Interesting development, we have our 1st fully paid up entry!
1st News Bulletin.
Over the last few weeks, we (The Cowes Monte-Carlo Organising Committee) have been talking to Dean Gibbs and his RB11 team about their race and the above Cowes to Monte-Carlo Grand Prix. If we are to push ahead with the latter then there is an obvious need to lessen the financial pressure on those racers who would dearly love to take part. Three marathon races in three years would, we feel, be a step too far for most in the present financial climate.
Dean and Mandy Gibbs have therefore agreed that they will now NOT go ahead with the Round Britain Race in 2011 and instead will join us in our planning and preparation for 2013. This will allow those teams who want to take part in the Cowes to Monte-Carlo Grand Prix almost two and half years to prepare for this great adventure.
Planning is at a very early and sensitive stage and we have yet to talk to any of the venues except for Monaco and we have also yet to put the team together to make the event happen so there is much work to be done including setting up the web site. That will happen shortly. We will keep you informed as to progress via our newsletters which we will issue here on Boatmad and elsewhere on a regular basis.
We are going to need a huge amount of help both physical and financial to accomplish this but feel that the time will be ripe in 2013 to do it. As with RB08 we are sure that we can get a great fleet of adventurers together to make the run. In 1972 some twenty seven boats set out but only 10 made it. We are sure that this time a higher number will finish and get to Monte-Carlo to enjoy the celebrations that we shall be planning there.
Because of the huge opportunities here for both British Boat Builders and Engine Manufacturers, we hope that they will all come on board and support this great event and we look forward to hearing from all of them. They will certainly be hearing from us!
Looking at what we have to achieve we have to take our hats off to John & Hillary Chitty who organised this race back in 1972 when there were no Fax machines and no Internet!! The world was a different place then.
This race is going to be a bruiser and everyone – teams and organisers - will be mentally and physically shredded by the time we get to the finish line but what an achievement for everyone if we do!
We have to say this once more, the race is subject to sponsorship and to approval by the RYA, UIM and the Principality of Monaco. This has to be said from the very beginning because having done our budgets this is a very expensive event to put on. But then so was the Round Britain Race and we succeeded there – just - with the help from many generous people and so we hope to replicate that with the Cowes to Monte-Carlo.
We have one aim, to run this great historical race once again and for everyone involved to have enjoyed the experience and to have great memories as with RB08. Let’s hope we can achieve that aim.
Mike Lloyd, Dean Gibbs, Peter Myles & Alan Goodwin.
The Cowes Monte-Carlo Organising Committee
Mob: +44 (0) 7860 285438