The GoGPS Cowes International Powerboat Festival brings the Cowes Torquay Cowes and Cowes Poole Cowes races together over a Bank Holiday weekend at Cowes Yacht Haven on the Isle of Wight.
Entry is free for spectators. The races start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line on Sunday morning and are open to watch from the shore along the Solent coast.
The Two Races
The Cowes Torquay Cowes is the headline event, a 181-nautical-mile round trip from the Solent to Torbay and back, contested by the fastest offshore powerboat classes: 120, 100, 80 and 60. The winner takes the Beaverbrook Trophy, one of the most prestigious prizes in British powerboat racing. Race start is at 10:00.
Running on the same day, the Cowes Poole Cowes covers 67 nautical miles west to Bournemouth Bay and back, open to Classes 75, Historic, 65 and 55. This race offers a strong field of production-derived and classic offshore machinery, including the Historic class, which brings out some of the most significant boats in British racing history. Race start is at 10:15.
Cowes Torquay Cowes: 181 nautical miles (208 road miles). Classes 120, 100, 80, 60. Start: 10:00
Cowes Poole Cowes: 67 nautical miles. Classes 75, Historic, 65, 55. Start: 10:15
What Spectators Will See
The start is the showpiece moment. Boats muster in the eastern Solent before forming up in line abreast behind the start boat and sweeping west across Cowes Harbour entrance at speed. The CTC fleet runs at up to 120 mph; even the smaller CPC classes exceed 80 mph in race conditions.
Spectators on the Cowes waterfront and along the Western Solent will see the fleet pass at close range during the start run. The CTC race then heads west along the Dorset coast, rounds Portland Bill, and crosses Lyme Bay to Torquay before returning, a course that takes the leading boats roughly five hours in total. The CPC race works a shorter course between the Solent and Bournemouth Bay before finishing back at East Lepe.
Podium presentations take place at Cowes Yacht Haven during the afternoon as boats return.
Where to Watch: Sunday 30 August 2026
Pick your spot on the course. All times are approximate and subject to conditions on the day.
| Location | Cowes Torquay Cowes | Cowes Poole Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Cowes Seafront Parade of Boats from 09:30 |
Start 10:00 Return from 12:15 |
Start 10:15 Return from 11:15 |
| Fort Victoria / Hurst Castle Western Solent |
Outbound from 10:10 Return from 12:00 |
Outbound from 10:30 Return from 10:55 |
| Bournemouth Pier | From 10:20 | From 10:40 |
| Portland Bill Dorset coast |
Outbound from 10:40 Return from 11:20 |
— |
| Brixham / Torquay | From 10:55 | — |
All times BST (UTC+1). Approximate only, subject to weather and race conditions.
The best vantage points are along the Cowes waterfront and the Western Solent shore. The start and finish line is set on the Royal Yacht Squadron line at Cowes, with the finish boat positioned near East Lepe, visible from the Hampshire shore between Lepe Country Park and Calshot.
Race base for all teams is Cowes Yacht Haven, Vectis Yard, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7BD. Boats are berthed in the marina from Friday 28 August and can be viewed from the quayside before racing begins.
The Isle of Wight is accessible by ferry from Southampton (Red Funnel) and Portsmouth (Wightlink). Cowes town centre is a short walk from the ferry terminal at East Cowes and from the floating bridge crossing.
Trophies
The Cowes Torquay Cowes overall winner receives the Beaverbrook Trophy, one of the oldest and most coveted prizes in British offshore racing. The Cowes Poole Cowes overall winner is awarded the RB12 Beaverbrook Round Britain Replica Trophy. Both races carry additional class trophies and specialist awards including prizes for the first Historic boat, first lady finisher, and youngest competitor.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
