By Isle of Wight Observer
‘Round the Island’ offshore powerboat racing will take place tomorrow (Saturday), as teams compete to win the opening round of the 2024 UKOPRA Offshore Championship.
Twenty teams from across the UK and Sweden will compete for Classes 1/1L/2/3 titles around the 60-mile coastline of the Island.
The start line and muster area are opposite Gurnard (East Lepe Buoy) and the teams will take the green flag at around 12:30pm.
The prizegiving will take place in Southampton.
The best vantage points to get a good view of the racing will be Yarmouth Pier, Fort Victoria (or Hurst Castle), The Needles, St Catherine’s Lighthouse, Ryde Pier and Egypt Point.
For those hoping to see the action from the water, all spectator boats in the vicinity of the rolling start are advised to keep north of an imaginary line from East Lepe to West Lepe Buoy. This is advisable for your own safety and to give a clean start for the racers.
The record speed for the race was set in 2022 by Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings in Silverline; they averaged 102.87 mph (165.56 kph).
All race details, including teams competing can be found at iw.observer/powerboatracing or on the World Powerboat Events UK Facebook page.
Read about the young Islanders taking part on page 13 or here.