Powerboat Week return is possible

WORLD-championship powerboating is almost certain to return to Guernsey in 2008. The first round of the Royal Yachting Association British National Championship for Class IIIC, F1 Ribs and V24 boats will be held locally for the second consecutive year in May.

Local organiser Kevin Walsh said that once the event planning was up and running, the committee could make a bid to host the world championship and he was confident that, so long as funding was guaranteed, it would be in the bag.

The decision is made by world powerboating body Union Internationale Motonautique.

'We have been liaising closely with the RYA regarding our proposed application and as the event has not been held in British waters for more than a decade, it has guaranteed to back us all the way,' he said.

'Dependent on funding, it is a foregone conclusion.'

He said the event, which would attract about 40 boats, would be marvellous for the island.

'It will raise Guernsey's profile on the global stage and will be great for tourism.'

May's championship would once again be based at St Sampson's Harbour, but the scale of the world event would have to see it return to St Peter Port.

The British championship races are provisionally scheduled for the bank holiday weekend at the end of May.

'Most of this year's racers have shown a very keen interest in coming back and several have asked for it to be over a bank holiday so they would have an extra day after the racing to explore the islands,' said Mr Walsh.

He is in the midst of negotiations with Sark Shipping to arrange a day out in the island.

In the build-up to the championships in May, a number of the people involved in staging the Guernsey round of the world championships in the 1980s and 1990s reunited to form an organising committee.

Mr Walsh took on the role of chairman and is likely to carry on for the bid and, if successful, the subsequent build up and staging of the world championship.

The 51-year-old powerboating passionate enthusiast said it was now all down to securing the funding, but he is confident a substantial amount is already guaranteed.

'We are going out for corporate sponsorship and have fingers in a few pies. But there is always scope for other interested parties.'

Mr Walsh started powerboating in 1976 and retired 21 years later.

'I have always loved racing, but it just got too expensive to carry on,' he said.

He now fulfils his passion in an organisational capacity.