Date Added: 2009-08-29

Honda Formula 4-Stroke Association (F4SA) the World’s largest two class powerboat race series staged the fourth leg of their 2009 championship race season today (August 29th) in the line up for one of the Cowes-Poole-Cowes races; part of the Cowes Powerboat Festival which included the famous and legendary Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race.

All three races started concurrently at about 10:30am a little later than scheduled; 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. Once underway the entire fleet left the vicinity of the Red Solent Bank Buoy and headed West in one of the most spectacular race line ups in almost three decades.

Spectators gathered at the Royal Yacht Squadron Line to watch the Honda F4SA powerboats set course for Poole Bay amongst other competitors in V24 and Class 3, the larger Marathon classes headed directly to a Torquay turning mark.

The Honda race which consisted of seven legs totalling 39.0nm with one lap of Poole and Christchurch Bay finished a little over an hour or so later between the transit of East Lepe and Gurnard Edge buoys in the Western Solent. The result was a 40 mile contest with the rest racing 70.

Conditions were described as extremely challenging and tiring by the Honda fleet on their return in to the official wet pit area in the North Basin of the Cowes Yacht Haven. Sea conditions were rough and waves were reaching some concerning feet as the crews maintained focus on the race before them.

A few Honda boats suffered some damage, which was expected of the sea states, but nothing that prevented any of them from completing the race. The full fleet from both classes 150hp and 225hp were in attendance with the exception of one 225hp Vortigern which had been having some technical difficulties yesterday that were not possible to overcome.

As the race came to a finish the crew of Heights of Abraham 225hp returned with their heads held high when they came first overall out of the Honda fleet. Driven by Rupert Pugh and navigated by Daniel Whapples the pair were described as totally elated with their victory at such a historic event and one so far from what they are used to in the normal multi-lap circuit of a Honda F4SA race event.

The words that were on everybody’s lips were confirmed when the crew of Hydrex the 2007 championship winners rolled into the finish line in their Honda 150hp that had miraculously over taken a few of the faster Honda 225hp boats.

Putting their achievements down to skill and an appreciation of the rough conditions Jak Cockman, driver and Andy Phipps, navigator had aimed to please the crowds and certainly managed to prove that the performance of a Honda engine is not to be reckoned with.

“I have to say that this has been the best race of the season so far; everyone enjoyed being part of something a little different and it really went a long way to separate the men from the boys and the women from the girls with our entire fleet battling it out together alongside new blood from different classes of racing.” Said Brian Wheeler F4SA’s Race Organiser.

Ex Honda F4SA Champion Shelley Jory who raced alongside Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first sailor to circumnavigate the globe single-handed and non-stop on his yacht Suhaili back in 1969 paired up to form Team Scorpion with Shelley as the driver and Sir Robin as navigator in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes. The duo came 4th overall in the race. They had a good run although conditions were tough for both crew members who maintained a good fight throughout against the unpredictable waves.

“We had a good run and I am really pleased, although a little bruised to say the least across my right hip. It was to be expected as the sea was really rough; it is the hardest endurance race I have ever been in. Robin was glad he did it but has since said he wouldn’t do it again, although for me his navigation was spot on. At one point we went in shore slightly to get out of the swell and over took another boat in the process, he was perfect and we are really happy with what we have achieved.”

“I can profess that my 4 years spent racing with the Honda F4SA were the best powerboat training years of my career. Even through my experiences with P1 and today the basis of my skill I owe to Honda.” Said Shelley.