Riviera Guy
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- Joined
- Sep 6, 2011
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The 63rd running of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race last weekend was full of excitement and drama – very fitting for the world's most famous race.
The weather necessitated the start to be delayed by an hour – Cowes was very wet and grey. The fleet of 16 race boats took the rolling start and headed down the Solent towards Hurst Castle in less-than-ideal conditions. The early pace was made by Good Boy Vodka – an Anglo-American crew consisting of Robert Lockyer, Alex Pratt, Shane Franks and Tim Linden. The race favourites for the win, Exeter based crew of Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings, were in close pursuit in Silverline. The winners of this prestigious race for the last five years were very keen to add a sixth title to their CV. The Swedish team – in the uniquely designed Sweden alu Powerboat – crewed by Ola and Peter Ostlund, were the first retirement before leaving the Solent having travelled only a few miles.
Good Boy Vodka was first into Torbay – a large rooster tail of water on the horizon and the drone of the engines were the first clue for the spectators on Haldon Pier that the race was nearing the end of its first leg. The course included a marker buoy off Berry Head before a dash across the Bay to the finish line just off Livermead. It had taken the crew 1 hour and 38 minutes to cover the 100 miles from Cowes at an average speed of 66mph. The tough conditions ensuring that this race would not challenge any speed records – the boats can reach speeds of up to 120mph.
The boat in second place was a surprise – Double Trouble – owned and raced by Gary Adlington and Tom Gardner. The Penryn garage owner who races under the Eastwood Racing banner, had a disastrous build up to the race. A month ago, the boat – a 42-foot Fountain Lightning - suffered a broken prop shaft, and then a blown V8 engine. Double Trouble lived up to its name! However, Gary and his team completed repairs and made it to the start line and he looked overjoyed as he headed into Torquay Marina for re-fuelling. The cost of a top up? - around £3,500 for these thirsty beasts!
The third boat across the Torquay finish line was Laa Laa – Dean Stoneman, Harry Thomas and Myles Thompson. Southampton based Dean is a man with a need for speed. His father Colin was a powerboat champion; Dean though found his success racing cars. He was Formula 2 Champion in 2010 and was about to commence a season in Formula Renault alongside future F1 racer Daniel Ricciardo when he was diagnosed with cancer. After winning that health battle, he took up powerboat racing to help him recuperate. Dean still races car’s, winning the Lamborghini Super Trofeo title in 2020.
In fourth place, it was Silverline – an uncharacteristic position for Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings who are accustomed to leading the way and being first across the finish line. They took the race lead at Portland, but encountered a fuel problem half way across Lyme Bay which dropped them back. Fortunately, they were able to resolve the issue during the re-fueling stop.
The crews had to endure horrendous conditions – particularly during the middle third of the race around Anvil Point and Portland Bill – summed up by Peter Hall in Mango Crazy as “brutal!”. Despite the difficult conditions, the first four boats across the finish line were separated by only 7 minutes – the first two by an incredible 18 seconds!
The crews had an hour to re-fuel and resolve any mechanical issues in Torquay before the return leg to Cowes – they were free to commence their return journey as soon as the mandatory pit stop time limit had expired. A total of 11 boats eventually made it to Torquay – four of those however took longer than the permitted 150 minutes to complete the leg, resulting in a “non-finish” classification.
The race back to Cowes was completed in slightly better conditions, much to the relief of the crews.
The finishing order at Cowes was:
The Cowes-Torquay winner, Good Boy Vodka, sadly missing, after being forced into retirement - a repeat of their 2023 race. A bitter blow to the crew that are currently leading the UKOPRA Championship and who set a new speed record for the Round the Island (Isle of Wight) race earlier in the season.
However, the biggest surprise came once the racing was over and the crews were presented with their awards on the podium – the provisional winners, Double Trouble, were disqualified for an infringement of the rules. Therefore, Laa Laa was declared the 2024 winner of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race. Silverline were promoted to runner-up spot and Pippa – Daniel Smith and Jack Weller – finished in third place.
The 2024 CTC was another memorable classic!
A photo gallery from Torquay www.flickr.com/photos/riviera_guy/albums/72177720319745881
The weather necessitated the start to be delayed by an hour – Cowes was very wet and grey. The fleet of 16 race boats took the rolling start and headed down the Solent towards Hurst Castle in less-than-ideal conditions. The early pace was made by Good Boy Vodka – an Anglo-American crew consisting of Robert Lockyer, Alex Pratt, Shane Franks and Tim Linden. The race favourites for the win, Exeter based crew of Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings, were in close pursuit in Silverline. The winners of this prestigious race for the last five years were very keen to add a sixth title to their CV. The Swedish team – in the uniquely designed Sweden alu Powerboat – crewed by Ola and Peter Ostlund, were the first retirement before leaving the Solent having travelled only a few miles.
Good Boy Vodka was first into Torbay – a large rooster tail of water on the horizon and the drone of the engines were the first clue for the spectators on Haldon Pier that the race was nearing the end of its first leg. The course included a marker buoy off Berry Head before a dash across the Bay to the finish line just off Livermead. It had taken the crew 1 hour and 38 minutes to cover the 100 miles from Cowes at an average speed of 66mph. The tough conditions ensuring that this race would not challenge any speed records – the boats can reach speeds of up to 120mph.
The boat in second place was a surprise – Double Trouble – owned and raced by Gary Adlington and Tom Gardner. The Penryn garage owner who races under the Eastwood Racing banner, had a disastrous build up to the race. A month ago, the boat – a 42-foot Fountain Lightning - suffered a broken prop shaft, and then a blown V8 engine. Double Trouble lived up to its name! However, Gary and his team completed repairs and made it to the start line and he looked overjoyed as he headed into Torquay Marina for re-fuelling. The cost of a top up? - around £3,500 for these thirsty beasts!
The third boat across the Torquay finish line was Laa Laa – Dean Stoneman, Harry Thomas and Myles Thompson. Southampton based Dean is a man with a need for speed. His father Colin was a powerboat champion; Dean though found his success racing cars. He was Formula 2 Champion in 2010 and was about to commence a season in Formula Renault alongside future F1 racer Daniel Ricciardo when he was diagnosed with cancer. After winning that health battle, he took up powerboat racing to help him recuperate. Dean still races car’s, winning the Lamborghini Super Trofeo title in 2020.
In fourth place, it was Silverline – an uncharacteristic position for Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings who are accustomed to leading the way and being first across the finish line. They took the race lead at Portland, but encountered a fuel problem half way across Lyme Bay which dropped them back. Fortunately, they were able to resolve the issue during the re-fueling stop.
The crews had to endure horrendous conditions – particularly during the middle third of the race around Anvil Point and Portland Bill – summed up by Peter Hall in Mango Crazy as “brutal!”. Despite the difficult conditions, the first four boats across the finish line were separated by only 7 minutes – the first two by an incredible 18 seconds!
The crews had an hour to re-fuel and resolve any mechanical issues in Torquay before the return leg to Cowes – they were free to commence their return journey as soon as the mandatory pit stop time limit had expired. A total of 11 boats eventually made it to Torquay – four of those however took longer than the permitted 150 minutes to complete the leg, resulting in a “non-finish” classification.
The race back to Cowes was completed in slightly better conditions, much to the relief of the crews.
The finishing order at Cowes was:
- Double Trouble
- Laa Laa
- Silverline
The Cowes-Torquay winner, Good Boy Vodka, sadly missing, after being forced into retirement - a repeat of their 2023 race. A bitter blow to the crew that are currently leading the UKOPRA Championship and who set a new speed record for the Round the Island (Isle of Wight) race earlier in the season.
However, the biggest surprise came once the racing was over and the crews were presented with their awards on the podium – the provisional winners, Double Trouble, were disqualified for an infringement of the rules. Therefore, Laa Laa was declared the 2024 winner of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race. Silverline were promoted to runner-up spot and Pippa – Daniel Smith and Jack Weller – finished in third place.
The 2024 CTC was another memorable classic!
A photo gallery from Torquay www.flickr.com/photos/riviera_guy/albums/72177720319745881
