A NEW boat in its first outing — Team 25 Good Boy Vodka, driven by Rob Lockyer and Scott Younger — won the UKOPRA Round the Island Powerboat Race. 

The second round of this year’s UKOPRA Offshore Championship saw 26 teams start from a line off Gurnard, in The Western Solent.

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Isle of Wight County Press: The H400 in action in the UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023.The H400 in action in the UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023. (Image: Malc Attrill)

Isle of Wight County Press: UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 Class 3E winners, E28 Top Banana drivers Colin Gibson and Richard Jackson, with their team.UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 Class 3E winners, E28 Top Banana drivers Colin Gibson and Richard Jackson, with their team. (Image: Malc Attrill)

In a close-fought race, Rob and Scott beat last year's Offshore Championship winners Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings, in Silverline, by just four seconds.

The 'Big 2' crews completed the course in just under 42 minutes, at a respectable 87mph average speed. 

Although the first leg to The Needles saw the leaders peak at around 120mph, thanks to the mill pond flat water, conditions changed to a moderate swell heading down to St Catherine's Lighthouse. 

Class 1 had the biggest fleet of boats seen in British Powerboat Championship racing since the 1960s, with nine teams producing a combined power output of 16,000hp. 

The fleet included a team from Sweden, who drove a 40ft canopied catamaran, which was forced to retire off Freshwater. 

Isle of Wight County Press: UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Good Boy Vodka, driven by Rob Lockyer and Scott Younger.UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Good Boy Vodka, driven by Rob Lockyer and Scott Younger. (Image: Snap-Photography)

Isle of Wight County Press: UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Silverline.UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Silverline. (Image: Snap-Photography)

Class 2 saw the return of the 1998 Cowes Beaverbrook Trophy winner , Assagai, who took line honours in just under 55 minutes. 

Some 14 teams competed in Class 3 — from historic Class E, to the smallest class, P750. 

There were wins for Renegade 2, TeamworX, Mid-Life and Team Pickle across the Class 3 categories. 

There was a strong local Island interest across all offshore classes, which included new teams AT Offshore Racing, Brut and KMO Racing. 

It was in Class 3E which saw Isle of Wight teams fill the podium places.

Isle of Wight County Press: UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Top Banana.UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Top Banana. (Image: Malc Attrill)

Isle of Wight County Press: UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Mango Crazy.UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Mango Crazy. (Image: Malc Attrill)

Colin Gibson and Richard Jackson, in E28 Top Banana, won in 1hr 3mins, at an average speed of 56 mph, beating lovingly restored 1963 Bertram Hull of H400, Thunderstreak, which raced under the Royal Yacht Squadron flag with Hugo Peel, Adrian de Ferranti and Richard Jessel aboard. 

Another classic race hull, formerly owned by Lady Arran, E8 Mango Crazy, driven by Terry Parsons and Bembridge man, Peter Hall. 

The next round will be held in Lymington on Saturday, July 8.

The August bank holiday weekend will see powerboats return to The Solent for the annual Cowes Classic.