Cowes-Torquay-Cowes cancelled

[Ben Mazur]

POWERBOAT P1 NEWS RELEASE

LOW ENTRY FIGURE FORCES CANCELLATION OF COWES-TORQUAY-COWES RACE
London, Monday 28th July, 2008: Powerboat P1, the commercial rights holder to the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race, has announced with sadness its decision to cancel the event as a result of insufficient entries.
The race organisers – the British Powerboat Racing Club, the Royal Yachting Association and Powerboat P1 - had hoped to resurrect the historic race after a three year break in response to requests from British powerboat racers. However, the number of entries received has made the event economically unviable and would fail to deliver a genuine and competitive sporting spectacle.
Powerboat P1 Chief Executive, Jim O’Toole said: “A race of this nature requires significant investment and at least 40 entries were needed to justify the six-figure event costs. Despite extending the deadline for entries by one week, we have not reached this figure and the race will not go ahead on 23 August. This decision was not taken lightly and we know that the powerboat community will share in our disappointment, but will understand the reasons.”
The first Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race took place in 1961 and it is regarded as one of British offshore racing’s most celebrated and demanding events.
The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race does not form part of the Powerboat P1 World Championship, which comprises 14 races on three continents. The next round of the World Championship will be hosted by the historic port of Vigo on Spain’s Atlantic coast.

[ciao]

Many of us are working very hard to make sure this event runs.

It was a huge dissapointment to see P1 pull out from the event.

Mike Lloyd Event Director of the 2008 Round Britain Race, has already recruited back many of his organising team and already has secured some sponsorship for the race, within hours of P1's annoucement.

With everyone firmly behind the event, once again Cowes can look forward to seeing europes oldest Offshore Powerboat Race on the August bank holiday weekend!

[Ben Mazur]

from Wettpunkt.com.

Wettpunkt.com watch with interest as Lloyd saves the day

Thursday 31st July 2008: Mike Lloyd, mastermind behind the 2008 Round Britain Race, has stepped in at short notice to take the helm of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes following the failure of Powerboat P1 Management Ltd, the commercial rights holder, to attract entries.

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes is one of the worlds oldest and most prestigious powerboat races and the event, planned for August Bank Holiday, was cancelled by P1 on Tuesday 29th July. In stepped Mike Lloyd, supported by the event organisers, the British Powerboat Racing Club, and within 24 hours the potential entry list had increased three-fold with a minimum of 35 craft expected to compete.

One of the possible new participants, though not yet confirmed, is Hannes Bohinc and his Wettpunkt.com team. For Bohinc, whose distinguished powerboating career includes victory in the 2003 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes, the involvement of Mike Lloyd adds a new dimension to the event and makes it a more attractive proposition.

“We may not race but yes, we are interested now that Mike is involved,” confirms Wettpunkt.com owner and throttleman, Hannes Bohinc. “He really understands powerboat racing and has the passion. We know that it will now be an event for racers based upon rules that can be properly understood and regulated.”

The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes has often been described as the ‘Le Mans of the sea’ and can be a gruelling endurance event for boats and pilots in very difficult waters. Bohinc, one of only six drivers to have won the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes twice and one of only ten who have won the Harmsworth Trophy more than once, knows more than most that to compete in the 200 mile adventure thorough preparation is essential

“There is a lot for us to consider at such short notice,” continues Bohinc. “We are very busy with our business and now very busy listening to phone calls from Mr Fabio Buzzi telling us that we must race in Cowes because he wants to beat us! We shall make a decision soon.”

- ends -

[Rupert Munro]

What great news, well done Mike:)

[timtap]

This Is such a great spectacle and it was a shock when it was first announced that the CTC was off but thankfully Mike Lloyd has stepped in at the last minute to bring this classic race back. Thankyou Mike !!!!!
I really hope that more powerboats sign up and give this challenge a go , God how I wish I could !!!!
It is also wonderfull to see the classic racers taking part and I hope in the future more and more of the past participants make this a true festival of speed on the water .
Good luck all !!!!!!