Jon Fuller
numbskull
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2004
- Messages
- 15,942
- Location
- South
- Cruising area
- South Coast
- Boat name
- Leviathan
- Boat make
- Phantom 28
Right! As mentioned on the ctc 08 thread, plans for the 2009 event need to be addressed good and early. Indeed, not just for 2009, but for future events there, and maybe some additional endurance type races during the UK racing season.
Everyone involved in the picking up of CTC race felt a sense of excitement from the competitors at having a race that doesn't pander to the needs of just about eveyone 'except' the racer himself.
It may not satisfy the sponsors, it may not even satisfy the spectators all that well, but all the competitors I spoke with were extremely positive about the way the whole thing worked, with most (if not all) saying, 'see you next year'.
I think that to do Cowes the justice it deserves as a venue, we need more than one race 'slot' over a long bank holiday weekend, hence the talk about a festival of speed with multiple classes, displays and entertainment.
The million dollar question is, how many of you lot are going to step up to the plate and take part in the coming years? We had a pretty impressive turn out all things considered, but will need more from all classes if it's to grow.
My personal feeling is that this type of racing really aught to give powerboating enthusiasts a good reason (or should that say 'excuse'?) to own a boat capable of high speed, open water travel. It's how racing really started all those years ago with the early CTC races and maybe 'pure' racing boats just aren't going to figure so much in the future, at least not for the unsponsored 'masses'.
With one or two of these endurance racing events, with rules 'honed' to suit boats that border fast pleasure and pure racing, Poker Runs, Blade Runs and a bit of plain old fast boating, peoples hard earned dosh can hopefully be ploughed into boats that make far better financial sense, that all the family can get some enjoyment from when they're not competing.
Francis Whitleys Shakespeare 960 is a perfect example of what I mean. In the last 2 months he's taken part in the Round Britain race, now the CTC, and tomorrow he could be boating with the family just like anyone with a Scumsqueeker, or Fairline. That has to be getting bloody good value out of your investment!
Everyone involved in the picking up of CTC race felt a sense of excitement from the competitors at having a race that doesn't pander to the needs of just about eveyone 'except' the racer himself.
It may not satisfy the sponsors, it may not even satisfy the spectators all that well, but all the competitors I spoke with were extremely positive about the way the whole thing worked, with most (if not all) saying, 'see you next year'.
I think that to do Cowes the justice it deserves as a venue, we need more than one race 'slot' over a long bank holiday weekend, hence the talk about a festival of speed with multiple classes, displays and entertainment.
The million dollar question is, how many of you lot are going to step up to the plate and take part in the coming years? We had a pretty impressive turn out all things considered, but will need more from all classes if it's to grow.
My personal feeling is that this type of racing really aught to give powerboating enthusiasts a good reason (or should that say 'excuse'?) to own a boat capable of high speed, open water travel. It's how racing really started all those years ago with the early CTC races and maybe 'pure' racing boats just aren't going to figure so much in the future, at least not for the unsponsored 'masses'.
With one or two of these endurance racing events, with rules 'honed' to suit boats that border fast pleasure and pure racing, Poker Runs, Blade Runs and a bit of plain old fast boating, peoples hard earned dosh can hopefully be ploughed into boats that make far better financial sense, that all the family can get some enjoyment from when they're not competing.
Francis Whitleys Shakespeare 960 is a perfect example of what I mean. In the last 2 months he's taken part in the Round Britain race, now the CTC, and tomorrow he could be boating with the family just like anyone with a Scumsqueeker, or Fairline. That has to be getting bloody good value out of your investment!
