Dear All,
As registrar of the recently formed Classic Offshore Powerboat Owners Club (COPOC), I have been tasked with trying to identify or establish the whereabouts of any offshore craft, that have competed within an organised and recognised event that are over 15years old and that still physically exsist.
I am lucky by having at hand Graham Stevens magnificent databases that he has generously donated a copy of to COPOC as a reference point but these merely form a baseline - we have no idea of how many of these classic craft still exsist nor of their condition and ownership. Many craft changed names, specification and livery as ownership passed and the "bloodlines" therefore are often confusing, but this is part of the challenge and the fun.
My first challenge is to establish the wherabout or fate of every Cowes Torquay victor from 1963.
So Guys.... if you are the owner or are even aware of any craft that we can then "tick off" against the database please simply either Email me at
chris.grayer@btinternet.com or place onto this thread the basic data of:-
1/ Original name 2/ Builder 3/ Year 4/ Engines 5/ Current state of repair and finally current ownership.
Any recent or past photos would be also be most welcome. These may then be able to be cross referenced to Grahams library photos as a "then and now"?
This would also be an opportunity for us to construct an EMail/postal data base for future Classic events that are planned for "Poker Runs" etc.
Even possible or rumoured wherabouts would be of use; for instance it is rumoured that Max Aitkens Souter built diesel powered 40 footer ex Cowes -Torquay "Gypsy Girl" is lying forgottten somewhere up the Hamble????
Also if anybody has strong recollections or knowledge of how any of the past racing craft met their end or demise then this would also be of interest & close a line of history
__________________