Sir Robin to compete in Powerboat race

lyc

lyc

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Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first sailor to circumnavigate the globe single-handed and non-stop on his yacht Suhaili back in 1969, has today announced that he is teaming up with the world’s top female powerboat champion, Shelley Jory to take on the longest and toughest one-day endurance powerboat race in the world, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes on 29th August.

More HERE
 
Very sad news! I would have hoped that RKJ would have had more sense. What's he doing, building up a small fortune in pension fund with sponsorship?

Powerboaters, like those who build bonfires in their back gardens close to others, should be banned!
If powerboats were silent and caused no offence to others it would make me feel better, but when F1 powerboats go hairing up and down places like The Solent making themselves heard for miles around then I have no sympathy for them.
 
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I'm really looking forward to the racing. I'm going out on a friend's rib to try and catch some of the action. Looking forward to creating lots of wash. :D
 
Let's hope that no-one runs into any underwater obstructions marked on the charts, this time :rolleyes:.

I genuinely feel sorry for powerboat racers: it's fantastically exciting (been there with lots of hp/weight ratio on RIBs) and yet, one of the most socially and environmentally selfish sports that exist.

Even race horses end up as dog food.

Time we had a robust discussion here.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
Very sad news! I would have hoped that RKJ would have had more sense. What's he doing, building up a small fortune in pension fund with sponsorship?

Powerboaters, like those who build bonfires in their back gardens close to others, should be banned!
If powerboats were silent and caused no offence to others it would make me feel better, but when F1 powerboats go hairing up and down places like The Solent making themselves heard for miles around then I have no sympathy for them.
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The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes has been running since the early 1960's and has an honourable pedigree. One of its original organisers (and financers, via the Express) was the enthusiastic powerboater and, erm, ocean racer, Sir Max Aitken. Other early participants included the American Boatbuilder and, erm, ocean racer, Dick Bertram. Are you sensing a pattern here?

RK-J strikes me as a selfless, inquisitive and thoroughly decent bloke (he gave his winnings from the circumnavigation in Suhaili to Donald Crowhurst's family, and was later a great support to Eve Tetley when her husband committed suicide). I don't think he is remotely interested in pension funds and he's probably doing this because it's a bit of a laugh and, even at 70 (?I think?) he's got an open minded attitude towards new, different experiences.

Unlike some, eh? :D
 
sarabande said:
one of the most socially and environmentally selfish sports that exist.

I think the above says it all.

There are a few very noisy activities that take place away from the rest of civilisation where the general public is not liable to be effected, other than long term, by the 'fall-out' of fumes etc.

On pure safety grounds I can see no justification for allowing powerboats on open water where 'jo public is' and where the noise so very much effects everyone.

A few years ago I found myself in the middle of a powerboat race whilst out for a pleasant weekend sail. There was no prior warning on the vhf and living 80 miles inland I was not privilleged to have local radio or tv info' on it leading up to that weekend.
The powerboats came incredibly close to my yacht and the noise was deafening even though we made off and were eventually miles away from the 'track'.
Accidents do happen at speed and with most sports great steps are taken to ensure that there is no risk or hardship to others.

As some out there are powerboat enthusiasts, I would like to know what efforts are made to silence these boats and how they can justify racing so close to others at such incredible speed.
I've been to motor race circuits where the machines are now well silenced to take out the bandwidths that cause most irritation to others and where the safety barriers are becoming so strictly enforced that the watching public are way back in case of incident.
How on earth do powerboaters get away with racing down The Solent?
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When I first read it I thought "what a nutcase". He's 70 years old for heavens sake and this sort of stunt can only end up with him doing his back in at best or seriously hurting himself at worst.

Then I thought, well hang on, he's only being driven by a girle who'll probably spend half the race doing her makeup and changing shoes and stuff, so it'll probably just be a nice sedate cruise round Torbay for the two of 'em.

So good luck to him

Or should I cut my knuts off now?
 
Scotty_Twister said:
sarabande said:
On pure safety grounds I can see no justification for allowing powerboats on open water where 'jo public is' and where the noise so very much effects everyone.


How on earth do powerboaters get away with racing down The Solent?
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Col Regs apply even to powerboat racing!! :rolleyes:

Also, there is a Cowes Poole Cowes race for race boats that do not have the fuel range for the Cowes Torquay Cowes, all will be starting together on Saturday 29th August at 10am.
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Scotty_Twister said:
Very sad news! I would have hoped that RKJ would have had more sense. What's he doing, building up a small fortune in pension fund with sponsorship?

Powerboaters, like those who build bonfires in their back gardens close to others, should be banned!
If powerboats were silent and caused no offence to others it would make me feel better, but when F1 powerboats go hairing up and down places like The Solent making themselves heard for miles around then I have no sympathy for them.
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I'd rather ban bigots.

It took me a while to realise your post was actually serious.

Top sailor looks for new challenge in boats. Congratulations to him.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
Very sad news! I would have hoped that RKJ would have had more sense. What's he doing, building up a small fortune in pension fund with sponsorship?

Powerboaters, like those who build bonfires in their back gardens close to others, should be banned!
If powerboats were silent and caused no offence to others it would make me feel better, but when F1 powerboats go hairing up and down places like The Solent making themselves heard for miles around then I have no sympathy for them.
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I had always rubished powerboat racers, but was lucky enough to go for a ride on one recently.

Absolutely insane experience, as big a rush as anything I've had under sail, even with a kite up on a planing boat in too much wind!

Yes they're noisy (very noisy) but the fuel is so expensive that you can at least be asured they won't be doing it for long at any one time! Unlike jetskis....
 
RJK has been one of my heroes from wayback. He is one of my favourite broadcasters and I have had nothing but admiration for the man. His books adorn my bookshelf and I have made a great effort to get to hear him talk.
Nevertheless, one of my all time dislikes (if that makes me a bigot so beit ) is selfishness in others.
If he now is to qualify for this then he has taken a step back in my estimation of him.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
Nevertheless, one of my all time dislikes (if that makes me a bigot so beit ) is selfishness in others.
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Fair enough.
But is he being selfish? Or is it you being selfish wanting to stop him? Do none of the things you do ever affect others?
If you drive to the boat for a start then it's time for a little inward gaze and soul searching. And perhaps a little more live and let live.
Perhaps you could go and watch the race. You might even enjoy the spectacle.
 
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Scotty_Twister said:
Nevertheless, one of my all time dislikes (if that makes me a bigot so beit ) is selfishness in others.
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Are you not being selfish yourself in wanting to keep the world exclusive to your interests to the exclusion of others?

I am a great admirer of RK-J and respect his desire to have a go at whatever he wants. He has an open mind which is something to strive for, not criticise.

Perhaps you'd like to ban all commercial traffic from the Solent as well as it gets in the way of your sailing?

Perhaps also ban lorries, motorbikes and sports cars from the roads?

Push chairs, wheel chairs and children from the pavements?

Come on, open your mind and accept that not everyone is the same.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
well he finished.....
http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=59765

thank goodness it was on a dreadful weekend so that the majority of people were not inconvenienced by the racket those things make! :-)
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Well, I was in the Western Solent when the fleet went through and bearing in mind your earlier comments about the noise, I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet they were. Probably less than the Coastguard heli and certainly a lot less distracting than the powered hang gliders that swarm around here.:mad:

I was impressed by their turn of speed and the fact they kept well clear of other traffic. You must have bumped into them on a bad day :D
 
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