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The Cowes Classic Powerboat Race returned to Cowes this year for two days from the 28-29 August. Originally founded by Sir Max Aitken, in 1961, the Cowes Classic is a punishing event of some 225 miles, but of all the seagoing contests in the world it was this one which launched the sport of offshore powerboat racing outside of the United States.
Aitken, having witnessed an event between Miami and Nassau in the late 1950s, was told by its organiser that such offshore contests provided a perfect base to improve high speed boat design and endurance. With the British boat building industry pushing ahead, Sir Max decided to provide a similar opportunity for British builders to improve the breed and a new sport was spawned. The event did indeed improve the breed which today is reflected in the design of boats from world renowned companies such as Sunseeker, employing 3000 people in Poole.
This year, 558 ‘CINZANO’ with Throttle Marcus Hendricks, Driver Tim Grimshaw and Navigator Eric Smillie won the 49th Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Race (3.35.32) just 11 seconds ahead of R2 ‘HOT LEMON’ - Driver Dave Deacon and Co-Driver Mike Deacon.
47 ‘RELENTLESS’ - Driver Darren Hook and Co-Driver Kevin Marshall - took third place with Shelley Jory, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Neil Sackley and Ben Wood in R 14 TEAM SCORPION coming in fourth.
The Start Boat, Red Funnel Ferries Red Jet 5 headed down to Solent at 35 knots followed by the fleet of some 56 boats for the running start at the Solent Bank Buoy. The Cowes Powerboat Festival 2009 included the Marathon Boats together with V24’s, Honda, Class 3 and Sports Boats.
Mike Lloyd, Event Director said, ‘It has been a fantastic event, even the weather was kind to us although we started the races over 20 minutes late due to the large number of yachts at the Needles. On the Friday of the event we announced to the competitors that as next year is the 50th Anniversary of the race we are going to hold the World Championship for Marathon Boats which will be a weeklong series of races. We are all looking forward to making it the biggest powerboating event ever seen in this country.’