Date Added: 2009-08-05

The Honda Formula 4-Stroke Association (F4SA) the World’s largest two class offshore powerboat race series is set to perform this August 29th in the Cowes Classic Powerboat Race which is Cowes-Poole-Cowes. This race forms part of the Cowes Powerboat Festival which will include the famous and legendary Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race. The Cowes Classic race for Honda boats will be for the fourth leg of the 2009 Championship season.

Originally founded by Sir Max Aitken, in 1961, the legendary Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race launched the sport of offshore powerboat racing outside the United States. The 49th Cowes Classic and Honda F4SA race will once again defy the current economic climate, and prove that Sir Max’s vision is still on track. The event, which is organised by the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC), will give the Honda crews their first taste of long distance non-multi-lap racing in seas that could prove troublesome.

With a fleet of 50 or so Honda and Offshore Racing Drivers Association (ORDA) craft plus over ten Sports boats and 20 Marathon class contenders, the combined start of this year's two prestigious races over the August Bank Holiday weekend could have the largest line-up for almost three decades.

All twenty Honda F4SA powerboats are expected to take part which will include both the 150hp and the 225hp class. The boats will be located at the official wet pit area in the North Basin of the Cowes Yacht Haven prior to departure.

At 10am, Red Jet 5, Red Funnel's 42 knot Hi-Speed catamaran will lead the field mustered off the Royal Yacht Squadron 10 miles down to the start line at South Bank Buoy in the western Solent. Minute by minute progress of the race down the course to Torquay and back will be relayed to Cowes Green by a continuous commentary given by power boating experts and officials, but it is the final moments of the race which are perhaps most exciting.

While the larger Marathon classes head directly to a Torquay turning mark, the smaller boats, including the Honda fleet, will set course for Poole Bay. Here the Honda fleet will cover one circuit of the bay with the ORDA boats - mainly Class III before returning to Cowes. It will result in Honda having a 40 mile contest with the rest racing 70.

For spectators wishing to travel to the event Red Funnel are offering tickets at great prices. Once in Cowes onlookers should head to Cowes Green for a ring side seat. The excitement is expected to attract large crowds of visitors to the seafront where one of the greatest spectacles can be enjoyed free of charge.

On their return at around 11am the leaders of the Honda fleet will re-enter the western Solent and speed toward the finishing line. The Chequered Flag will still be several miles away but there have been many occasions in its 48 year history when the race has been won or lost in sight of the finish.