powerboat weekend cowes

September 17, 2024

Newly-named Cowes Powerboat Festival to feature three races over August Bank Holiday weekend. British Powerboat Racing Club in new partnership with Powerboat P1 to grow the event. World-famous tourism destination Experience Kissimmee becomes presenting sponsor.

Powerboat P1, the international marine motorsport promoter, and the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) have jointly announced a new partnership for this year’s Cowes Torquay Cowes offshore powerboat race that sees P1 provide marketing, communications and sponsorship support for the 63rd staging of the famous event in August.

Based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the British Powerboat Racing Club organises the Cowes Torquay race which has been running since 1961. This was the first powerboat race outside the USA and is the longest running race in the world. Held every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend with international teams competing in different classes, the race covers a challenging 210-mile course along the south coast of England. Boats reach speeds in excess of 100mph, with the fleet racing non-stop to Torquay on the South Devon coast, where the teams will stop for approximately 90 minutes to the delight of local crowds, before returning non-stop to Cowes.

Earlier this month Powerboat P1 announced details of a unique agreement with Experience Kissimmee that sees the world-famous tourism destination in Central Florida sponsor both UIM Class 1 offshore racing and this year’s Cowes Torquay Cowes event. “We are thrilled with the evolution of our established partnership with P1 and joining the historic and prestigious Cowes endurance race in the UK presents another exciting opportunity for us to spotlight Kissimmee and its family-friendly attractions in one of our top international visitor markets,” commented DT Minich, President/CEO of Experience Kissimmee.

The racing fleet will assemble at Cowes Yacht Haven for scrutineering and safety inspection on Friday 23 August. The Cowes Torquay Cowes race will start at 9.30 the following morning (Saturday 24 August) followed immediately afterwards by the Cowes Poole Cowes race at 10.00am. Both races will start off the Squadron Line, Egypt Point, in the Solent. Sunday will see the start of the Round the Island Race at 10.00am, a unique event that the founders of the BPRC started in 1968 for all sizes of both race and leisure boats, old and new.

• Fri Aug 23 - Sun Aug 25 2024 The British Powerboat Racing Club presents the Cowes Powerboat Festival presented by Experience Kissimmee
• Sat 24 Aug - Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Race 10:10 am Race Started
• Sat 24 Aug - Cowes - Poole - Cowes Race 10:15 am start
• Sun 25 Aug - Round the Island Race

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Cowes Torquay Cowes Race takes on a new look

Related Articles

17 September 2024

The British Powerboat Racing Club was formed in 2001 following the gala dinner held at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes to celebrate the 40th running of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes offshore powerboat race.

The Cowes-Torquay launched offshore powerboat racing as a sport in Britain in 1961. Initially sponsored by the Daily Express newspaper, its success encouraged several countries in Europe and the Middle East to follow suit.

Hence, it can rightly claim to have introduced offshore powerboat racing to the rest of the world outside the United States, where the modern sport was launched with the first Miami-Nassau Race in 1956.

The race returns on 24 August 2024, with Experience Kissimmee as the presenting sponsor and racing under Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) rules.

• Fri Aug 23 - Sun Aug 25 2024 The British Powerboat Racing Club presents the Cowes Powerboat Festival presented by Experience Kissimmee
• Sat 24 Aug - Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Race 09:00 am start
• Sat 24 Aug - Cowes - Poole - Cowes Race 09:15 am start
• Sun 25 Aug - Round the Island Race

WELCOME TO BULLET OFFSHORE RACING

Feel free to look around.

TO BULLET OFFSHORE RACING

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race is considered to be one of the toughest and most prestigious offshore powerboat races in the world. The race covers a distance of approximately 190 nautical miles, starting and finishing in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, England, and passing through Torquay on the south coast of England.

The race has a rich history, dating back to 1961, and has attracted some of the biggest names in powerboat racing over the years. Drew Langdon is a British powerboat racer who has competed in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race, as well as other offshore powerboat races around the world. He has achieved multiple victories and podium finishes in various powerboat racing events throughout his career.

Pressing on at the week end – A second win in the championship at Poole Bay Classic

Poole Bay 100 is an offshore powerboat race that takes place annually in Poole Bay, on the south coast of England. The race covers a distance of 100 nautical miles and is organized by the UK Offshore Powerboat Racing Association (UKOPRA).The UKOPRA is the governing body for offshore powerboat racing in the UK and is responsible for organizing a number of offshore powerboat races throughout the country. The organization sets the rules and regulations for the races and ensures that they are conducted safely and fairly.

The Poole Bay 100 is one of the most popular races organized by the UKOPRA and attracts competitors from all over the world. The race takes place in September each year and features a variety of different classes of powerboats, ranging from smaller entry-level boats to larger high-performance racing boats.

The Lymington Challenge is an offshore powerboat race that takes place in Lymington, a coastal town located in Hampshire, England. The race covers a distance of approximately 100 nautical miles and is organized by the Lymington Powerboat Racing Club.

The Lymington Challenge is open to powerboats of all types and sizes, and is known for attracting a diverse range of competitors, from amateur enthusiasts to professional racers. The race is typically held in June or July each year and is one of the highlights of the UK offshore powerboat racing calendar.

The course for the Lymington Challenge takes competitors along the Solent, around the Isle of Wight, and back to Lymington. The race is known for its challenging conditions, with strong currents, rough seas, and shifting winds adding to the difficulty of the race. Despite the challenges, the Lymington Challenge is a popular event among powerboat racing enthusiasts and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting offshore powerboat races in the UK.

2019 CTC – 1ST OVER ALL WITH AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 92.87 MPH

The Cornish 100 Trophy is an offshore powerboat race that takes place in Cornwall, a county located in the southwest of England. The race covers a distance of approximately 100 nautical miles and is organized by the South West Offshore Racing Association (SWORA).

The Cornish 100 Trophy is open to powerboats of all types and sizes, and typically attracts a range of competitors from amateur enthusiasts to professional racers. The race is usually held in July or August each year and is one of the most popular offshore powerboat races in the UK.

The course for the Cornish 100 Trophy takes competitors along the Cornish coast, past rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches, and around the famous Land’s End landmark. The race is known for its challenging conditions, with strong winds, choppy seas, and unpredictable weather adding to the difficulty of the race.

Despite the challenges, the Cornish 100 Trophy is a popular event among powerboat racing enthusiasts and offers a unique opportunity to experience the stunning coastline of Cornwall from the water.

The John Mace Perpetual Trophy

The Late Mike Fiore was awarded ‘The John Mace Perpetual Trophy’. I was honoured to accept on his behalf at The Royal Yacht Squadron Cowes UK for his contribution to Powerboat development. Mike having designed and built my Outerlimits SV43 which has now given us two consecutive wins at the International Cowes Torquay Cowes Powerboat Race In 2018 & 2019.

UKOPRA MARATHON WORLD CHAMPION 2018

CLASS 1 OFFSHORE RACING

Offshore racing in the UK is a highly competitive and exciting sport that involves high-performance powerboats and attracts top teams and drivers from around the world. The sport is governed by two main organizations: the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) and the UK Offshore Racing Association (UKOPRA).

The BPRC is responsible for organizing and promoting the races themselves, while the UKOPRA oversees the technical and safety aspects of offshore powerboat racing in the UK.

Class one vee powerboats are a popular type of powerboat used in offshore racing in the UK. These boats are designed for speed and maneuverability, and can reach speeds of up to 120 mph. They are typically piloted by a team consisting of a driver and a throttleman, who work together to control the boat’s speed and direction.

Offshore racing events in the UK featuring class one vee powerboats include the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes and Poole-Bournemouth-Poole races, as well as the Guernsey Gold Cup and the Falmouth Fowey race. These events are highly competitive and attract large crowds of fans and spectators.

Safety is a top priority in offshore racing with class one vee powerboats, and strict rules and regulations are in place to ensure the safety of the drivers, teams, and spectators. The boats are equipped with advanced safety features like roll cages, fire suppression systems, and emergency air supplies for the crew.

Experience the Thrill : Class 1 Vee Powerboat Racing

Dive into the adrenaline-fueled world of Class 1 Vee racing, where cutting-edge technology meets extreme speed. Governed by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the sport’s international authority, Class 1 Vee racing adheres to stringent rules and regulations, covering everything from boat design to team requirements.Constructed with precision and safety in mind, these boats boast specific hull designs, cockpit layouts, and engine specifications. Advanced materials like carbon fiber and Kevlar ensure both strength and minimal weight, allowing for optimal performance.

Behind the wheel, a skilled duo of driver and throttleman work in harmony to master the boat’s speed and direction. The driver focuses on steering, while the throttleman fine-tunes the boat’s power, adjusting the throttles accordingly.Racecourses, marked by buoys or other markers, challenge teams with multiple laps around 6-8 mile-long tracks. The length and difficulty of these courses can vary based on location and conditions, but one thing remains constant: sheer exhilaration.

Propelled by twin engines generating up to 1750 horsepower each, these powerboats can reach astonishing speeds of up to 120 mph. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and safety is paramount in Class 1 Vee racing. Advanced features like roll cages, fire suppression systems, and emergency air supplies keep the crew protected.Before joining the ranks of this high-octane sport, drivers and teams must undergo extensive training and certification. Only then can they experience the unbridled thrill of Class 1 Vee racing. Join the excitement, and witness powerboat racing at its finest.

Privacy Overview

Racing – Charge, Victor, Charge!

All the action, thrills & spills of the   2023 cowes–torquay–cowes powerboat race..

The annual powerboat event at Cowes once again hit the water over the August Bank Holiday weekend with some 35 boats taking to the water. Amid glorious sunshine, one half of the fleet assembled had their bows firmly aimed in the direction of Torquay, Devon, ready for their marathon 211-mile race west, while the remainder were lining up their horses for a race to Poole 15 minutes behind them. As you can imagine, the frantic pre-race muster points out in the blue waters of the Solent were quite a sight to behold.  

After a short but frustrating delay due to flotsam having to be cleared from the start chute, the boats got underway, thundering down past the Royal Yacht Squadron upon the cannon firing to announce the start of the race. The earlier weather briefing, which had raised expectations of light to moderate winds and settled seas, promised a fast and relatively comfortable ride. Nevertheless, reality hit when an unexpected easterly set in, causing a nasty wind-against-tide chop that quickly set about hammering the hulls of the mixed marathon fleet as they streamed out into open water for the first time. The conditions even reduced the formidable 120mph, 1400hp Outerlimits race boat Silverline, crewed by Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings, to a 67.72mph saunter!  

Langdon and Jennings later described this year’s race as ‘a race of tactics, coupled to unusually testing seas that made the business of balancing the boat a testing affair’. Langdon added: ‘The course proved a lot harder than in previous years. For example, when we broke the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes record in 2021, averaging 94mph and completing the course in just 2 hours, 21 minutes and 5 seconds, the going was in our favour. This year’s race was far more complex, though, as it involved having to adjust our fuel payload fore and aft in order to keep the boat level and performing at its optimum speed in the head-throwing seas. Normally, the forward tank would be used first for increased bow lift, but this just wasn’t an option in the confused seas we were having to negotiate this year.’

2nd place CTC TEAM 25 © Graham Stevens

Regardless of her trials, Silverline roared home to victory in 3 hours 7 minutes, taking the Beaverbrook Trophy for the fourth time in a row in what’s regarded as the world’s most famous marathon powerboat race.

In second place, Team 25 Dragon, with Rob Lockyer and Scott Younger at the controls, romped home unhindered. Then following them came the iconic race boat Dry Martini, with its team comprising Nigel Hopcroft, Mike Bontoft and Michael Peet. New team owner/driver Nigel Hopcroft took up the challenge after many years successfully racing motor cars. ‘Whenever I’ve had the opportunity to do so, I’ve really enjoyed offshore racing,’ Hopcroft told PBR. ‘I did a short run of it back in the 1980s, and though most of my time has been spent on the track, I confess that I’m delighted to be back out on the water competing again.’

3rd place CTC Dry Martini © Tim Tapping

Dry Martini’s throttleman, Mike Bontoft, added: ‘It’s great to be racing with Nigel. With Michael in the frame too, the three of us make a strong team. But I confess, it’s been quite a busy year for me, not only looking after Dry Martini, but also rebuilding the engines for our fellow challenger, Uno Embassy, crewed by my friends Phil Morris and Gordon McGrath.’  

Uno Embassy, one of the most famous and historic boats in the fleet, finished in fourth place, Bontoff and the Uno Embassy team’s hard work having evidently paid off as she ran without a hitch in the demanding conditions to clear the line a mere length or so behind her old rival, Dry Martini.  

Bad fortune can strike anyone at any time in the world of offshore racing, and the Italian team, Tommy One, whom many had tipped to win this year’s historic race, sadly broke down and had to limp back to Southampton for repairs. But with 2000hp on her tail and at over 6.5 tonnes in weight, she’s quite a beast, and when not dogged by an unfortunate mechanical issue, this boat is known for delivering one of the most level and consistent rides of all the race craft on the circuit.  

Retired BLASTOFF © Graham Stevens

In Class 3, the smaller boats, which raced to Poole and back, likewise had a battle on their hands. Isle of Wight islanders Colin Gibson and Richard Jackson in Top Banana, much to the delight of their local supporters, came storming home in first place, having averaged a very respectable 56.91mph. Taking second position were Andy Foster and Charles Morris in their own Renegade 2. Then, in a fine display of vintage flare, who should come rumbling over the line but Hugo Peel, Adrian de Ferranti and Richard Jessel aboard their classic powerboat Thunderstreak. And what a sight to see she was too, playing her valuable part among this diverse and historic display of high-octane craft.  

The organising team, headed by Martin and Laura Levi, worked tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly. Martin Raby served as OOD, overseeing the event, with Dale Williams supporting him as safety officer, who in turn was ably assisted by Orry Crews. Race control was run by Shirley Nelthorpe, a position held last year by Sarah Donohue, who this year moved into the role of media and communication officer. The all-important job of scrutineering was headed up by former racer and 4-litre champion Geoff Purves.

4th place CTC UNOEMBASSY

Like many motor sport events, Cowes–Torquay–Cowes relies on its volunteers, people who are passionate about the sport. They number about 150 folk in all and include many former racers and their families. But it’s primarily the job of the event directors to ensure nothing’s left to chance when it comes to the matter of safety. This means organising rescue divers and other trained personnel out on the water, ready to extract casualties from their canopies in the event of an accident. In fact, medics aboard a small fleet of marshalling boats are scattered all the way down the course, ready to render aid if so required.  

At the conclusion of this year’s event, headline sponsor Richard Carr, himself a former championship racer, stated: ‘I have competed in this classic race many times over the years, but Cowes remains one of my very favourite race venues in all the world. It possesses such a special history, and I think I can speak on behalf of everyone when I say how much we all appreciate the warm welcome afforded us by the island’s people. They make it a pleasure being here. From the standpoint of my company, Fortitudo, we count it an absolute honour to be involved – to give this great event the sponsorship support it so richly deserves.’

For further information visit www.cowestorquaycowes.co.uk .

Lambs to the slaughter.

Following a full restoration in 2021 of the historic Cougar-built racing catamaran Unipart Lambs, its owner Robin Ward, along with throttleman Jeff Hall and navigator Rose Lores, thrilled fans of the boat by entering two key races in the offshore race calendar.

In the 60th-anniversary Cowes–Torquay–Cowes (CTC) race, the boat finished sixth overall and was the fastest boat outside of Class 1 to complete the course. Later in the year, Unipart Lambs performed brilliantly again in the Round the Island (Isle of Wight) race, finishing fourth overall.

Having proved the boat in the 2021 CTC race, the Unipart Lambs team decided to enter the Cowes-Poole-Cowes race this year with sights set on the top step of the podium. But sadly, things really did not go well. Navigator Rose Lores takes up the story:

‘Race day dawned mild and dry, but with a slight wind and a fair chop out in the open waters of the Solent. After the mandatory weather briefing and final preparations, we left Cowes Yacht Haven to wait in the muster area for the start boat. After a short delay involving the clearing of some flotsam by the safety marshals, we were on the move behind the start boat, and then, upon the Green Flag being raised, we forged ahead to the very front of the pack. The boat was absolutely singing, but even so, the going was proving hard for everyone that morning.  

‘Suddenly, just as we were getting into our stride and daring to feel confident, we tore to a stop within a few boat lengths, decelerating dramatically amid an absolute tsunami of water that enveloped the vessel’s entire cockpit canopy. Without a moment’s hesitation, Jeff, our throttleman, instinctively pulled back the throttles, thereby sparing us from further disaster as seawater rushed in with tremendous force through a gaping hole in the tunnel-constructed section of the boat’s hull. The water pressure was striking a bulkhead at the transom, whereupon it was being forced upwards to blow out of the top deck and over our heads. The deluge seemed to go on forever and continued until we had finally lost all forward momentum. Robin, Unipart Lambs’ driver and owner, immediately leapt out of his seat to see what had happened, only to be confronted by the awful sight of the boat’s broken deck and his precious engine bays filling with water. All hands were scrambled to rescue the stowed tools while I raised Race Control to alert them to our plight. To their credit, the latter had two safety boats standing by within minutes. Having grabbed essentials only, we stood on the front portion of the deck watching the rear end of the vessel slowly sink lower and lower into the water. It was clear we had no option but to “abandon ship”.  

Unipart Lambs sadly sinking in the background whilst Robin Ward & Jeff Hall are safely onboard the rescue craft.

‘Amid the heaving seas, by the time we’d clambered over the high guard rail and onto the safety vessel, an entire fleet of safety boats had surrounded us, the Cowes RNLI Lifeboat among them! While glad to be safe, we watched in dismay as our beloved Unipart Lambs slowly sank deeper and deeper, until only the very tips of her catamaran prow were visible above the waterline. Robin’s great concern was to somehow achieve a recovery that would allow a saving of not only the boat itself but also its engines, whereupon the latter could be flushed through and filled with oil to save them.

‘The weight of the boat plus all the water she had taken on meant that none of the boats that had so nobly rushed to assist were powerful enough to either right her or even tow her to harbour. In fact, we had to wait some time before a suitable boat arrived, whereupon she could be towed back to Southampton to be craned out and set on her trailer. A very sad and frustrating day indeed. After two hours of being submerged, all the electrical equipment and wiring were ruined, but with rapid action the engines were miraculously saved and are now, at the time of writing, stripped down and cleaned ready for rebuilding.

‘In addition to the flotsam that delayed the race start, we later learned that a second piece of timber had been spotted in the water, which we think may have been the offending article responsible for running Unipart Lambs through.  

‘As you can imagine, in addition to the engine rebuilds, the hull is in need of considerable repair, and, of course, all the electrics will require fully replacing too.

We fully intend to restore this wonderful boat and have her back racing again for the 2023 season. It will take a lot of time and private money, but any help via sponsorship, etc. would be truly appreciated – especially in terms of replacement electronics.

‘We will be documenting the restoration of our beloved Unipart Lambs and publishing the results right here in Powerboat & RIB magazine, likely this spring. So watch this space and wish us well.’  

Get involved

If you would like to get involved in this world-famous event in 2023, please contact [email protected] at the British Powerboat Racing Club communications department for further details. She and the team would be delighted to hear from you.  

Related Posts

Southampton Spectacle – Southampton International Boat Show

Boatlife 2024 Review

MAIB Report – Hard-Hitting Evidence

Three of the best, visit Jersey – Crossing the channel – Part 3

Rendezvous Jersey 2024 – Crossing the channel – Part 2

Making the leap – Crossing the channel – Part 1

Subscribe to the PBR Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox

By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from PBR. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy .

June 27, 2024

Powerboat P1, the international marine motorsport promoter, and the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) have jointly announced a new partnership for this year’s Cowes Torquay Cowes offshore powerboat race that sees P1 provide marketing, communications and sponsorship support for the 63rd staging of the famous event in August.

Based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the British Powerboat Racing Club organizes the Cowes Torquay race which has been running since 1961. This was the first powerboat race outside the USA and is the longest running race in the world. Held every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend with international teams competing in different classes, the race covers a challenging 210-mile course along the south coast of England. Boats reach speeds in excess of 100 mph, with the fleet racing non-stop to Torquay on the South Devon coast, where the teams will stop for approximately 90 minutes to the delight of local crowds, before returning non-stop to Cowes.

Earlier this month, Powerboat P1 announced details of a unique agreement with Experience Kissimmee that sees the world-famous tourism destination in Central Florida sponsor both UIM Class 1 offshore racing and this year’s Cowes Torquay Cowes event. “We are thrilled with the evolution of our established partnership with P1 and joining the historic and prestigious Cowes endurance race in the UK presents another exciting opportunity for us to spotlight Kissimmee and its family-friendly attractions in one of our top international visitor markets,” said DT Minich , President/CEO of Experience Kissimmee.

Since the company was founded in 2002, P1 has staged more than 700 marine motorsport races in 19 countries on four continents. “With our worldwide head office in England and our international race headquarters in Florida less than 40 miles from Kissimmee, these twin partnerships are an exciting development for us," said P1 CEO  Azam Rangoonwala . "Our role will focus on the wider digital marketing and social media opportunity this famous event presents and on defining the value proposition going forward. We will aim to maintain and build existing partnerships, both commercial and media, and to extend the reach of the communications program.”

“We are delighted to be working with Powerboat P1 and Experience Kissimmee this year for the running of the longest, toughest and most famous offshore powerboat race in the world," said Christian Toll , Vice Chairman of the BPRC. "The team at P1 brings a wealth of top-level racing experience. Following tradition, the newly-named Cowes Powerboat Festival will be held over the Bank Holiday weekend in late August and this year will see three races staged over two days. The BPRC, Powerboat P1 and Experience Kissimmee very much look forward to welcoming all competitors and spectators to the ultimate in powerboating activity.”

The racing fleet will assemble at Cowes Yacht Haven for scrutineering and safety inspection on Friday 23 August. The Cowes Torquay Cowes race will start at 9.30 the following morning (Saturday 24 August) followed immediately afterwards by the Cowes Poole Cowes race at 10 a.m. Both races will start off the Squadron Line, Egypt Point, in the Solent. Sunday will see the start of the Round the Island Race at 10.00am, a unique event that the founders of the BPRC started in 1968 for all sizes of both race and leisure boats, old and new.

The President of the BPRC is Steve Curtis MBE, considered by many to be the best international powerboat racer of all time. The multiple world champion, who won his first Class 1 World Championship title in 1985 at the age of 21, would often watch the Cowes Torquay Cowes event with his father, Clive. “It’s always been a big part of my life,” explained Steve, “and my father won the race in 1969. To have the race back under the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) banner and partnering with P1 is a great move and exciting for powerboat racing in the UK. Remember that this is the most famous marathon race in the world—it’s been running every year since 1961. Racing fans can now follow it on social media from anywhere in the world and we are planning on building the event into a true spectacle over the next few years. The hard work has already started.”

Powerboat P1 promotes the UIM Class 1 World Championship and one of Steve’s Class 1 racing colleagues in the United States is 29-year-old Alex Pratt from Florida. Alex travelled to England last year to compete in the Cowes Torquay Cowes race with his English friend Rob Lockyer and he will return in August. “I’m very happy to see P1 partnering with the BPRC, said Alex. “They do an outstanding job and we as racers truly appreciate their role in the sport. I will be back on the island to compete in the Good Boy Vodka boat and I’m hugely optimistic about our chances!”

Photo credits: Race fleet leaving Cowes: Malc Attrill Silverline Team in race action: Anthony Hadaway

Latest News

Team dirty money victorious twice in two days, dcb delivers its latest m37r masterpiece, bound for kentucky, peyton riveiro to make offshore racing debut at p1 offshore sarasota race, legendary throttleman giovanni carpitella joins montlick injury attorneys offshore race team.

• Useful Contacts

News - 21/08/17

57 years of powerboat racing at cowes.

This Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday, 26th and Sunday, 27th August will see the 57th year of offshore powerboat racing at Cowes. 

Cowes is recognised 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. 

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race covers a distance of 190 nautical miles. The course record speed was set in 2015 by Peter Dredge, Simon Powell, Mal Crease and David Gandy driving Vector Martini Rosso at a staggering average speed of 94.55 mph. 

Dawn in Cowes on Sunday, 27th August 2017 will break to the sound of roaring engines and activity on the water will be evident from approximately 08:45 when the 16 boat racing fleet will depart their berths in Cowes Yacht Haven to parade past Prince’s Green before mustering to the east of the Cowes Harbour entrance. Race boats will then proceed at speed in a convoy past the Snowden and Prince Consort buoys before starting the actual race as they cross the Royal Yacht Squadron line at 09:30. The main race will be followed by the popular Cowes-Poole-Cowes race start at 09:45.

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 from 15:00 for a finish off the Gurnard North Cardinal Mark at Egypt Point.

The drivers will include two legendary offshore racing drivers from the United States, one of these is three-times Cowes winner Richie Powers, who with Charlie McCarthy will be travelling over to be part of 2017 ‘ Dry Martini’  Cigarette racing team.

Event Director Martin Levi commented: “It should be a fabulous weekend, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes is a world renowned International powerboat race and we have drivers and teams from Belgium, Italy, Poland, Ireland, and the USA.”

Also in Cowes this year will be one of the best-known offshore powerboats of our time, the classic GEE . First raced in the 1968 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes (CTC) GEE is the only Classic powerboat to have competed in the first 1969 and last 2008 Round Britain Race having won ‘Historic Class’ 40 years on. She has achieved class-winning victories or highly placed finishes in the Needles Trophy, Guards international, Torbay International, Round The Island and many CTCs during her 50 years.

This year’s 50th anniversary celebration for GEE comes ahead of next year’s 10th anniversary Round Britain celebration and “ GEE’s Historic 50 years Later” outing for the Cowes Torquay Race in 2018.

Viewing places and times – 27th August: Cowes-Torquay-Cowes 2017 09:30 and 15:00 to 17:30 – Egypt Point, Isle of Wight 09:35 to 10:00 and 14:45 to 17:30 – Hurst Castle 09:35 to 10:00 and 14:45 to 17:30 – Fort Victoria, Isle of Wight 09:40 to 10:10 – Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers 09:55 to 11:35 and 14:30 to 17:15 – Anvil Point 09:55 to 11:35 and 14:30 to 17:15 – St Albans Head 10:00 to 11:45 and 14:30 to 17:00 – Portland Bill 10:45 to 12:40 and 14:00 to 14:30 – Berry Head 10:45 to 12:40 and 14:00 to 14:30 – Daddyhole Plain, Torquay 10:30 to 14:00 – Haldon Pier, Torquay

Cowes-Poole-Cowes 2017 09:45 and 10:20 to 12:00 – Egypt Point, Isle of Wight 09:50 to 12:00 – Hurst Castle 09:50 to 12:00 – Fort Victoria, Isle of Wight 09:55 to 11:00 – Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers

*All timings are approximate and subject to change depending on weather conditions. Access to 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 and Facebook page . Harbour users are advised to read Cowes Local Notice to Mariners No. 25(T) of 2017- Cowes Classic Offshore Powerboat Races .

Top photo: Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Race 2016. Credit Nigel Barrett.

News - 24/07/24

New vacancy opens at kingston boatyard.

News - 10/07/24

2023 annual report.

Hard copies of the 2023 Annual Report have arrived at Harbour Office If you haven't yet watched the video which accompanies the report head to our YouTube channel by clicking t...

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

P1 Offshore;

Powerboat P1 is the fastest growing marine motorsport series in the world and has a long term commitment to growing and developing the sport of power boating at all levels. The Powerboat P1 team works closely with the sport’s governing bodies, the UIM, APBA and the IJSBA. P1 has delivered more than 85 world championship events in over twelve different countries for more than a decade.

Cookie Policy

Contact info.

• Address: 2320 Clark Street, Suite A1 Apopka, FL 32703 United States
• Phone: +1 407 985 1938
• Email: [email protected]

Cocoa Beach

Fri 17 - Sun 19, May

Lake of the Ozarks

Thu 30, May - 01, Jun

Fri 09 - Sun 11, Aug

Fri 23 - Sun 25, Aug

Fri 13 - Sun 15, Sep

St. Petersburg

Fri 18 - Sun 20, Oct

(L-R) Chris Dodge, Charlie Nautexe, James Dodge

(L-R) James Dodge, Chris Dodge, Lawrence Dodge, Nick Dodge

Thu aug 22 2024, it’s a family affair.

As we look ahead to this weekend’s Cowes Powerboat Festival – which will feature the 63rd running of the historic and prestigious Cowes Torquay Cowes race, together with the Cowes Poole Cowes and Round The Island races – we caught up with experienced racer Chris Dodge on his return to this country from his home in Mallorca to prepare for the big race.

Welcome back, Chris! Tell us about life in Spain. “I live with my family in Mallorca, the largest island in the Balearic Islands, where I run a construction and property development company and my wife, Nicola owns a successful estate agency. I was born and grew up in Devon and we made regular visits to Mallorca as a family before moving here. We are all now Spanish residents and I will be flying the flag for Spain on Saturday.

Who will you be racing with this weekend? My youngest son James will be alongside me. He is a successful Forex trader and also works with me in my construction business. He has been building boats with me for many years and helped put my original Dragon race boat together when he was only 14 years old. He has raced a Phantom 21 with Rob Lockyer’s daughter, Emma. My eldest son Laurence also races powerboats and was a Spanish Superbike rider for many years.

How did you get into powerboat racing? Apparently I started boating with my father when I was in a carrycot and just 9 months old. My mother wasn’t too pleased. My father used to drive me as a ski racer in a Phantom 21 and I then drove a ski race boat. I got into powerboat racing when I was about 28. My first CTC race was in a Dragon 39 in 2012 with my brother and we came third. We continued to compete in the race until 2016 and always finished on the podium – but first place eluded us.

What does the CTC race mean to you? CTC is special to me for so many reasons. It was always my ambition to race it. I can remember as a small boy (I would have been about 5 or 6 years old) jumping into my parents' bed and my father, who was boat crazy, reading the Daily Express with pictures and news stories of boats. He read it all out to me and I said “I’m going to do that race one day, Dad.” Well, it took me nearly 40 years but I got there in the end. I started with the CPC race and my father lived to see me compete in the CTC in 2012 and 2013. My parents waited for us to arrive in Torquay and it was a very proud moment for all of us. My son James also wanted to do the race from an early age and my brother Nick did it.

What boat will you be running on Saturday? James has put together our 39 ft. Skater 399, called Smokin Aces, with Charlie from Nautexe. It’s powered by Mercury engines and has Anreson surface drives. It will be very special to race with James and I hope my father will be looking down on us and urging us on.

BritishPowerboatRacingClub.co.uk CowesTorquayCowes.co.uk CowesTorquayCowes.co.uk Race Timetable Cowes Powerboat Festival Entry List

Photo Credit

All photos supplied by Chris Dodge

Cowes Powerboat Festival 2024

Every August Bank Holiday weekend Cowes hosts the Powerboat Festival. It was an eventful weekend, which featured the iconic Cowes - Torquay race, Cowes - Poole race and a new race around the isle of Wight.   Shelley Jory-Leigh was there in the heart of it. https://cowestorquaycowes.co.uk/

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE RD was the first person to sail non-stop single-handed around the world and continues to inspire sailors young and old.

Shelley Jory-Leigh is one of the fastest women on water, holding many powerboating titles and is a champion for women in her sport.

Their passion for maritime activities, leisure and sport is unrivalled. Together with producer Neil Sackley, they use this podcast to talk to those who love life on the water. From sailing to powerboating, cruise ships, canoeing, windsurfing, and more this podcast has something for you.

https://www.robinknox-johnston.co.uk/

https://shelleyjory.com/

Theme: "Electro Cabello" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Information

• Show H2OWorld Podcast
• Published August 26, 2024 at 8:00 AM UTC
• Length 38 min
• Rating Clean

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Africa, Middle East, and India

• Brunei Darussalam
• Burkina Faso
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
• Guinea-Bissau
• Niger (English)
• Congo, Republic of
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• Tanzania, United Republic Of
• Turkmenistan
• United Arab Emirates

Asia Pacific

• Indonesia (English)
• Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Malaysia (English)
• Micronesia, Federated States of
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Solomon Islands
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• France (Français)
• Deutschland
• Luxembourg (English)
• Moldova, Republic Of
• North Macedonia
• Portugal (Português)
• Türkiye (English)
• United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina (Español)
• Bolivia (Español)
• Virgin Islands, British
• Cayman Islands
• Chile (Español)
• Colombia (Español)
• Costa Rica (Español)
• República Dominicana
• Ecuador (Español)
• El Salvador (Español)
• Guatemala (Español)
• Honduras (Español)
• Nicaragua (Español)
• Paraguay (Español)
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• St. Vincent and The Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos
• Uruguay (English)
• Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

• Canada (English)
• Canada (Français)
• United States
• Estados Unidos (Español México)
• الولايات المتحدة
• États-Unis (Français France)
• Estados Unidos (Português Brasil)
• 美國 (繁體中文台灣)

• APBA Offshore Championship
• Asia Powerboat Championship
• Australian Offshore
• Bermuda Offshore
• British Offshore Racing
• P1 Offshore
• P1 Superstock
• P1 Superstock US
• Race World Offshore
• Raid Pavia Venezia
• Super Boat International
• UIM Awards Giving Gala
• UIM Class 1
• UIM Marathon
• UIM Pleasure Navigation
• UIM V2 World Powerboat Championship
• UIM XCAT Racing
• UK ThunderCat Racing

• Australian V8 Superboat Championships
• Circuit Powerboat Association
• E1 World Electric Powerboat Series
• F1 Powerboat Championship Series.
• Powerboat GP
• UAE F4 Championship
• UIM OSY400 European Championship
• UIM World Circuit Endurance
• Unlimited Hydroplane Racing
• F1H2O Nations Cup

• P1 AquaX Bahamas World Championship
• UAE Aquabike Championship
• UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship

Powerboat Racing World

Frode Sundsdal

What is prw.

It’s a powerboat racing website that has covered circuit racing, offshore racing and PWC since 2016. Maintained by The Race Factory based in Norway who have specialists in event planning and promotion, social media, graphic design, and photography. We are currently working on our vision and believe that we can and will make a different in powerboating. We will dedicate our time to produce accurate factual stories and to promote the sport to a wider global audience.

The 2022 Cowes Torquay Cowes race this Sunday will be available to view via TackTracker Player.

You can download for PC or Mac here .

Share this:

© 2024 Powerboat Racing World.