LOCAL waters will once again be host to world-championship powerboat racing in the summer. Craft from Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, Scandinavia, and possibly South Africa and New Zealand, will be in Guernsey to contest the UIM World Offshore Championship Class 3C in September.
The Guernsey Powerboat Association has hosted the national class championships over the past two years.
‘That has given us the status to run a world championship event,’ said GPA safety officer Rob Dodsworth.
He estimates that about 400 people will travel to Guernsey especially for the event.
A karting-endurance event at The Track and a possible boating rally around Sark for support and guard boats are also being lined up.
‘We have allowed a fair amount of time between races so people can get the chance to explore Guernsey a bit,’ said Mr Dodsworth.
Chairman of the Marketing and Tourism Group - an alliance between Commerce and Employment and Culture and Leisure, which promotes events - Deputy Stuart Falla said the powerboats would be good for Guernsey.
‘We promote a whole range of events, including nautical, sport, cultural and culinary,’ he said.
‘I see the powerboat week as similar to other events which we stage and I welcome and applaud them.’
St Sampson’s Marina has previously been the holding area for boats but the latest event will be based on St Peter Port Harbour’s east arm.
‘The move is purely down to the number of boats expected, as both places are great venues,’ said Mr Dodsworth.
The east arm was expected to be almost full if 35 boats take part and Mr Dodsworth said organisers had not wanted to impede parking at North Beach.
International powerboat racing was first held in Guernsey in 1984 and on two occasions the Class One series - the Formula One of the sport - graced our waters. Mr Dodsworth said Class One craft could now travel at speeds of up to 150mph, which would raise serious safety issues in local waters. Realistically, the P1Series, which race at top speeds of around 100mph, would be more appropriate.
‘We have put feelers out about the Class One, but the cost to host an event of that size would be huge.
‘I doubt it will ever happen again,’ said Mr Dodsworth.
‘You need a big team and there’s a lot of training involved as we’d want to do it all in-house with local people.’
The Class 3C series was far more manageable, he said, adding that the boats could race much closer to the shore.
The course will be laid out between Guernsey and Sark close to where drivers will have to negotiate the Gouliot Passage.
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