Next weekend (Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th September) will see the 56th year of Offshore Powerboat Racing at Cowes. Once again the Solent will reverberate to the sound of high powered, high octane powerboats when the Cowes Classic 2016 Powerboat Race roars into town.
The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race covers a distance of 190 nautical miles. The course record speed was set last year by Peter Dredge, Simon Powell, Mal Crease and David Gandy driving Vector Martini Rosso at a staggering average speed of 94.55 mph.
Cowes is recognized as the birthplace of international powerboat racing. It is therefore fitting that every year some of the biggest, brightest, loudest and most powerful boats in the world assemble to re-enact the famous race from Cowes to Torquay then turn around and race back from Torquay to Cowes where the first race was hosted in 1961.
After the overwhelming success of a new race format in 2013, which saw the fleet stopping in Torquay, the organisers have agreed to run the race in two parts for a third year. They have been thrilled by the enthusiastic response of the race fans at the Torquay stopover and have decided to stay with this successful format.
With 14 boats competing this year the start just off the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes will be critical as the racers jostle for the most advantageous position on the line. Spectators should choose their spot early to ensure the best view. The start at Cowes provides excellent spectator opportunities at Egypt Point where the fleet will be accelerating on their way down the Solent and out into Poole Bay.
Dawn in Cowes will break to the sound of roaring engines and activity on the water will be evident from approximately 08:45 when the racing fleet will muster to the east of the Cowes Harbour entrance. Race boats will then pass at speed in a convoy past the Snowden sailing mark before starting the actual race immediately to the north of Gurnard North Cardinal Buoy at 09:30.
The fastest race boats should be approaching Berry Head by 10:30 and will continue on northward to a mark at the Ore Stone before turning and heading into the finish off Haldon Pier at Torquay. At Torquay the boats will form up and parade past Haldon Pier at 13:00 before lining up for the race start back to Cowes at 14:00.
Depending on the conditions the fastest boats should appear back in the Solent at approximately 15:30 for a finish off the Gurnard North Cardinal Mark at Egypt Point.
The boats will be located at the wet pits at each end of the race course and excellent viewing opportunities will be available for spectators.
In addition to the big race, there is also a Cowes-Poole-Cowes in which 19 boats have entered. Using the same start procedure, these boats will be starting at 09:45 and racing to Poole Bay and back.
Event Director Martin Levi commented:
“It should be a fabulous weekend, the Cowes Torquay Cowes is the only race of it’s kind in the World. It’s also international, we haves teams from Belgium, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Ireland, the US and the Channel Island’s of Guernsey and Jersey”.
Island Viewing times
Cowes-Torquay-Cowes
09:30 and then 14:30- 17:30 at Egypt Point, Isle of Wight
09:35-10:00 and then 14:20-17:30 at Hurst Castle
09:35-10:00 and then 14:20-17:30 at Fort Victoria, Isle of Wight
Cowes-Poole-Cowes
09:45 and then 10:20-12:00 at Egypt Point, Isle of Wight
09:50-12:00 at Hurst Castle
09:50-12:00 at Fort Victoria, Isle of Wight
All timings are approximate and subject to change depending on weather conditions Access to the Cowes Yacht Haven, Cowes and the pontoons at Haldon Pier, Torquay is limited to race crews and officials.
To find out more check out the Race Website www.cowestorquaycowes.co.uk
Featured photo: Malc Attrill
