Sunseeker International helps launch traditional offshore contest
The Royal Motor Yacht Club in Poole has confirmed that their Needles Trophy race, one of the three British major offshore international events will be held over the weekend of August 15-16.
With increased congestion in the Sandbanks area where the RMYC clubhouse is based together with similar problems on Poole Quay where for many years larger racing craft were craned afloat, help from Sunseeker International has saved the day. Organisers have been given permission to use their adjacent car parking in West Quay Road as a dry pit area for scrutineering etc with facilities for crane launching provided within the Sunseeker waterside complex.
Once afloat the racing craft will moor at the wet pits in Dolphin Yacht Haven on the Quay itself. The organisers are planning to give the event to a genuine offshore format with a course for the larger classes between Peveril Ledge off Swanage and the Fairway Buoy NW of the Needles.
The event will be open to a wide number of classes, including an inshore Basic race for newcomers, with less punishing courses planned for the smaller fry. Apart from the British Powerboat Racing Club at Cowes, this year’s Needles Trophy will be the first genuine offshore race to be organised by a major British powerboat club for some time. It therefore joins a steady revival in the fortunes of offshore racing in the UK.
Entry fees range from £200 for Basic classes, Class III and V24 with the larger Marathon contenders paying £350. Further details of entry and regulations can be obtained at hl.cox@virgin.net
