Big names confirmed for 2016 Venture Cup race

Racing

The organisers of the Venture Cup have signed up two of Britain’s biggest names in offshore powerboat racing, Richard Carr and Steve Curtis

Two of the biggest names in British offshore powerboat racing will be taking part in the 2016 Venture Cup race around Ireland, it has been confirmed.

Richard Carr and Steve Curtis (pictured above) will be teaming up once again to take on the eight-day epic race around the Emerald Isle from June 12-19.

After a five-year hiatus from the sport, former world champion Richard will be hoping to make a triumphant return.

Fellow racer Steve is also a former world champion with an illustrious career spanning more than three decades.

Richard Carr said of the decision to team up again for the Venture Cup: “Both Steve and I are keen to take part in the race. We have been friends for over 30 years, so who better to go racing with?

“My first ever race in a Class 1 powerboat was with Steve back in 1981 in the Guernsey Gold Cup in a boat called Reporter. We have got on really well since then and I’m looking forward to racing with him again.”

However, Richard couldn’t have picked a much tougher challenge to make his comeback, with the Venture Cup race taking in 1,000nm of the Irish coastline and Atlantic swells of up to 15m.

It is not yet known what boat the returning duo will race in, but Richard is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task ahead of him:

“It will be a very, very challenging race,” he said. “The seas on the Atlantic side of Ireland can be extremely high and make for very difficult racing conditions.

“Some of the stages will be over 300 miles long and it’s an extreme test of your concentration and determination as a racer.”

The competition will also be fierce with current Cowes-Torquay-Cowes champions Vector Martini Racing also set to take part.

“The standard of competition will be extremely high with some world class teams taking part,” Richard concedes. “I can’t wait to get back in the boat, I’m sure it will great fun.”

The 2016 Venture Cup is due to kick off in Cork Harbour on June 12 with a one-day stop-off in Galway before a final showdown in Dublin.

Large crowds are expected to greet the boats along the way and the lord mayor of Dublin has promised a warm welcome to the finishing vessels arriving into the capital on June 19.