Falmouth will host the UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Race Championship over the weekend of the 28th – 30th of July 2023.

This will be the second consecutive offshore powerboat race event organised and managed by the Eastwood Racing team. The 2022 event enjoyed by many, even though it was the last race of the calendar and just going into the winter season, 15 boats from class 1 to class 3 turned up in Falmouth and successfully raced their respective classes. 

This year looks set to be bigger and better with more boats competing and more onshore participation.

Organisers for the event said: "This year we have managed to acquire the 'Cornish 100' Trophy dating back to 1964. The Cornish 100 was an offshore race held between 1964 – 1968 from Falmouth and Plymouth, in 1966 only 4 of the 18 boats finished this prestigious race.

The race originally started at Black Rock just off Pendennis Point and went up to Plymouth, a 100-mile race! Notable winners include Tommy Sopwith in 1965 and Fiona Gore in 1968."

The Eastwood Racing team are a local racing team, owned and piloted by Gary Aldington from Eastwood Garage in Penryn. Their boat, Vintage Torque is a class-1 boat that can exceed 100mph on a good day. Gary is a true ambassador of the sport and has worked hard to bring the event to Falmouth for the second year running.

Spectators will be able to watch the start of the race in Falmouth as the boats speed through Carrick Roads between Black Rock and Pendennis Point and watch them go offshore.

The main racing will be on Saturday 29th July with Sunday 30th as a backup if the weather postpones the race on Saturday. On Friday the 28th of July, there may be a chance to get up close to some of the boats to see them, more details of this and the timings of the race will be shared on the Eastwood Racing Facebook page closer to the event.

Schedule:

Friday 28th July

Boats will be arriving in Falmouth, with some hopefully being on display. (details to follow)

Saturday 29th July – RACE DAY

RACE TIME TBC - Class 1,2 &3 races will start off at Pendennis Point. The boats will run out towards the centre of the bay and then offshore heading up to the Eddystone Light house off Plymouth and back to Falmouth (weather dependent, a shorter course may be run if the sea state is deemed too severe).

This is the closest start line to the shore in the whole offshore race calendar, organsiers say spectators will be in for a treat with V8 noises, speed, and rooster tails of spray guaranteed.

All being well the boats should be finishing in the bay approximately 60-90 minutes later. The best place to view this will be from the Pendennis Point car park.

The boats will head back into the marina after their respective races where they can be viewed again from Discovery Quay. There will be a prizegiving and awards ceremony after the race, more details to follow.

There is a free app called TackTracker available on AppStore and Google play store where you can track the offshore race as it happens.

Eastwood Racing Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/eastwoodracing

'The Cornish 100' Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/3cHf5H9fO