Powerboat racing this weekend - Cowes

henryf

henryf

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It's the August bank holiday which means it's time for some powerboat racing at Cowes. Last year the weather was rougher than a badger's err... Well let's just say it was a bit rough and there was some confusion in that the race didn't actually start from Cowes, rather a point somewhere near the Needles.

This year the weather is going to be hotter than a Hawaiian Tropic girl's bikini and the sea is going to be flatter than their stomachs. The race is starting at Cowes (as far as I'm aware, I'll post exact details after the briefing), and there is a chance to see boats in action on Saturday close up as well as some interesting Jet Ski racing on Saturday.

Provisional programme looks like this:

Sat 27th

Aqua X freestyle racing featuring 300hp jet skis, yep that's not a typo kids, 300hp. UK champion Jack Moule will be there to compete, do stuff and sign bits of your body as well.

Race 1 13.00 - 13.45

Race 2 15.00 - 15.45

Location off Egypt point Cowes.

Also on Saturday from 13.30 - 15.30 is the official testing for the big boys taking part in the Cowes - Poole - Cowes & Cowes - Torquay - Cowes races on Sunday.

The test area is a zone enclosed by the following Solent Marks:

Gurnard Ledge
Salt Mead
Hamstead Ledge
Solent Bank
West Lepe
East Lepe


Sunday 28th August

Cowes Torquay Cowes race start - 10.00

Cowes Poole Cowes race start - 10.30

Starting around Cowes I will confirm an exact location after first briefing.

Laurels and champagne
C-P-C. 13.00 hrs Cowes Yacht Haven
C-T-C. 16.00 hrs Cowes Yacht Haven

Prize giving 19.30 hrs.

The beer tent is located in the Cowes Yacht haven events area (to be confirmed).

Everything provisional at this point. I'll keep the thread updated as soon as I know any different.

Hope that helps.

All the best

Henry :)
 
Thanks Henry,

If everything goes to plan, we are hoping to be out but wont make the start on Sunday. maybe we will hang around the finish line to see them come back in.

Im not sure but believe the start will be down west again but finish will be at the usual point.
 
I think the idea was to be able to arrange sufficient marshal cover to allow the start at Cowes, but everything is a little up in the air at the moment. I will know for sure on Friday and I will let you know via this thread.

Henry :)
 
Like z1ppy I'm aiming to watch them coming back in either at the Need les of near the finish line.

See you out there :)
 
Is it definitely starting from Cowes?

On YBW's motorboat news on 10th August, Ray Bulman reported as follows;

This year's Cowes-Torquay-Cowes offshore powerboat race on August 27 will not be reverting to its traditional start line off the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes.

The Royal Yachting Association has refused to support the request on grounds of safety, despite a previous indication that the race would be coming back to the Isle of Wight town.

Satisfied with last year's organisation of the race, the Cowes harbourmaster had earlier given his permission for the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) to start and finish the race off Cowes.

The only stipulation was that the starting chute must be reintroduced with a minimum of 20 safety boats (ten each side) warning off non-involved pleasure boats when racing boats were passing through.

The racing course, risk factor and a layout pinpointing the location of all safety boats along the chute were submitted to the powerboat department of the RYA only to be turned down.

One of the reasons for the rejection was that the actual names and crew experience of positioned safety boats had not been shown on the course layout.
 
Useful information

I am often surprised how difficult it is to find the course of powerboat races.

it is cowes torquay via needles or north channel? how far from st albans ledge could i expect to see them?

Last year start appered to be hald way along north channel to the south but where i usually sail. We were able to keep clear and rib was informative and understood that at 5kts it takes time to get out of the way.
 
Slightly confused as to to where and when NOT to go during the racing this weekend. Where/what is the race route exactly? can't find a clear answer via web. Just want to know where will be safe and where to avoid etc.
Lisa
:confused:
 
As has been said already it seems the race won't be starting from Cowes sadly. There have been issues in getting everything sorted out to the point where it's possible potentially willing safety boats may have been lost to poor / lack of communication. I've found myself doing quite a bit of chasing to find out what's happening. I've submitted my details several times and if numbers were an issue I could have mustered 1 or 2 other boats and crews to boost numbers. Indeed I'm sure an appeal on here would have met a positive response.

I think I'm correct in saying this year is the first under new organisers so let's see what happens. As I said initially I'll post up exact up to date info on Friday after the first briefing so you guys know where to be.

Saturday's testing has the potential for some good spectating and the course is easy to identify. Bung a route on your plotter going between the marks
And you should be able to see a scalable tell-tale on your display to know where so stay out of.

Fingers crossed things go well and eventually we can see the return of race starts across the entrance to Cowes led by the fast jet, even racing in the test area as per a few years ago with commentary over your flybridge radio speakers.

Henry :)
 
All interesting and useful info. We're staying Sat and Sun in Lymington so will try and persuade SWMBO that it's worth a stop en-route from Chi to watch some of the goings on. An added side benefit may be a reduction in the amount of wonga handed over to the shopkeepers of Lymington on Saturday afternoon :D:D
 
henryf said:
I think I'm correct in saying this year is the first under new organisers so let's see what happens. As I said initially I'll post up exact up to date info on Friday after the first briefing so you guys know where to be.

Henry :)
Click to expand...

Henry - follow AndrewN's link and it has full race instructions with diagrams of the course and timings.

He is also right about the start and finish.

Come and see us in the marina - we'll be there from Friday pm to Monday am except when we're racing!

Bananashark2520E-Lites2520209.jpg
 
I just wouldn't rule out last minute changes from previously issued instructions John, hence the confirmation on Friday!!

Good luck in the race, I'm hoping for much calmer conditions than last year and at the moment that looks promising. We were in Salcombe last week for the Crabber's race. Did you pick up any tactical hints and tips? Do the rules specifically exclude water bombs and water cannons ?

Mad as cheese you lot round there ;)

Henry :)
 
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