Powerboats return to Lymington

SPECTATORS were treated to the exhilarating sight of powerboat racing in the Solent, but it was not the best of days for local racers Rob Lister and Nick Crouch.

Milford-based Nick Crouch and Keyhaven’s Rob Lister took to the waters for the first time this season in the fourth and final round of the 2024 UKOPRA Championships.

However, the duo split their fuel tank and broke a pin in the power trim, meaning they could not raise or lower the bow and could not finish.

Nick Crouch said: “We split our fuel tank and broke the power trim ram’s top pin. The broken ram meant we couldn’t trim the boat; the engine was stuck fully trimmed in, causing the boat to run on its port side, which is dangerous.

“Then, after having covered 35 miles, the fuel tank split, and we lost fuel pressure and RPM because air was getting into the fuel system.

“We had a good time in the Phantom 19G, though, until the DNF!”

The start boat collected the 20-strong fleet under a yellow flag, and all the race boats headed from Berthon Marina, up Lymington River, and out into the Solent.

When the start boat was satisfied that the course was clear, the green flag rose, and the 80-nautical mile race was on for the vessels, some of which can reach speeds up to 100mph.

Class One honours went to Silverline’s Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings, with an average speed of 87mph, with Smokin’ Aces (James and Chris Dodge) and Dragon AT Offshore Racing (Amy and Andy Twemlow) in second and third.

Assagai (Marcus Dodd and Sean Girdler) won Class Two, while Thunderstreak (Hugo Peel, Adrian de Ferranti and Richard Jessel) atop Class Three.

For more information, visit the UKOPRA Facebook page or ukopra.co.uk