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. Both races have been shortened for Sunday, with organisers citing a storm warning for the sea areas White and Portland and a Force 8 gale warning at Plymouth. Read the full course change announcement.
The Two Races
The Cowes Torquay Cowes is normally a 181-nautical-mile round trip to Torbay and back. For Sunday it has been amended to a course out through the Solent and around the Poole 100 marks off Bournemouth and Boscombe, run twice, before returning through the Solent to finish: 56.74 nautical miles (approximately 65.3 statute miles) in total. It remains open to Classes 120, 100, 80 and 60, and the winner still takes the Beaverbrook Trophy. Race start is at 10:00.
The Cowes Poole Cowes, normally a run to Bournemouth Bay and back, has instead been amended to stay within the Solent: a 32.31-nautical-mile course (37.18 statute miles, 59.84km), open to Classes 75, Historic, 65 and 55. Competitors have 1.5 hours to complete the course to qualify as finishers. Race start is at 10:15.
Cowes Torquay Cowes (amended course): 56.74 nautical miles, out through the Solent to the Poole 100 marks and back. Classes 120, 100, 80, 60. Start: 10:00
Cowes Poole Cowes (amended course): 32.31 nautical miles, within the Solent. Classes 75, Historic, 65, 55. Start: 10:15
Both courses shortened due to a storm warning for sea areas White and Portland and a Force 8 gale warning at Plymouth.
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; the CPC classes exceed 65 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. On the amended course, the CTC fleet heads out through the Solent past Hurst Castle to the Poole Bay marks off Bournemouth and Boscombe, laps that area twice, then returns through the Solent to finish near East Lepe. The CPC fleet stays within the Solent throughout, running between East Lepe and Sconce, off Keyhaven.
Podium presentations take place at Cowes Yacht Haven during the afternoon as boats return.
Where to Watch: Sunday 30 August 2026
With both courses shortened and largely kept within the Solent, the Cowes waterfront and the Western Solent shore, between Hurst Castle and Lymington, are the best vantage points for both races. Exact return times depend on conditions and are pending official confirmation.
| Location | Cowes Torquay Cowes | Cowes Poole Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Cowes Seafront Parade of Boats from 09:30 |
Start 10:00 | Start 10:15 |
| Hurst Castle / Western Solent | Fleet passes outbound and on return | — |
| Lymington / Sconce | — | Fleet passes on each lap |
All times BST (UTC+1). Start times only; return timing pending official confirmation.
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.
Who’s Racing
Entries confirmed by the British Powerboat Racing Club: ten boats across four classes for the Cowes Torquay Cowes, ten boats across four classes for the Cowes Poole Cowes.
| Boat | No. | Driver | Throttles | Crew | Builder/Colour | Length | Engine(s) | HP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowes Torquay Cowes, Class 120 (Max 120 mph) | ||||||||
| Good Boy Vodka | 1-25 | Robert Lockyer | Tim Linden | Adrian DeFerranti/Charles Williams-Hawkes | Outerlimits, green | 52′ | 2 x Mercury QCV4 1100 | 2200 |
| Silverline | 1-47 | Drew Langdon | Miles Jennings | — | Outerlimits, white/black/grey/red | 11.95m | 2 x Mercury | 1900 |
| Smokin’ Aces | 1-74 | James Dodge | Chris Dodge | — | Skater, red/black | 40′ | 2 x Mercury | 2150 |
| Double Trouble | 1-88 | Gary Aldington | Anton Modin | — | Fountain, white | 40′ | 2 x Express Eastwood Racing | 1720 |
| Notareal | 1-125 | Joe Spoloric | Cade Wilson | — | Cougar, red/white/blue | 40′ | 2 x Sterling | 1500 |
| Cowes Torquay Cowes, Class 100 (Max 100 mph) | ||||||||
| Sixty Nine Offshore | 1L-69 | Alex Welham | Neil Raven | — | Blue/white, Craig Barrie | 39′ | 2 x Ilmor | 725 |
| Lightning Strikes | 2-69 | Harry Thomas | Dean Stoneman | — | Donzi, blue/white | 38′ | 2 x Mercury | 998 |
| Cowes Torquay Cowes, Class 80 (Max 80 mph) | ||||||||
| Black Ball Racing | 1L-8 | Rodney Hawkins | Martin McLaughlin | Barry Culver | Orange, Formula | 38′ | 2 x Custom | 1460 |
| 66 Racing | 2-66 | Tim Spink | Malc Dopson | Louis Spink/Rob Hingston | White/black, Banana Shark Racing | 37′ | 3 x Honda V8 | 700 |
| Cowes Torquay Cowes, Class 60 (Max 60 mph) | ||||||||
| Team 07 Racing | 07 | Andy Foster | James Norvill | Christian Charles Parsons-Young/Jason Field | Grey/white, Scorpion | 10m | 2 x Yamaha | 630 |
| Boat | No. | Driver | Throttles | Crew | Builder/Colour | Length | Engine(s) | HP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowes Poole Cowes, Class 75 (Max 75 mph) | ||||||||
| Life Racing | E-25 | Craig Fletcher | Duncan Good | — | Ocke *Mannerfelt, red/white/blue | 7.5m | 1 x Chevy/CAF | 350 |
| License to Thrill | E-32 | Lee Ornsby | Ross MacGregor | — | Spectre, white | 9.7m | 2 x 300 Yamaha | 600 |
| Cowes Poole Cowes, Class 75 Historic (Max 75 mph) | ||||||||
| Double 2 Shirts | 1-86 | Daniel Bentley | Shaun Bentley | Tom Yaldren/Dave Flewin | Don Shed, white/yellow | 40′ | 2 x Sci 600 | 1200 |
| Cowes Poole Cowes, Class 65 (Max 65 mph) | ||||||||
| Top Banana | E-28 | Stuart Vidler | Robert Owen | — | Phantom, yellow/black | 28′ | 2 x Mercury Pro Max | 600 |
| Just Add Water | D-33 | Murray MacGregor | James Dodds | — | Turquoise/white, Phantom/Steve Baker | 25′ | 1 x Mercury 300R | 300 |
| Charlie Three Five | C-35 | Elliott Holman | Jonathan Gray | — | Ocke Mannerfelt, orange | 7m | 1 x Mercury 200XS | 200 |
| Wight Noise | E-35 | Adam Leal | Tristan Ormiston | Gary Godden | Red/white, Velocity | 30′ | 1 x Chevy | 420 |
| Cowes Poole Cowes, Class 55 (Max 55 mph) | ||||||||
| Sustain Fuels | B-26 | John Bunyan | Luke Cloudsdale | — | Adam Younger Design, blue | 6.5m | 1 x Evinrude | 115 |
| Teamworx | B-33 | Clive Prestidge | Simon Matthews | — | Multicolour, Backdraft | 6.8m | Mercury | 115 |
| Thunderstreak | H-400 | Pete Hall | Brian Pelham/Trevor Squibb | David Squibb | Bertram, blue/white | 31′ | Mercruiser 2 | 200 |
Entries as of 29 August 2026, 14:30 (Cowes Torquay Cowes) and 28 August 2026 (Cowes Poole Cowes), subject to change before race day. Source: British Powerboat Racing Club.
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.
