The Sunseeker XS Racing Team of Ian Sanderson and RYA Powerboat Manager Peter Dredge have gone on stand-by in preparation for an attack on the record for the powered circumnavigation of mainland Britain
The Sunseeker XS Racing Team of Ian Sanderson and RYA Powerboat Manager Peter Dredge have gone on stand-by in preparation for an attack on the record for the powered circumnavigation of mainland Britain, currently 42 hours, 54 minutes.
They will be using a Sunseeker XS2000 production cruiser powered by twin 450hp Yanmar turbo-diesels driving four bladed Rolla propellers via ZF 2-speed gearboxes and Trimax drives.
Two weeks ago the team established six new world records by circling the Isle of Wight for no less than 24 hours. A distance of 1100 nautical miles was finally covered at an average speed of 45.83 knots (52.75mph).
The venture heralds the return of Sunseeker to its grass roots. Both Chairman and Managing Director launched the company over 30 years ago after racing offshore powerboats. Design in Italy by Fabio Buzzi, the XS2000 will almost certainly see Sunseeker filling the void left by Fairey Marine whose boats accounted for a large proportion of the British offshore racing fleet in the 1960/70s.
After an absence of several years this year’s course for the Cowes Classic on September 1 will take competitors across Lyme Bay to Torquay. They will once again face genuine offshore conditions for which the new XS2000 has been designed to handle.
