Record is all ready to tumble

AN ATTEMPT will be made on the 12-year-old round-the-island record during the weekend's Condor Ferries Guernsey Powerboat Grand Prix. The current one of 27min. 40sec. was set in 1995 by Ricky Leslie and Gerry Gill in Ricky's Rooster.

With boats racing in a number of classes tomorrow and on Sunday, the record seems set to fall, but which one takes it will depend on weather conditions.

The two days of racing are part of Nautical Guernsey's programme for the year.

Chairman John Elliott is looking forward to the weekend.

'These races signal the start of this year's Royal Yachting Association national championships and Guernsey can be very proud to host the event and showcase our waters.'

The grand prix weekend is based around St Sampson's Harbour, with the pits and presentation area on the Crocq.

Multiple world champions Pete Little and Dave Arthur head Class 3C, in which competitors will not only be seeking championship points, but also using it as a dry - or not so dry - run for next year when the Guernsey Powerboat Association host the class's world championships.

Little and Arthur start the season with high hopes after touching 95mph in their catamaran during speed trials on Coniston at the end of last season.

Among their potential challengers is another former world champion, Jerseyman Roy Smith, who is back in racing after a serious accident.

He will compete in a boat carrying the livery of event sponsor Condor Ferries.

In all, about a dozen boats in this class are expected to come to the start line for the races tomorrow and Sunday.

There are three catamarans in the fleet, with the remainder monohulls or Bat boats.

The weekend includes races for other classes, with 18-year-old Josh Brown the youngest driver in the V24, or Bat boat class.

Also racing will be Ribs, including Guernsey's Jon Rowe and Mark Fox in the 27ft Blue Dart and a class for basic boats as well water-ski racers. The pits area is open to the public throughout the event and will be the scene of the post-race presentations.

The best vantage point for spectators is the Castle Breakwater, particularly on Sunday when the action will be nearer the shore.