Venture Cup cancelled :(

[rbcoomer]

Venture Cup cancelled?

I've seen posted elsewhere that the RYA have cancelled the Venture Cup due to too many aspects not being completed/ready by deadlines. Disappointing news for powerboat racing fans, but was it too ambitious? I'm personally always surprised by the lack of support in the UK for powerboat racing and I suppose having watched from Torquay from a child I have a biased view, but it always seems to lack publicity and media coverage (except perhaps when they land on Paignton beach in the fog! ) Should more effort go into planning shorter 'offshore' races like Cowes-Torquay-Cowes? Perhaps along the North coast of Cornwall to Ireland via Wales or London to Plymouth via Channel Isles etc? It seems to me that only by building a bigger following for national events that they'll get the interest, sponsorship and resources required for something like London to Monaco to capture the media's imagination?

 

[longjohnsilver]

What's the Venture Cup? I was diving off Lyme Regis when the powerboats went screaming by in the fog about 25 years ago, the same day that one of them (unsurprisingly!) ran up the beach. That race too should have been cancelled due to the adverse conditions, to allow it to continue (the fog was forecast well in advance and was extensive on the day) was sheer madness.

 

[rbcoomer]

What's the Venture Cup? I was diving off Lyme Regis when the powerboats went screaming by in the fog about 25 years ago, the same day that one of them (unsurprisingly!) ran up the beach. That race too should have been cancelled due to the adverse conditions, to allow it to continue (the fog was forecast well in advance and was extensive on the day) was sheer madness.

They were planning an offshore race London to Monaco starting June 7th (http://www.ventureoffshorecup.com/) However, it seems there was a long list of things that needed to be in place by certain dates and despite extended deadlines, this hasn't happened and the RYA have withdrawn consent for the race to go ahead.

My other half (Cheryl) and her Ex were on the gate at Torquay as the boats blasted past either side in the fog - 1991 or 1992 I think... Hopefully they've leant a bit since then and at least they have communications now!

 

[trying]

Nothing on their website/twitter/facebook to that effect... last news being at the beginning of the week... where did you see the news?

edit:

Just found on MBY: Refused RYA approval - makes it difficult for race to go ahead(?)

No news from organisers?....

That would be a crying shame if it turns out to have been scuppered

 

[rbcoomer]

Nothing on their website/twitter/facebook to that effect... last news being at the beginning of the week... where did you see the news?

edit:

Just found on MBY: Refused RYA approval - makes it difficult for race to go ahead(?)

No news from organisers?....

That would be a crying shame if it turns out to have been scuppered

Agreed - all that effort and preparation...

http://www.rya.org.uk/programmes/po...Pages/RYAupdatestatusregardingVentureCup.aspx

 

[trying]

Agreed - all that effort and preparation...

Can the organisers run the event anyway despite the rya refusing approval?

 

[rbcoomer]

Not sure to be honest - the article I read first suggested it was all over, but other's suggest that there maybe other options like running as an informal race, rally etc? I guess we'll have to wait to hear from the organisers - my guess is that they'll delay but that may have cost implications for all concerned.

 

[landlockedpirate]

Its not been cancelled yet. The RYA have withdrawn official support as per the link above. I have no inside knowledge but the organisers are still talking to teams and looking for a way forward.

Lots of finger pointing going on at the moment, irrespective of whos fault it is,I feel for the teams who have worked for years to get to the start line.

 

[trying]

What does the RYA withdrawing support/refusing approval actually mean though?

 

[rbcoomer]

Its not been cancelled yet. The RYA have withdrawn official support as per the link above. I have no inside knowledge but the organisers are still talking to teams and looking for a way forward.

Lots of finger pointing going on at the moment, irrespective of whos fault it is,I feel for the teams who have worked for years to get to the start line.

Let's hope there's a solution - seems an awful waste if they do have to can it after all the preparations and efforts. Not good at all given the efforts to resurrect it once already.

NB: I did add a question mark to the thread title, but it only displayed in post #1, not the title...

 

[burgundyben]

What does the RYA withdrawing support/refusing approval actually mean though?

It may mean that any competitor that chooses to do the race may have their race licence revoked by the RYA, which may or may not be an issue.

Its not the first time that the RYA has hindered powerboat racing rather that supported it.

 

[ari]

What's the Venture Cup? I was diving off Lyme Regis when the powerboats went screaming by in the fog about 25 years ago, the same day that one of them (unsurprisingly!) ran up the beach. That race too should have been cancelled due to the adverse conditions, to allow it to continue (the fog was forecast well in advance and was extensive on the day) was sheer madness.

Whilst you are quite right, it should have been, I think what's more to the point is that anyone driving a boat at 70+ mph who finds themselves in thick fog should slow the **** down!! Why the hell experienced skippers were not brought to book for acts of such lunacy is still beyond me.

If I recall correctly as well as at least one going up a public beach, another ran up rocks and another hit a leisure boat nearly sinking it. Very very lucky no one was killed, and astonishing that no driver (as far as I'm aware) was ever brought to task for his decision to glibly carry on despite the very real and obvious significant risk, to themselves, their crew and innocent bystanders.

 

[Cookee]

As a race boat builder and at one point an entrant (we were in the "Prologue" event last year) I feel qualified to comment. I don't have the latest communications from the organisers but I do know it will be an uphill struggle to put that event on now without RYA and UIM (the international governing body) approvals. This is the latest in a long line of failed events unfortunately - RB 08 was the last event to run of this sort of scale followed by RB12 that failed after taking peoples money, Cowes Monaco (Venture Cup) failed after taking peoples money resurrected by some of the same team distancing themselves from the original team that event was scheduled for last June but problems made them run a shortened Prologue race to Guernsey and then run the race this year.

On hearing the latest news described powerboat racers (myself included) as a bunch of over optimistic gullible fools!

The penalties applied to people racing in non sanctioned events could be a ban for anything up to lifetime by a National Authority which would also apply to any UIM country making it not worthwhile. turning it into a rally or a poker run would defeat the object - the amount of money spent on serious race boats is both mind numbing and eye watering in equal measures.

 

[blimp]

As one of the event organisers, I think it may be worth pointing out that we haven't, as yet, officially cancelled the Venture Cup. What has been announced is that the RYA were unable to approve the race and have handed back their element to the UIM. At this time it's not appropriate to comment any further for fear of jeopardising any work which is currently being done.

 

[trying]

As one of the event organisers, I think it may be worth pointing out that we haven't, as yet, officially cancelled the Venture Cup. What has been announced is that the RYA were unable to approve the race and have handed back their element to the UIM. At this time it's not appropriate to comment any further for fear of jeopardising any work which is currently being done.

Well heres hoping it comes off... :encouragement:

 

[Cookee]

Well heres hoping it comes off... :encouragement:

Plus one! It'll be a shame if this one doesn't work out as well - I don't think anyone is doubting the amount of effort gone in already but the RYA need some serious change of mind to back this one from reading their statement - good luck to all involved!

 

[Hurricane]

As one of the event organisers, I think it may be worth pointing out that we haven't, as yet, officially cancelled the Venture Cup. What has been announced is that the RYA were unable to approve the race and have handed back their element to the UIM. At this time it's not appropriate to comment any further for fear of jeopardising any work which is currently being done.

RYA - Pahhh

You would have thought that an association that is SUPPOSED to support our sport would be more supportive.
I have similar experience in running a sailing race that was nearly cancelled just because the RYA didn't like the idea.
Eventually, common sense prevailed and we found a way round the problem but it cost our competitors more on their entrance fees.
I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY TIME FOR THE RYA

Good luck
My fingers are crossed for you

 

[martin]

+1 hope it all works out

 

[Gentlemanracer]

If the RYA is the duly authorised UK governing body (looking for a Motorsport parallel here) and they don't sanction an event, then if such an event runs anyway, I cannot see how any RYA race licence holder could be sanctioned by the RYA for taking part!

 

[alt]

Wishing the Venture Cup the best of luck in hoping that all works out