Cowes 2013 Update

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Martin The Talker

I have had one boat (In Torbay) withdraw as he will not miss Dartmouth Regatta, for just 14 race boats.

Tell him to check his dates - Dartmouth Regatta is bank holiday weekend!

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by goatskin

Just think ... if there were a more relaxed couple of classes, how many of this kind of interesting beauty would show up?

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/9804

That looks like the Pro Vee racers we had over in Europe a few years ago but the class got ruined by infighting.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by goatskin

Just think ... if there were a more relaxed couple of classes, how many of this kind of interesting beauty would show up?

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/9804

As cookee says - very similar to the Pro Vee series -but with a touch less power. Probably better for it as reliability was a problem with ProVee too.

Potentially such a great class.

Interstingly Marathon (at Cowes?) was going to allow ProVee boats (with some safety additions) at one stage - but no one entered.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Martin The Talker

No one Dave. But... You need about 50/60 + safety boats just to line both sides of the "sanitised area" in the Solent, if you race down it from Cowes.
Go back to what Adam posted (About the incidents involving Chris Peeters & The Pro-V boat he was in hitting the yacht, The fatal accident in Dover, The incident off Portsmouth with Pro-V boats heading to France instead of where they should have, & so on). The insurance companies have records of that, & load premiums accordingly, plus extra safety measures, like dozens of safety boats needed, are insisted on by The RYA to gain Race Approval.
I have been trying to get enough safety boats for months now, for the course from Hurst, let alone in the Solent.
In the current financial climate, not so many will offer free boat to cover safety.
I have had one boat (In Torbay) withdraw as he will not miss Dartmouth Regatta, for just 14 race boats. Those are the sort of problems one has to deal with, & we still have no safety boat for Portland, & its less than 2 weeks to go ! Need I go on ?

And to think in the distant past it was relatively easy to get safety crews / boats and they wouldn't think of charging - was just a way of being involved and a fun thing to do with your boat.

But times have changed, people have changed and of course the events have changed .........

[Carl]

when will we know where you want the safety boats on the day ?

[woottonwillis153]

Originally Posted by Martin The Talker

No one Dave. But... You need about 50/60 + safety boats just to line both sides of the "sanitised area" in the Solent, if you race down it from Cowes.
Go back to what Adam posted (About the incidents involving Chris Peeters & The Pro-V boat he was in hitting the yacht, The fatal accident in Dover, The incident off Portsmouth with Pro-V boats heading to France instead of where they should have, & so on). The insurance companies have records of that, & load premiums accordingly, plus extra safety measures, like dozens of safety boats needed, are insisted on by The RYA to gain Race Approval.
I have been trying to get enough safety boats for months now, for the course from Hurst, let alone in the Solent.
In the current financial climate, not so many will offer free boat to cover safety.
I have had one boat (In Torbay) withdraw as he will not miss Dartmouth Regatta, for just 14 race boats. Those are the sort of problems one has to deal with, & we still have no safety boat for Portland, & its less than 2 weeks to go ! Need I go on ?

So how do the yachtsmen get away with Health and Safety and insurance when you see what goes on in the Western Solent for the Round the Island Yacht Race(1,000 + yachts)!! If You need 50/60 safety boats for the Solent do they have 500 / 600 safety for their race, I don't think so, they probably have the same amount as us, does not make any sense!!

[THUNDERBOLT]

It would be interesting to see the percentage of collisions between racing yachts and or spectator craft against the same for powerboat racing (all classes) ......I would not mind betting that sailing has the highest proportion of accidents and casualties!

[THUNDERBOLT]

ADAPT OR DIE….
In 1961 a race to Torquay was instigated by Sir Max Aitken to test and develop the cruising boats of the day into safe reliable means of enjoying the water by individuals and families. Over the first 10 years the race openly welcomed designs of craft in all shapes and sizes from hydrofoils to catamarans ie: Bombadillo, Hydroski, Dart 38, Sea Kife and Fat Cat and they set a maximum limit on the engine of 1,000 hp in total. Sadly the next decade, although exciting, saw the whole purpose of the event descend in to a pursuit of power that resulted in it’s death throes.

Since posting this article primarily to stimulate new thinking on the way to move the sport forward there has been no end of debate on the subject….some good some bad, some in agreement and some who have their head in the sand!….please don’t get me wrong the last thing I want is to lose the spectacle of fast boats with all the associated exhaust noise and the neck to neck duelling. I have lived for and loved the CT and the CTC since 1961, I DO NOT WANT TO SEE IT END…but what I am saying is that massive engine power is not needed for such a spectacle and there are now very few people who can afford to run such craft.

If power outputs are not drastically reduced who will be racing in 2 years time when petrol tops out at £2 a litre and Diesel at significantly more?

It is time to reassess the sport as a whole and if we do not wake up to this fact we will lose it all, lets get back to basics but with a new agenda Alternative fuels and power systems ..if done properly there will still be the spectacle, the noise and racing but the current craft are fast becoming Dinosaurs and we know what happened to them!

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by Carl

when will we know where you want the safety boats on the day ?

Hi Carl,

Thank you once again for your help with Safety this year.

Martin has booked your mooring in the Cowes Yacht Haven Saturday 31st.

He will be in touch with you for your position during the Event.

We have had some Pobjoy Mint coins made to thank you and all safety boats for this year.

[the edge]

Originally Posted by snapper66

This is what we are missing from Cowes.Great boats run in the western solent with no problems ,so why cant we do this now ,who's is really stopping this from happening.

The years that the P1 series were at Cowes were great weekends esp for spectators and more importantly the sponsors close multi lap racing plus lots of it. One year I think about five different races in a day ? Reading through this thread safety boats were mentioned , a very important part of any race weekend , more people would probably come forward if they could see more of the racing more of the time.
I love the C T C and having been spectating ( and competing a few times , round the island etc ) for over 40 years and really hope this won't be the last.

[THUNDERBOLT]

The “Sonny Levi Trophy” presentation to Nick Wilkinson and the “HTS” team will be in the….

Cowes Yacht Haven at 4pm on Saturday the 31st of August.

It is hoped that some of the HTS winning team from the London Monte Carlo race will be in attendance adding some nostalgia to the proceedings.
Everyone is welcome to attend and HTS will be on hand for photo calls.

[THUNDERBOLT]

Apologies, I neglected to say that previous owner David Hagan will be doing the honours!

Mike

[Martin The Talker]

Originally Posted by Carl

when will we know where you want the safety boats on the day ?

The Safety Officer will be in touch Carl.

[Ciao]

Access to the Royal Yacht Squadron this weekend will only be by a BPRC swing pass for non members of the Squadron.

The only entrance open will be the Lodge Gate.

Guy Green will be looking after security on behalf of the BPRC and RYS this weekend.

If you would like to come into the RYS on Saturday, please email me >> ecath@btinternet.com

I need your names and reason for attending, Guy will put you on his list.

Please don't crowd the pontoons during scruitineering and respect the RYS facilities at all times.

[Pennpromo]

Sorry that we can't be there racing due to so many factors.
We would very much have liked to defend our previous wins in Cowes.
It is a very special race.
Wishing you all a really great, safe weekend's racing in Cowes.
Well done John, Laura and Dorian.

[wickedtopspeed]

What time are the boats due to leave the RYS tomorrow morning please, to make their way down to the start ?
Many thanks

[Carl]

8.15

[wickedtopspeed]

Brilliant, thank you very much Carl.

[jason phillips]

Hi

is there a tracker this year?

Jason

[Mikko Oikari]

Should be Going Leans time this year. Quite flat and gearing for 128 mph...