Cowes-Torquay-Cowes and Cowes-Poole-Cowes powerboat races 2023

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

Join us for a great days photography on the Solent amongst the action as we capture record chasing speed trials involving various boats as they are put through their paces out on the water. �149.00

Book your place

About this event.

Main image by Alan Platt & Andrew Shapland for illustrative purposes

Event requirements

  • Spare batteries
  • Lense cloths
  • Camera protection - rain covers etc

Other things you should bring

  • Bottled water
  • All levels welcome

Other essentials

  • Sturdy outdoor shoes
  • Warm clothing
  • Wet weather gear

Event location

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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.’

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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.’

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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.  

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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.

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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.’

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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

Lambs to the slaughter.

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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”.  

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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.  

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cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Powerboat Race

Saturday 26 august - sunday 27 august 2023.

The Cowes - Torquay launched offshore powerboat racing as a sport in Britain in 1961 and is one of the most spectacular powerboat events in the British sporting calendar.

The Cowes - Torquay - Cowes race covers a distance of 182 nautical miles. The record of two hours, eighteen minutes and five seconds was set in 2008 by Fabio Buzzi, Simon Powell and Rafael Del Pino from Italy in the boat ‘Red FPT’ at an average speed of 91.1 mph.

Visit the event website for further details.

Royal Yacht Squadron

The Castle, Cowes, Isle of Wight, P031 7QT

Tel: +44 (0) 1983 292 191

Photography

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

Torquay Roadworks - Diversion Route & Details

Works to begin on Monday 5 February 2024. Torbay Council expect this phase of the project to take 18-weeks. 

Please note these works are not being carried out by Tor Bay Harbour Authority.

For any enquiries please contact Montel Group [email protected] or Highways highways@​torbay.gov.uk

Please follow this link Harbour Public Realm project to learn more about the works and diversions in place.

Tor Bay Harbour

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

Cowes-Torquay International Powerboat Race

World famous endurance powerboat race with competitors racing between Cowes and Torquay and back to Cowes. The race was first started in 1961 and 2023 will be the 62nd enactment.

Torquay will be the turning point for the boats. 

Event contact

BPRC Event Management Ltd

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://cowestorquaycowes.co.uk

Dates and times

Dates
Date Times
Sunday 27 August 2023

Sunday 27 August 2023

Haldon Pier, Torquay Harbour, Beacon Quay, Torquay, TQ1 2BG

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

Torquay Harbour Office

Brixham harbour office, paignton harbour office, beaches office.

Delivering Harbour, Beach and Marine Services for Torbay Council.

Torbay Council

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.

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Contact info.

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

United States

Cocoa Beach

Fri 17 - Sun 19, May

Lake of the Ozarks

Thu 30, May - 01, Jun

Fri 09 - Sun 11, Aug

England

Fri 23 - Sun 25, Aug

Fri 13 - Sun 15, Sep

St. Petersburg

Fri 18 - Sun 20, Oct

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

  • Cowes Location On Google Maps
  • Cowes Web Site
  • Southampton Airport Satellite View
  • Weather for Cowes
  • Cowes Radio Station
  • Race Schedule

Race Crews: Please log in to see the full race schedule here.

Click the button to download a PDF copy of the Cowes race Calendar Download PDF

August From To Location
Boats may arrive by sea 01:00 pm 05:00 pm Cowes Yacht Haven
August From To Location
Race administration opens 09:00 am 05:00 pm CYH, Events Centre
Scrutineering 09:30 am 05:00 pm Cowes Yacht Haven
Deadline for boat arrival/crew sign-in 02:00 pm Cowes Yacht Haven
Safety briefing (Safety boat crews only) 04:00 pm 05:00 pm CYH, Events Centre
Drivers' briefing CTC 05:00 pm 05:45 pm CYH, Events Centre
Drivers' briefing CPC 06:00 pm 06:30 pm CYH, Events Centre
Welcome Reception 07:00 pm TBC
August From To Location
Weather Briefing 08:00 am 08:30 am Cowes Yacht Haven
Race Start for Cowes Torquay Cowes 09:00 am Royal Yacht Squadron Line
Race Start for Cowes Poole Cowes 09:15 am Royal Yacht Squadron Line
Podium 04:30 pm CYH, Events Centre Balcony
August From To Location
Round the Island Race 09:00 am 06:00 pm Separate Program
Podium Round the Island Race 02:30 pm CYH, Events Centre
Marching Band 05:00 pm 05:30 pm Cowes Yacht Haven
Prize giving for all classes 05:30 pm CYH, Events Centre
Live Band 07:30 pm 11:30 pm Cowes Yacht Haven
August From To Location
Boats to depart by 01:30 pm Cowes Yacht Haven

Race Results

2024 results, p1 offshore %% teams.

Pos # Team Pts

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

In 1961, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race launched offshore powerboat racing as a sport in Britain. 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 is from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, down the English Channel to Torquay and back, with an overall distance of around 211 miles. The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and it can be home to some severe weather and sea conditions, even in summer. This race is rightly regarded as a serious test of stamina for boats and racers alike.

The event attracts world-class racers, including multiple Class 1 world champion Steve Curtis, Miles Jennings, who has won the race a record seven times and Class 1 driver Alex Pratt from the United States.

The race takes place on the Bank Holiday weekend of August 24-25th, 2024, and is organised by the British Powerboat Racing Club. This season brings a new presenting sponsor with world-class tourism destination Experience Kissimmee supporting the event. Kissimmee is home to countless thrilling attractions and provides easy access to Florida’s world-famous theme parks.

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race will assemble at Cowes Yacht Haven and start from the Squadron Line at Egypt Point in the Solent at 09:30 am. At 10:00 am the Cowes-Poole-Cowes race will start.

Sunday will see the start of the Round the Island Race at 10:00 a.m. This wonderful race, which the founders of the BPRC started back in 1968, is open to all sizes of race and leisure boats, old and new.

BritishPowerboatRacingClub.co.uk CowesTorquayCowes.co.uk Rule Book / Race Instructions Entry Forms Live Tracking

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

Race Site location:

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.

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Cowes Powerboat Festival 2024

September 17, 2024

Posts published in “Year: 2023 ”

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

The offshore races from Cowes since 1961 have been captured by some of the best photographers. We asked Chris Davies who has shot the event…

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

Five teams from the Isle of Wight to compete at Cowes

Offshore powerboat racing started in Europe back in 1961 when Sir Max Aitken, a former Battle of Britain pilot and the owner of the Daily…

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

11 Class 1 boats set for Cowes Torquay Cowes

cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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

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cowes powerboat race 2023 tickets

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

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COMMENTS

  1. Cowes Torquay Cowes & Cowes Poole Cowes Offshore Powerboat Races

    The Cowes Torquay Cowes powerboat race returns on Saturday, August 23rd. ... 2023 Official Programme. Will be on sale at the event for £5:00 or is available to purchase online here. Breaking News: Fri Aug 23 - Sun Aug 25 2024 The British Powerboat Racing Club presents the Cowes Powerboat Festival presented by Experience Kissimmee;

  2. Race Schedule for Cowes

    Find out the dates and locations of the Cowes powerboat racing events in August 2024, including the Cowes Torquay Cowes and the Round the Island Race. Download a PDF copy of the race calendar or log in to see the full details.

  3. Cowes-Torquay-Cowes and Cowes-Poole-Cowes powerboat races 2023

    Sunday 27th August 2023 Ocean Village, Southampton. Cowes-Torquay-Cowes and Cowes-Poole-Cowes powerboat races 2023. Join us for a great days photography on the Solent amongst the action as we capture record chasing speed trials involving various boats as they are put through their paces out on the water. £149.00.

  4. Racing

    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. All the action, thrills & spills of the 2023 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race.

  5. 2023 Entries

    Search Cowes Torquay Cowes & Cowes Poole Cowes Offshore Powerboat Races. September 15, 2024. open menu. Back. 2024 Racing open menu. 2024 Cowes Powerboat Festival Timetable; 2024 Race Bulletins; Entry Forms; ... 2023 Cowes Poole Cowes Entries. Class / Boat Name Race # Crew Length Builder / Designer Colour Engine (s) HP; Class 2: True Blue: 2-32 ...

  6. Cowes Torquay Cowes

    Learn about the history, challenges, and achievements of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race, a prestigious offshore event in the English Channel. Discover how Drew Langdon won four times with his Outerlimits SV43 and how the race covers 200 nautical miles.

  7. Cowes Torquay Cowes Race Takes On A New Look

    Learn about the new partnership between Powerboat P1 and British Powerboat Racing Club for the 63rd edition of the Cowes Torquay Cowes race in August 2024. Find out the details of the three races, the sponsors, the course and the history of the event.

  8. Cowes

    Join the offshore powerboat racing event that launched the sport in Britain in 1961. The race covers 182 nautical miles from Cowes to Torquay and back, with a record speed of 91.1 mph.

  9. Tor Bay Harbour

    Beaches Office. 01803 208443. [email protected]. Delivering Harbour, Beach and Marine Services for Torbay Council. World famous endurance powerboat race with competitors racing between Cowes and Torquay and back to Cowes.

  10. British Powerboat Racing Club

    British Powerboat Racing Club, Cowes, Isle Of Wight, United Kingdom. 33,750 likes · 1,115 talking about this · 391 were here. Offshore 'Open Sea' Powerboat Racing UK

  11. PDF Cowes

    Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Offshore Powerboat Race 26TH AND 27TH AUGUST 2023 Class 1 and 2 Round 5 - 2023 UKOPRA Offshore Championship Organised by: B.P.R.C. Event Management Ltd 83 High Street, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7AJ Tel: +44 (0) 1983 290558 Email: [email protected]

  12. Welcome

    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 ...

  13. Cowes

    Find out about the history, location, and format of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race, the first offshore powerboat race in Britain. The 2024 edition will take place on August 24-25th, with a new sponsor and two other races.

  14. UKOPRA Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race 2023 [plus behind ...

    Cowes on the 27th August 2023 - getting amongst the powerboat fleet of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes [class 1 boats] & Cowes-Poole-Cowes [class 2 & 3 boats] as th...

  15. PDF LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS No. 48(T) of 2023

    Cowes-Torquay-Cowes and Cowes-Poole-Cowes Powerboat Races will take place on Sunday 27 August 2023 times as below. Safety Control will be at the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) and Race Officials will operate from there throughout the event. Up to 35 boats, 6 - 12m in length, are expected to take part across the two races.

  16. 12 Class 1 boats set for Cowes Torquay Cowes ⋆ Powerboat Racing World

    12 Class 1 boats set for Cowes Torquay Cowes. Tony Blom-Pettersen on 22nd August 2023. Offshore powerboat racing started in Europe back in 1961 when Sir Max Aitken, a former Battle of Britain pilot and the owner of the Daily Express ran a race from Cowes to Torquay. 62 years later the event is still going strong, and this weekend competitors ...

  17. Bullet Offshore Racing

    Learn about the toughest and most prestigious offshore powerboat races in the UK, such as Cowes-Torquay-Cowes, Poole Bay 100, and Lymington Challenge. Find out how to join the UK Offshore Racing Association, the governing body for offshore powerboat racing in the UK, and explore the thrill of class one vee powerboats.

  18. 2023

    By BPRC Admin on August 25, 2023. ... Search Cowes Torquay Cowes & Cowes Poole Cowes Offshore Powerboat Races. August 27, 2024. open menu. Back. 2024 Racing open menu. 2024 Cowes Powerboat Festival Timetable; 2024 Race Bulletins; Entry Forms; Race Instructions; BPRC Rulebooks; Live Tracking;

  19. Cowes Torquay Cowes Race Takes On A New Look

    Experience Kissimmee, a tourism destination in Florida, sponsors the 63rd edition of the longest offshore powerboat race in the world, which starts and ends in Cowes. Powerboat P1 provides marketing and communications support for the event, which also features two other races over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

  20. Powerboat Racing Entertains Weekend Crowds at Cowes

    In the smaller but very popular 65 nautical mile Cowes-Poole-Cowes race, the 17 strong fleet saw line honours go to Class 3D favourites of Andy Foster and Charles Morris in Renegade 2; 2nd place ...

  21. Cowes to Torquay Classic Powerboat Offshore Races 2023

    24/08/2023. This weekend saw the 2023 Cowes to Torquay & Cowes to Poole Classic Powerboat Offshore Race, starting on the morning of Sunday 27th Aug. We were luckily enough to see some of the amazing Powerboats taking part in the races, whilst completing one of our many Powerboat Training Courses in the Solent area.

  22. Track the 2022 Cowes Torquay Cowes ⋆ Powerboat Racing World

    Powerboat Racing World covers International Jet Ski, Offshore and Circuit Powerboat Racing. Skip to main content. Hit enter to search or ESC to close. Close Search. search. OFFSHORE. OFFSHORE; ... Track the 2022 Cowes Torquay Cowes. Frode Sundsdal on 24th August 2022 . The 2022 Cowes Torquay Cowes race this Sunday will be available to view via ...

  23. Popular Isle of Wight event Cowes-Torquay powerboat racing off Cowes

    The race, with a fleet of 17 competitors, was won by Renegade 2, piloted by Andy Foster and crewed by Charles Morris, who finished in 1.11.06. Islanders Peter Hall and Terry Parsons in E-8 Mango Crazy, came fifth in 1.22.03. Crowds of people flocked to Cowes and Gurnard for the return of the world-famous Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race.