1999 World Two-Litre offshore champions, Peter Little and Dave Arthur from Oxford who were voted Power Yachtsmen of the Year in January, maintained their wining form when they led the two-litre Class III fleet across the line at Cleethorpes.
1999 World Two-Litre offshore champions, Peter Little and Dave Arthur from Oxford who were voted Power Yachtsmen of the Year in January, maintained their wining form when they led the two-litre Class III fleet across the line at Cleethorpes.
This new North Lincolnshire Grand Prix, which opened the British offshore season, the 36 boat line-up spread over several classes brought a welcome upturn in the sport. More than a third of the fleet was made up with craft competing in the popular rigid hull inflatable (Rib) category.
The multi-lap inshore course left no room for error. Calm sea conditions also encouraged high speeds with Little and Arthur aboard their Ocke Mannerfelt gull-winged monohull L.A.Racing setting a winning average of 72.03mph. Apex Colourmat, another Mannerfelt designed winged mono with Ricky Hill crewed by James Bond stunt girl Sarah Donahue, finished a close second at 68.98mph. The identical Colourgraphic driven by Chris Bryan completed the trio of winning Mannerfelt craft finishing third with a speed of 66.76mph.
Veteran offshore driver, Miles Jennings, led the Ribs to collect the overall prize in his Mercury powered Midas hull, Airypuss. His race average of 52.64mph reflected the perfect racing conditions in the estuary of the River Humber.
Results
British National Offshore Championship
Round One: Cleethorpes
Two-litre
1 L.A.Racing P.Little/D.Arthur Mannerfelt/Mercury 400
2 Apex Colourmat R.Hill/S.Donahue Mannerfelt/Mercury 360
3 Colourgraphic C.Bryan/N.Taylor Mannerfelt/Mercury 324
1.3 Litre
1 Challenging Light A.Layton/D.Simpkins L./A.Racing/Tohatsu 400
2 Babe Lite Relief S.Jory/A.Tibblin Mannerfelt/Tohatsu 360
2 Condor Ferries Seven P.Wilson/G.Arnott Argo/Yamaha 324
