Sail gives way to power at Cowes over the August Bank Hol
Sail gives way to power on the Isle of Wight over the August Bank Holiday weekend when the Powerboat P1 British Grand Prix of the Sea takes place. Building upon the 47 year heritage of the Cowes Powerboat Festival, the event has been extended to four days, a reflection of its growing popularity.
A fleet numbering more that 120 craft are expected to arrive in Cowes Marina including many of the world’s top racing teams. Organisers predict spectator numbers will exceed last year’s estimate of 70,000.
Racing starts on Friday 24th following a day of testing. The highlight of the opening day’s programme will be the seventh round of the P1 World Championship, the British Grand Prix of the Sea. The race incorporates a lap of the Island, one of the most prestigious and demanding challenges in powerboat racing with a history that dates back to 1968.
Shortly after the higher powered P1 craft are flagged away at 2pm, the competitors in the ‘Round-the-Island’ challenge will assemble off Cowes for one of the most popular events of the weekend. Open to all pleasure and race craft, crews race against the clock in a range of class categories following the same circuit as the larger P1 contenders. The event attracted 36 entries from across Britain when last held two years ago.
Saturday and Sunday will see racing revert to a spectator-friendly circuit where the public can enjoy the close-up action along the shores between Cowes and Thorness. A packed programme over both days includes Thundercats, International RIBs, Class IIIC and V24s, a Jet Bike endurance race and the Honda 4-stroke Series comprising 150s and 225s.
The main event on Saturday 25th will be the seventh and eighth rounds of the Honda Formula 4-stroke series, the UK’s leading national offshore championship. Sunday will undoubtedly be headed by the final leg of the Powerboat P1 British Grand Prix of the Sea with 20 of the finest racing boats and crews seeking the glory of winning in Cowes, the ‘Mecca’ of world powerboating.
Event timetable (subject to change)
Thursday 23rd August
14:30-17:00 P1 Testing
Friday 24th August
09:00-10:00 P1 Testing
10:15-11:15 Support Event Practice
14:00 PowerboatP1 British Grand Prix of the Sea – Round 1
14:30 The Isle of Wight Challenge
16:45 Podium Presentation
17:15-18:00 Support Event Practice
Saturday 25th August
09:00-10:30 Practice Course Open for support events
10:00-10:45 Thundercat Race
11:00-12:00 Class 3C & V-24 – 15 Laps
12:00-13:00 Jet Bike Endurance Race
13:00-14:00 Honda Formula 4-Stroke 150 Series – 15 laps
14:15-15:15 Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225 Series – 15 laps
15:30-16:30 International RIB Endurance Race – 15 laps
16:45 Podium Presentation
Sunday 26th August5
08:45-09:45 Class 3C & V-24 – 15 Laps
10:00-11:00 Honda Formula 4-Stroke 150 Series – 15 laps
12:00-13:00 Thundercat Match Racing
13:15-14:15 Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225 Series – 15 laps
15:00-16:30 Powerboat P1 British Grand Prix of the Sea – Round 2
16:45 Podium Presentation
