Round Britain Powerboat Race is on again
by Bob Wonders on 15 Jan 2009
’Vilda’, with glamour co-driver Titti Schultz aboard takes a class second and third overall in the 2008 Round Britain race. - Round Britain powerboat race Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race 2008
http://www.roundbritainrace.co.uk
Plans have been announced for the fourth staging of the Round Britain Powerboat Race, this time to run in conjunction with the London Olympic Games in 2012. Unlike previous events, staged in 1969, 1894 and last year, in which competitors navigated through the Caledonian Canal, the 2012 race will involve a complete circumnavigation of Britain.
Race organiser Neil McGrigor said the event will prove to be ‘the toughest endurance powerboat race in the world.’
McGrigor should know – he currently holds the record for the fastest non-stop circumnavigation of the island nation with a time of 27 hours, 10 minutes to his credit. He competed in the 2008 Round Britain race, finishing fifth in his class and seventh overall.
McGrigor has appointed UK firm Lynx Sports Management to assist in running the event and ensuring that various environmental, safety and maritime issues are met.
The 2012 race, which has the support of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), will be limited to probably 50 boats. Final route, number of classes and race categories will be finalised as the time draws closer. One change already ‘set in stone’ is that the race will start and finish in London to enable it to interact with the London Olympiad of 2012.
'My intention is to make the 2012 Round Britain the most memorable powerboat race ever staged,' McGrigor declared. 'With the world’s spotlight on London for the Olympic Games we have the opportunity to make the race a showpiece event on and off the water for the entire UK boating community.
'We are currently looking at possible venues that will not only meet racing needs, but also the on-shore events we plan on hosting as part of the wider picture.'
McGrigor said on-shore activities would include training opportunities for those seeking to learn more about powerboating and watersports in general. The 2008 race, staged last June, attracted a ‘new generation’ of competitors keen to revive genuine offshore powerboat racing in open waters.
As one would expect of such an event, it proved no easy task, with numerous DNFs recorded and one actual sinking! Forty-five boats completed the ’08 event with a Greek team aboard a Fabio Buzzi-designed hull, powered by a triple rig of FPT Iveco engines each of 440hp taking outright victory in 20 hours, 36 minutes, 47 seconds (the clock stopped during stopovers).
Navigator aboard the winning boat, Blue FPT, was none other than legendary boating industry identity and author Dag Pike. Speaking of legendary figures, the great Italian identity Fabio Buzzi also contested the race, but registered a DNF, reportedly caused by hitting a submerged object.
Suzuki can certainly feel satisfaction with three 300hp Suzuki four-stroke outboard winning plaudits for their technology, durability and reliability. Three RIBs powered by the Suzuki engines, which were ‘straight out of the box’, finished the race with only a routine change of oil and oil filter for the engines.
However, showing two can always beat one, first outboard boat home last year sported twin 300hp XS Mercury engines. In the competitive Class 1, 10 of the top 12 placegetters were powered by either Yanmar, Seatek or MerCruiser engines.
The 2008 race was certainly no ‘men only’ event; the girls were there and I’m delighted to say the ones we received photographs of definitely came into the ‘good sort’ category. One all-women crew, Sarah Fraser and Miranda Knowles, performed very well indeed, finishing fourth in their class and an excellent 12th overall in their Scorpion RIB with dual 315hp Yanmar inboards.
As the countdown to 2012 begins, Powerboat-World.com will endeavour to keep readers right up to date with the Round Britain event. Local offshore crews would probably find the cost of shipping a boat to the UK for one race daunting, but I’m informed that there are suitable craft available for lease in the ‘Old Dart.’
For full details and race summaries on the 2008 event, go to www.roundbritainrace.co.uk
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