. This is a 1600 nautical mile race and will undoubtedly be the longest and toughest race to take place for many years. The race is equivalent to taking part in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race every day for ten days and is not, therefore, for the faint-hearted. We believe that it will be the Greatest Offshore Powerboat Race to be held in the world for many years.
The Beaverbrook Trophy
We are delighted to announce that the famous and prestigious Beaverbrook Trophy – see above, - has been offered by The Beaverbrook Foundation to be presented to the overall Winner of the Race.
The Team
Tim Powell, our Event Chairman, not only took part in the first Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race in 1969, but he also organised the second race in 1984. Tim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the proposed 2008 race, as does Steve Curtis MBE. The rest of the Team are well known active personalities from the British Offshore Powerboating scene. They are already bringing their experience and enthusiasm to the Event and working hard towards making this a successful race.
So far Interest in the 2008 Round Britain Powerboat Race has been quite phenomenal even though it has not been formally announced. Many potential competitors, some from the 1984 event, have already registered their interest in taking part and as in 1969 and 1984 we expect that over fifty powerboats will cross the start line on their first leg to Falmouth some 175 miles away. This will be a huge spectacle. The race is, of course, subject to raising the appropriate sponsorship.
There will be meaningful prize money for the first TEN boats home plus prize money and superb Trophies for 1st 2nd and 3rd in each class.
This race will be a huge endurance test for man and machinery .The reason behind our attempt to run this event is that there is now a feeling and a genuine desire among many competitors to race long distances again in what used to be called a “proper” offshore race. It will, in many ways, be good for the sport that we all love, bringing back the challenge and meaning behind the term Offshore Powerboat Racing. This will be the adventure of a lifetime for those taking part. Most of the competitors from 1969 and 1984 will confirm that to be true.
