Classic Round Britain contender to join Cowes-Torquay-Cowes line-up
Following its successful sponsorship of Jonathan Napier’s classic Fairey Spearfish in the recent Round Britain Powerboat Race, Hamble-based Swordsman Marine is providing further support to Team 747 in the forthcoming Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race on Saturday, August 23.
Initiated by Sir Max Aitken in 1961 as the first European offshore race of the modern era, the Cowes classic has always provided a taxing test of crew and machine and for the boats that cross the Solent start line will be no different, as Napier acknowledges.
“After our race-long battle to be the first Historic boat in the 1400 nautical mile marathon round the British coast, our crew have a little unfinished business to attend to and we saw no better opportunity of showing our opposition the way home than to enter the classic offshore race from Cowes to Torquay and back, by comparison a mere 180 nautical mile sprint.
“The boat has been in the hands of Swordsman Marine’s boat building subsidiary, Yachting Projects Limited, for some essential refurbishment and a general check over and we cannot thank Richard Gough and his team enough for extending their sponsorship and giving us the chance to experience the greatest single-day race in the world.”
When Napier’s Team 747 with its crew of British Airways 747 Captains hits the start line, it will be following in the illustrious footsteps of many Fairey’s before it, as the race has always been a proving ground for production boats and equipment.
This 48th. running of the Cowes classic will held under the burgee of the British Powerboat Racing Club and will see a return to the non-stop Cowes-Torquay-Cowes format.
