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Powerboat Season Set For Bank Holiday Weekend Opener Around Isle Of Wight

Credit: Malc Attrill Photography.

The first round of the 2022 UKOPRA Championship will be held on Sunday May 1 - and the season opener will feature an offshore powerboat race around the Isle of Wight.

Thirty boats are expected to take on the challenge in a race won last year by Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings at an incredible average speed of 95.15 mph.

The boats will be based at the Shamrock Quay marina in Southampton where they will undergo technical inspection on the Saturday before Sunday’s race starts at 11:30am.

Recommended viewing areas include Yarmouth, Hurst Castle, The Needles, St Catherine's Point, and Egypt Point for the finish line.

The larger powered Class 1 boats will be expected to reach speeds in excess of 100 mph if the weather is fair.

There will be two teams from the Island competing in Class 3.

Historic 1963 Bertram Hull 'Thunderstreak' will be racing under the Royal Yacht Squadron flag with Hugo Peel at the helm.

Malc Attrill Photography
Malc Attrill Photography

East Cowes team 'ADL Scaffold' will participate under the ownership of Adam Leal who will be making his debut in Offshore Powerboat Racing in a 21ft Phantom. 

Free viewing of the boats at Shamrock Quay is open to the public from midday on Saturday April 30.

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