Offshore 1 and 2 ‘biggies’ here in July
THE big boats of Offshore One and Two will join those flocking to Guernsey this summer for a grand world championship powerboating event.
British governing body UKOPRA’s annual championships recently attained world status, adding further excitement to a series in which the second race of three was earlier designated for Guernsey.
The last time Guernsey Powerboat Association hosted an event near this calibre came with 2014’s UIM 3A and 3B World Offshore Powerboating Championships, the 2017 equivalent being cancelled.
Other recent GPA offerings include the Honda Racing in 2004 and 2005, the Class 3C nationals in 2006 and 2007 and the Class 3C worlds in 2008.
But GPA’s Hollie Woodhouse is delighted to see the full complement of powerboats in action this year.
‘It’s quite an exciting thing for the GPA,’ she said.
‘This is on par with what we used to do back in the ’80s and ’90s with the bigger boats that we used to have coming over here.
‘It’s the first time that we’ve actually managed to get marathon-sized or offshore-sized boats in local waters.’
Teams from all around the world will compete in five classes throughout the three-part UKOPRA series, with the middle round unfolding in local waters between Friday 5 and Sunday 7 July.
Boats will be on display at the Victoria Marina that Friday before heading out for the following morning’s racing action, taking place over 120 nautical miles for Offshore One and Two and 75 for Class Three.
More in Tuesday's Guernsey Press.
