It’s countdown this week to the start of the Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race which starts off Southsea on Saturday.
Forty-nine boats are scheduled to begin the 1,700 mile race scorcher round the coast with the first leg taking them west down the Solent to Plymouth. It’s only the third time the race has been staged, and has attracted the cream of offshore powerboat enthusiasts.
Until Saturday the boats and their crews are moored at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth for final checking and scrutineering.
Among the most prolific boats will be Scorpion RIBS produced at Lymington. Nearly 15 per cent of the boats entered are Scorpions, all built entirely at the company facility in Lymington. Scorpions are known for their handling ability particularly in the rough and with two of the Scorpion boats entered currently holding the Round Britain, Round the British Isles and the London to Monte Carlo records.
Enthusiasts say there is an enormous sense of pride attached to this brand, both from the builders themselves and the owners who are passionate enough to be racing a Scorpion RIB across three separate classes in the gruelling endurance race.
Of the highly competitive seven teams driving Scorpions, some have an outstanding history of setting Powerboat World Records whilst other
Scorpion teams have completed several trans-Atlantic crossings and a number have raced powerboats at well over 100 knots.
One to watch is an all-girl crew in the revival of the world's toughest offshore powerboat race.
The all girl crew of Sarah Fraser as driver and Miranda Knowles, the navigator, will command a £200,000 RIB. Sarah trained as a naval architect. and is currently working in the Superyacht industry. She holds a Yachtmaster Offshore Power and Sail qualification. Miranda as an experienced yachtswoman, has completed six transatlantic crossings.
Team Scorpion-Dubois will be supporting CLIC Sargent, the UK based charity that cares for children and young people suffering from cancer and their families.
Their RIB has twin inboard Yanmar 6LP-STZE 315 HP diesel engines on Bravo 1 stern drive legs that will propel her at 50 knots over a highly creditable, 500 mile range.
Patrick Byrne of Scorpion RIBs said, “Scorpion RIBs have a proven track record for quality and long distance running and we hope the Sting will deliver for the team. We wish Sarah and Miranda a safe and enjoyable race and would like to thank Dubois Naval Architects, without whose support this would not have been possible.”
Dubois Naval Architects, founded by RSYC member, Ed Dubois, is one of the world's foremost yacht design companies.
The race starts off Southsea Castle at 9.30. Boats in Race Start 1 will begin their run to the Start Line at Southsea Castle at 09.30hrs and head off West down the Solent . Teams in Race Start 2 will begin their run up to the start line and off West down the Solent at 10.00hrs.
