Lack of entries disappointment for historic event
The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race, which was to be revived this season after an absence of three years, has been cancelled due to lack of entries.
The news comes as a shock for several reasons.
Firstly, despite its absence recently due to bureaucratic difficulties, the 47-year-old event is for many the premier race in the powerboating world and regularly attracts competitors from around the world.
Secondly, after the fillip to powerboat racing provided this year by the Round Britain Powerboat Race, it was hoped that the revived Cowes-Torquay-Cowes would see one of its biggest ever fleets.
Many of the Round Britain competitors, including the Fairey Spearfish Miss Daisy, pictured, were preparing to enter the event.
Requests from them and other powerboaters led to the British Powerboat Racing Club, the Royal Yachting Association and Powerboat P1 resurrecting the historic race.
However, a statement released by P1 now says the number of entries received has made the event economically not viable, and that it would fail to deliver a ‘genuine and competitive sporting spectacle’.
The British Powerboat Racing Club say they had no part in the decision.
Powerboat P1 Chief Executive Jim O’Toole says: “A race of this nature requires significant investment and at least 40 entries were needed to justify the six-figure event costs.
“Despite extending the deadline for entries by one week, we have not reached this figure and the two races will not go ahead on 23 August.
“This decision was not taken lightly and we know that the powerboat community will share in our disappointment, but will understand the reasons.”
The first Cowes-Torquay-Cowes powerboat race took place in 1961.
