All
Firstly, a huge congratulations to all involved in the RB08, I was lucky to attend the awards dinner in Portsmouth and was struck by the passion, commitment and collective spirit of all involved, a tremendous event...once again, respect to all involved, it was a pleasure to put faces to many of the names in this site.
Secondly, I am pleased to confirm that the Cowes Torquay is indeed happening on Saturday 23 August ......can't beat a good negative rumour though))..
Sunday 24th will be reserve day, and we will also have an abbreviated Storm Course in The Solent just in case. A brief note in advance of a press announcement this week and issuing of the advance notice of a couple of details on the Cowes Torquay Cowes race:
The race will use the RB08 Class structure so all heroes and heroines( BOATS AND HUMANS) who competed the excellent RB08, consider yourselves eligible, and more importantly ,invited to particpate.
As a guiding principle the essence of the event is a non stop race, leaving Cowes, going around a marker bhuoy in Toprquay and getting back to Cowes as quickly as possbile. This is the "core"race, racers in each class who can acheive this will race for the CTC class prizes, with prizes for first, second and third in each class. Those boats which cannot complete the race non stop and who have to have a fuel break in Torquay will in effect be racing in a second category per class,with their own prIzes.
There will of course be an overall race, with prizes for first,second and third.
Some other points:
- we 'll be using the cowes Yacht Haven for dry pits,(we will encourage people to leave their boats in the water overnight or to arrive early am) the cowes marina for wetpits and the yachthaven building for day time corporate hospitality and the evening bash
- Presentations will be at 5pm, party at 7-8 ish....it will be a barbeque and a rocking band, sadly harry hammersmith and the flyovers are otherwise engaged but we will have a cracking alternative
- Teams will receive an exclusive pilot only merchandise Pack, various goodies and special souvenir boat plaques
- They will get vouchers for breakfast, lunch and for food and limited drink at the evening party ( I know what you boys drink and can't afford to pay for all that )))
- Access to breakfast, parties and lunches will be tightly controlled by passes, we are not anticpating anyone other that teams, media, sponsors, corpprate guests, organisers and volunteers/marshalls joining the party
- A bacon roll breakfast from 730, boats ready by 915, start time1000, with a staggered start based on the logic of big fast boats first, smaller slow boats second.
- The plan is for the Thundercats fleet to race under their own steam over the full course with a separate safety and fueling fleet, preparation apparantly for a 1000 mile race they'll be doing in South Africa.
- Boats not capable of doing the whole course will be offered the chance to do a shortened race, Cowes-Poole -Cowes
- anyone wishing to buy corporate hopspitalit packages for theor team or sponsors I'd advise you to book now
- ditto on accommodation
- Lastly, anyone signing up as a first time entrant in the 2009 P1 World Championship after competing in the 2008 CTC will get their entry fees back
There will be many questions, which will be addressed in formal communication, these are the headlines.
The P1 team is in Tunisia this week for the very hot Tunisian Grand Prix, so please be patient of any burning questions are not answered immediately
Any raindancers out there, we will pay good money for any results generated in the Hammamet area next weekend.
rgds
jim o'toole
p1 ceo
jim.otoole@powerboatp1.com
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