H400 “Thunderstreak” update RTYC BSC BPRC COPC
Issued: am Monday 30 August

60th ANNIVERSARY COWES-TORQUAY POWERBOAT RACE WEEKEND.
RTYC MEMBER SCOOPS CLASS 4 AWARDS.
HISTORIC 58-YEAR OLD “THUNDERSTREAK” WINS CLASS 4 100-MILE COWES-POOLECOWES RACE. ALSO AWARDED: TIM POWELL TROPHY, LOMBARD NORTH CENTRAL
SALVER AND UNIQUE “THUNDERBOLT” PLAQUE.

The 60th anniversary 200-mile COWES-TORQUAY-COWES race festival, one of the world’s toughest and
longest-established offshore powerboat races, was held over the August Bank Holiday Sunday in near-perfect
sea and weather conditions. Some 40 offshore race-boats – embracing 120mph Class 1 & 2 rigs to Class 3 race converted RIBs and “ski-boats” – also included historic and classic race-boats [designated as Class 4] which ran the
shorter 100-mile Cowes-Poole-Cowes course [“CPC”], which provided triumphs and dramas in equal measure.
Organised by the British Powerboat Racing Club [“BPRC”], the CPC race provided an equally tough but more
manageable course. Among half a dozen other historic and classic vessels, H400 “Thunderstreak”, was entered and
driven by Hugo Peel; navigated by Johnny Raymond with James Gaggero on throttles. Thunderstreak took Class 4 line honours and the BPRC plaque.

In addition, Thunderstreak was awarded the beautiful Tim Powell Propellor Trophy for first historic boat home; and theLombard North Central Salver for Concours d’ Elegance.
To these, the Classic Offshore Powerboat Club [“COPC”] presented Hugo Peel with the “Thunderbolt” Trophy – a
once in a lifetime special award for classic racers and entrants who had contributed to the spirit and history of the sport through restoration, racing and support. This unique trophy features the original Cadillac V-8 car engine’s carburettor from Tommy Sopwith’s “Thunderbolt” which propelled his Christina 25 [built by Bruce Campbell, father of former RYS commodore Michael Campbell] to victory in the inaugural race in 1961.
Peel commented after the race: “It is a humbling experience to receive such wonderful awards from these august
organisations, particularly in the company of so many seasoned offshore-racing competitors. We dedicate them to the memory of the late Tommy Sopwith and all he achieved in his decades of successful racing.”
H400’s witnessed one drama. Exceeding 60mph alongside Dorset’s sheer cliffs and rocks between St Albans Head and Anvil Point [sometimes as close as 40ft] a Class 3 boat C77/“Ananab Racing” flipped in the seas and nose-dived beside H400. “Fearing the worst,” reports Peel “we swung round to check C77’s crew. They had gone from 60mph to zero mph in 30 feet, experienced untold G-forces, and then submarined their bright yellow 28ft Okke Mannerfeldt bat-boat.”

With radio communications under the Jurassic Coast cliffs is non-existent, H400 came alongside the flooded vessel and swung across the course as a visual warning to other competitors following – and holding off long enough to confirm the crew and boat’s well-being, and until spectator boats zoned in to offer further assistance.

ISSUED: Monday 30th August

H400 “Thunderstreak” update RTYC BSC BPRC COPC Issued: am Monday 30 August
Below: H400 “Thunderstreak” crossing Christchurch Bay at 65mph en route to taking the chequered flag for Class 4 [Historic offshore] for the Cowes-Poole-Cowes race August 2021. Other shots available. PHOTO CREDIT Jon Nash

Below: BPRC prize-giving [L-R] Laura Levi [BPRC]; James Gaggero, Hugo Peel & Johnny Raymond.