The Future of Offshore Racing

[Mrs Smillie]

Originally Posted by Cookee

For once I agree strongly with you - Fiona is excellent at her job and as a full timer she can put the effort in to make it a really good series, the cream is that she is great at making everyone feel welcome and part of the "Family".

Oh dear you agreeing with me i must be mellowing in my old age must be what happens when you get to 50! But all joking aside Zoe is having a great time racing in Thundercats and Eric is having great fun 'helping' her the guys have been so great to the girls helping them all the time giving them tips and training with them it is an awesome bunch and we are loving every minute of it roll on Wales. Claire

[Adam]

Agreed!

It is so important to have good venues, good atmosphere, good organisation and no worries of turning up to negativity / politics etc.

This sport should be fun - a lot of fun!

[Mrs Smillie]

Originally Posted by Adam

Agreed!

It is so important to have good venues, good atmosphere, good organisation and no worries of turning up to negativity / politics etc.

This sport should be fun - a lot of fun!

:hugegrin

[Hydrostream]

Originally Posted by Adam

Agreed!

It is so important to have good venues, good atmosphere, good organisation and no worries of turning up to negativity / politics etc.

This sport should be fun - a lot of fun!

Not knowing how things were before but this has been my experience of racing in the UK so far! Shame there arent a few more boats but I certainly thoroughly enjoy our weekends over there!! Whatever about on here, I have never experienced any negativity or BS politics at a race!! Always made feel extremely welcome..

[hunton69]

Originally Posted by Mrs Smillie

Oh dear you agreeing with me i must be mellowing in my old age must be what happens when you get to 50! But all joking aside Zoe is having a great time racing in Thundercats and Eric is having great fun 'helping' her the guys have been so great to the girls helping them all the time giving them tips and training with them it is an awesome bunch and we are loving every minute of it roll on Wales. Claire

Has Eric been spiking your food.

Wait untill the girls start beating the boys

Great to here there is some good racing going on.

[Cookee]

If anyone's interested 3 of the 4 boats are now in Ramsgate - a little choppy this morning! Tracker

[SimonfromNorway]

Hi Folks,

I have with increasing interest registered that my action has caught such big interest among the BoatMad followers. My mail was originally sent out to the contacts I have gathered over the last years.

I have registered comments like "can I trust Simon?"
What is there to trust? I have not promised anything yet. My goal is to gather information to make it possible to make sound decisions for the future. It is in your interest that the basis for making decisions are as correct and well founded as possible.

My findings will be made available for the National Authorities of UK, Sweden, Finland and Norway in particular, but also to the UIM Council, Committees and Commissions.

My aim is among others to increase the interest from UK and other teams to visit Scandinavian waters. To see that happen I will need to know what is in existence and what kind of classes to set up races for.

I am surprised and glad to see that my initiative has led to this increased engagement from Offshore Powerboat Lovers. I am still optimistic and hope to see a better future for European Offshore.

Simon from Norway

[Hydrostream]

Originally Posted by SimonfromNorway

Hi Folks,

My findings will be made available for the National Authorities of UK, Sweden, Finland and Norway in particular, but also to the UIM Council, Committees and Commissions.

Why such few countries?

[SimonfromNorway]

My survey is a private one and the UIM will have to distribute to all offshore nations. I will make it available to them.

[Hydrostream]

But why distribute findings to some countries and not all?

[motorvator]

Alan, in defence of Simon he is saying those countries in particular as he has close contact with those through the links being forged between the Scandies and us, and correctly would allow the UIM to push it out further through channels which may have a better effect.

Having spent a couple of nights in Ramsgate with him I can tell you his desire to inject some direction and enthusiasm to the sport is extremely well intentioned.

[Cookee]

My worry for the UK is that it will take a lot to persuade anyone that any plans are viable in the future as so much has been planned and unfulfilled - my RYA licence application form lays unopened on my desk .............

[Mrs Smillie]

Originally Posted by hunton69

Has Eric been spiking your food.

Wait untill the girls start beating the boys

Great to here there is some good racing going on.

ha ha and yes won't be long before the girls are up with the boys i'm sure! Thundercats is like a big family thou all there to help on another whatever happens

[mdm1uk]

Agree with some of the repleys here, our plan is to race again in OCR (once the pleasure boat is sold, any takers....)

But FFS why so many different options now.. Things were so much simpler before.

It don't make it easy.

[OCRDA]

Originally Posted by SimonfromNorway

My survey is a private one and the UIM will have to distribute to all offshore nations. I will make it available to them.

Simon
Did you analyse the UIM sudvey results from October GA ?

[Hydrostream]

Originally Posted by motorvator

Alan, in defence of Simon he is saying those countries in particular as he has close contact with those through the links being forged between the Scandies and us, and correctly would allow the UIM to push it out further through channels which may have a better effect.

Having spent a couple of nights in Ramsgate with him I can tell you his desire to inject some direction and enthusiasm to the sport is extremely well intentioned.

I dont doubt his intentions. I was simply just curious as why scandinavia and UK, just seemed odd. When there are other european countries like France, Italy, Malta, with I would say healthy, but healthier than here, offshore fleets.
Im sure he has his reasons and I dont think anything can hurt anyway, so I'll remain optimistically pessimistic

[RHINO]

The RYA/UIM in their wisdom have banned open boats with 200xs from 3c, so the RYA have followed suit and withdrawn the National championship for boats with 200xs. This now leaves boat owners with a dilema: put a canopy on their boat ,which will upset balance and is not an easy task, or re engine their boats for the 150 class that is going to be proposed. The question I would like answered by the UK rule makers is,can they put a 150 optimax powerhead on their existing offshore leg and gearbox? It is an easy conversion and a less expensive alternative to buying a complete engine or do they have to have a 20in consumer saddle and gearbox. I dont see as we have to wait to see what Scandanavia does as that is only one week a year at best for those that can afford to go. We should take the lead and get our national class some stability.