WORLD championship powerboat racing will return to Guernsey in September for the first time since 1997. More than 30 craft are expected to be in the island to contest the UIM World Offshore Championship Class 3C and event safety officer, Rob Dodsworth said with its seas and infrastructure, Guernsey was a prime venue for such an event.

‘It was a no contest in terms of coming back to the island because everybody loves it,’ he said.

There was also harmony among visitors.

‘It’s a known fact in powerboat racing that some nationalities don’t like competing in certain countries but Guernsey is seen as a neutral race ground,’ said Mr Dodsworth.

Attracting the event was a coup for Guernsey, he said. Powerboat racing is an expensive sport for competitors, particularly when it comes to travelling to venues and Class 3C was completely different to Class One in terms of budget size.

National and international powerboat events were first held here in 1984 and on two occasions the island hosted the Class One World Championship.

Mr Dodsworth said that given technical progress the modern Class 3C craft had a similar top speed to the Class Ones of bygone years and the capability to race at up to 90mph.

The event will feature mono-hull and catamaran craft between 21ft and 28ft length with engines of up to 2.5 litres.

It will be the first world championship series to feature eco-friendly and energy- efficient engines with the latest emission control equipment.

Competitors are expected to travel from Italy, Portugal, Germany, Scandinavia and possibly South Africa and New Zealand.

Condor Ferries and Nautical Guernsey are supporting the Guernsey Power- boat Association’s event.

Schedule

3 September – Signing in, scrutineering, welcome party

4 September – Race 1: 0930hrs start

5 September – Lay Day Race 1. Decorated boat parade

6 September – Race 2. 1030hrs start

7 September – Final race. 1030hrs start. Gala prize-giving dinner & presentation of UIM World Championships.