Clock goes back three decades as powerboats fill seafront
THE clock was turned back 30 years yesterday afternoon when a parade of powerboats filled the Town seafront.
The boat parade was one of the major public events of Guernsey International Powerboat Week, which was in its heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Other national events have held parades in more recent times, but yesterday’s included some bigger boats.
On Saturday the UKOPRA boats raced in east coast waters and then yesterday around 30 vessels – varying in size from 19ft up to 40ft – were towed or carried along the front.
Among them was A66, crewed by Marc Dopson and Andy Hiscox, which won the Guernsey Gold Cup.
This was first competed for in 1988 when Guernsey was awarded the Class I Offshore Championships.
A large crowd gathered to see the vessels.
Among them was Scott Bradbury and Alfie Skinner, both 4, along with Scott’s mum, Sally. They had a good spot to watch from the base of the Crown Pier ‘They are very excited,’ Mrs Bradbury said.
Visitors also came down to see the fun, including John and Janet Sprules, from Wiltshire.
‘We are on holiday and we saw this advertised,’ Mr Sprules said.
‘We didn’t manage to see the racing yesterday. It’s very interesting to see them close up.’
