Cowes 2010

[THUNDERBOLT]

COWES-TORQUAY OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACE

August 2010 will be a significant date for the legendary Cowes Torquay offshore powerboat race or as it is now known the Cowes Classic, when it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Interest is already being shown by the Americans who in the early years often dominated the race, famous winners including Jim Wynn, Dick Bertram and of course 3 times World Champion Betty Cook. Entries can also be expected from Italy, Germany, Scandinavia and possibly Greece.

In conjunction with the 50th staging of the Cowes Classic, by the BPRC, upwards of 27 classic race boats, which entered between the years 1961 to 1999, have pre registered with the Classic Offshore Powerboat Owners Club. They are to recreate the first race with a rally at Torquay and after celebrations there will motor to Cowes in time for the Cowes Classic race.
Craft expected for this unique gathering will include many of the successful Fairey built entrants plus Tommy Sopwith’s first winner “THUNDERBOLT” which has been restored over a 4 year period, it is also hoped that the American winner in 1966, “GHOST RIDER” will be shipped over by her owner, HORBA & COPOC member Barry Cohen. Also registered are many of the unsung craft that braved the elements of this the longest and toughest offshore race still being staged.

Anyone who has a boat, which was entered in the race and would like to join in the celebrations, is asked to contact
John Iddon at seahunter325@hotmail.com
Mike James at TOMMYSTBOLT@AOL.COM
or the BPRC at www.britishpowerboatracingclub.co.uk

[THUNDERBOLT]

Good Morning America
THE NEWS YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR....
The BRITISH POWERBOAT FESTIVAL, celebrations for the 50th running of the Cowes Torquay, dates approved by UIM for Marathon races are COWES 100 Friday the 27th August
Cowes Classic the 50th Sunday the 29th August...
there is also a gathering of 30 plus ex race boats from 1961 onward who a going to hold a 4 day rally with a celebratory dinner at the IMPERIAL HOTEL Torquay then making their way back to Cowes in time for the big one.

I do hope those of you who showed intitial interest will now confirm your intentions ASAP so we can plan your reception accordingly.
Mike
COPOC

[ciao]

The BPRC are delighted to announce that The British International Harmsworth Trophy will be competed for at The British Powerboat Festival 2010 to be held at Cowes from August 25th.

The 2010 winner of the Harmsworth Trophy will have competed in the UIM BPRC Marathon World Cup and completed the Cowes 100 & The Cowes Torquay Cowes courses with the fastest average speeds.

The Trophy was commissioned by Sir Alfred Harmsworth, presented first in 1903, and has had a rich history of competitors and winners.

The Earl of Normanton, Chairman of the Trustees of The Harmsworth Trophy, said from his home Somerley, in Hampshire: "Here is a quote from a London newspaper in 1904. 'Had any shipbuilder been asked, say five years ago, to build a 40' launch capable of running at 20 knots and upwards he would have declared the problem an impossible one. Yet this has already been accomplished and makers are looking to even better results with improved body design and methods of construction.' This quote probably delighted Sir Alfred Harmsworth because it was for this very reason that he commissioned and donated this famous trophy to the sport. There is no doubt that over the last 100 years or so of racing, the British International Harmsworth Trophy has achieved its goal with the development of the Motor Torpedo Boat used in the war being designed as a direct result of racing for this prize.

The 2010 UIM Marathon Boats will be racing in monohulls, capable of speeds in excess of 100mph in rough water conditions. Today, the fastest speed ever achieved on water is an astonishing 317mph by Australian Ken Warby. We've come a long way on water since the first race in 1903."