COPOC’s Certificate of Appreciation from Help for Heros

Letter of Thanks from Help for Heros for COPOC’s donation of £3,937.00 which was the results of everyones kind efforts & generosity, Thank you.

The Classic Revival Rally – The Whole Story…

They say the best laid plans of mice and men can and will go wrong, well our plans for August did not go wrong at least through no fault of our making. With 24 entries in the first Classic gathering organised by COPOC to celebrate the 50th running of the Cowes Torquay everything was shaping up for a brilliant 3 days, that was until Summer decided to end abruptly… then anything and everything that could did go wrong!

A week prior to the departure we learned that the Triana’s of Paul Hooper and Peter Farmery would not be attending although the owners would, then more bad news Spica and Laksfors both had engine problems and withdrew.
Ian Saunders beautiful restoration of Paper Tiger the 25ft Bertram raced by Charles de Selincourt also suffered installation problems, Ian had also caught a head cold and decided to call it a day. By Saturday the 21st of August we were down 5 entries! at least THUNDERBOLT was up running a jaunt up the Hamble with Ken Raybould on board to visit her birthplace at Badnam Creek then a swift circuit of Southampton Water showed her to be on the button, that was until returning to Hamble Point one engine died… a quick check and fuel top up then she fired up again. Back on her trailer and in the dry shed we checked the engine again, dead!, fuse gone on the ignition circuit… fuse changed tried again to be greeted by acrid smoke billowing from her instrument pod… the gremlins were out in force.
Now I was in the very fortunate position that with their own boats out of action Paul Hooper and Pete Farmery were determined to join the rally as Thunderbolt crew and without their expertise and assistance she would not have made it either.
By 10.30pm Sunday night she was repaired and ready for a final test on Monday prior to her going down to Torquay by road due to the incoming weather front on Tuesday.

As the storm clouds gathered it became obvious a dire situation was brewing… Ocean Pirate was stormbound in Lowestoft, the beautiful Ja Conga freshly overhauled was trapped in Ramsgate by worsening weather conditions. Then Gee’s owners decided they could not risk her for the rally as they were entered in the main CTC race on Sunday.
By Tuesday evening it became apparent that the boats due to leave Cowes on Wednesday would be unable to depart as conditions worsened. The Rally was on the verge of collapse..
In Torquay we had 4 boats who arrived earlier in the week with 4 local craft due to arrive plus Thunderbolt craned into the harbour, 24 had become 9 and the storms continued..
But we had not counted on the determination of many entrants to make it to Torquay come hell or high water! Out of the mist, after a 5am dash out of Guernsey, came John Vaudin’s Basta. Then into the harbour came Frivola and Miss Daisy also making the best of a lull in the storms to depart Cowes. The beautifully restored Louly a 36ft Morgan Giles motored over from the other side of the harbour and slowly the pontoon filled with more classic boats. By Wednesday lunchtime and despite the wind and incessant rain we had 12 boats on display.
An urgent appeal went out on the local commercial radio station for any one in the area who had a "classic" to come and join the party and 3 more arrived including a Supermarine Swordfish. Tornado arrived from Teignmouth and the Dell Quay Ranger Kiltie of Hamble then late entry Dr Syn a magnificant Swordsman.
As Wednesday progressed it became apparent that it was going to be impossible for the Red Arrows to fly even the Fairground closed through lack of custom, as for spectators! the streets were empty!.

The lucky few entrants who had made it to Torquay were now making their way freshly washed to the Welcome Party at the Royal Torbay YC. All things considered it was a really good turnout with two Lords present Clinton and Iliffe, a magnificent spread laid on by the RTYC chef and then fresh from their official reception at the Imperial Hotel… the whole Red Arrows team pilots and ground crew. Their appearance raised the reception to another level, there was no magic in the skies that afternoon but boy there was electricity that evening in the trophy room as the party took off!
Autographs, pictures and souvenir’s aplenty it was a night to remember.

Thursday morning we woke to the same grey skies but the wind had abated and the rain had stopped. Plans were laid for 2 laps of Torbay as MDL our supporter, had camera man John Marshall on hand to film the event and you can see the resulting film on the web site (see above) with several others, one courtesy of Derek McClarron owner of the magnificent Morgan Giles.

Thunderbolt led the group out into the bay and we gave it all we had, such a shame there were so few spectators to see history being marked by a superb fleet of classics. One little hiccup as nerves and tiredness took its toll on your Commodore, I REVERSED INTO THE PONTOON! Luckily no major damage…
Charles Lawrence was busy handing out the beautifully printed entry list he had prepared to all who made it dockside to view our fleet. (see below)

Maid of Baltimore
A 1961 production Fairey Huntress 23, which although entered in the first Cowes –
Torquay Race in 1961 did not compete until 1971. Deep-V hull design by Ray Hunt,
developed by Alan Burnard, and powered by single Perkins diesel. The Fairey hot
moulding process formed a hull as a single piece of plywood. Now owned by Chris
Barker she is based at Fleetwood.

Frivola
‘Frivola’ is a 1964 Fairey Swordsman 33 which was entered in the 1964 Cowes –
Torquay Race. The Swordsman class was designed by Alan Burnard as an enlarged
Huntsman 28, originally for racing, but the enlarged accommodation became very
popular. Frivola was originally powered by twin 290hp Perkins diesels, and is
now owned by Felix McHenry from the Isle of Man.

Miss Daisy
A late production glassfibre Fairey Spear, a GRP version of the Huntsman 31,
‘Miss Daisy’ was restored and re-engined by former Concorde pilot Jonathan
Napier. She was raced in the Historic Class both in the 2008 Round Britain
Race and Cowes-Torquay.

Laksfors III
‘Laksfors III’ is a one off 30’ boat designed by Ray Hunt and built of
cold moulded ply by Souters at Cowes for the merchant bankers, Hoare Gavette.
Owned by Mark Rice for the past 28 years she is powered by a pair of 325hp
V8s with Mercruiser sterndrives. She competed in the 1971 Cowes-Torquay race.

Tireur
A production Fairey Swordsman 33’, powered by her original twin
145hp Perkins Diesels. She demonstrates another type of aft cabin
top that was used on the Swordsman. Recently acquired by
Per Hansson, she is now based in Dartmouth.

Miss Speedbird
Formerly ‘Tolstar’, this 21′ boat was based on a production Tolcraft hull,
and raced by Ian Toll in the 1968 Cowes-Torquay. She is now owned by Gerry
Pols and based in Guernsey.

Viva Tredante
Sonny Levi designed the diminutive 23′ Trident class in 1961, and ‘Viva
Tredante’ was built in wood by R & W Clark in Cowes. Similar boats were
built elsewhere in GRP. Now owned by Ian Wright, with a single engine
replacing the original triple sterndrives.

Gee
Developed from the design of 1966 winner ‘Ghost Rider’ by Jim Wynn,
the 40′ Gee was built by Souters at Cowes in 1967. She has evolved
over the years and with various engines has participated in major
events including several Cowes-Torquays and the 1969 and 2008 Round
Britain Races. She is now owned and raced by Chris Clayton.

Dr Syn
Named after the fictional smuggler, this Fairey Super Swordsman
33’ is also based in Dartmouth. The Super Swordsman was the
final variant and had an aft cabin with full standing headroom.
Owned by Christopher Dawson, the restored ‘Dr Syn’ is powered
by a pair of 300hp Mermaid Diesels, and was used as a marker
boat in earlier. Cowes – Torquay races.

Here and Now
A production Fairey Huntsman 28’, developed by Alan Burnard from the 23’ Huntress
and powered by twin Barracuda Diesels, she was hot moulded by Fairey Marine in
1962. Raced as ‘Fairey Huntsman’ in 1962 Cowes – Torquay race, and as ‘Here and
Now’ in the 1963 race. Owned by Paul Fairall since 1984, she is based in
Southampton.

Hamble Sword
‘Hamble Sword’ is another production hot moulded Fairey Swordsman 33, built in
1970. Based in Devon, she is owned by Robert Kathro, and she demonstrates one
of the alternative aft cabin arrangements.

Spica
‘Spica’ is a 1970 aft cockpit hot moulded Fairey Huntsman 31 which was
entered in six Cowes – Torquay Races between 1970 and 1990. The Huntsman 31
was designed by Alan Burnard to improve on his Huntsman 28. She is powered
by twin 300hp Perkins diesels, which gave her a speed of 41 knots. Owned by
Tony Kilby, she is based on the Hamble.

Basta
‘Basta’ is the first Fantome 32, Fairey Marine’s final powerboat type,
developed from the Spearfish and built in 1973. Owned by John Vaudin
and based in Guernsey, her original 180hp engines have been replaced
with Ford Sabres of 350hp.

Ja-Conja
A Moreland 38, built by R & W Clark at Cowes, powered by twin 300hp Cummins
diesels, first appeared in the 1966 Cowes – Torquay. She is now owned by
Geoff & Philippa Dixon.

Louly
‘Louly’ is a Morgan Giles Monaco 36 built in 1960 recently restored
by Derek McClarron. She was used as a marshal’s boat for the Cowes
Torquay race in 1975, commemorated by a plaque in the cabin. Last year
she returned to Teignmouth, where she was built. Race number 11 was
used by Captain Morgan Giles when he raced any of the Monacos. She is
powered by twin Leyland diesels of 125 bhp each, which replaced the
originally Rootes Listers TS3′s 2 stroke diesels.

Lady Emma & Le Scarron
Two examples of the Triana 25, GRP production boats evolved by Sonny
Levi from his Trident hull for Trident Marine. Owned by Paul Hooper
and Peter Farmery.

Horatia
The 42′ ‘Horatia’ was built in 1968 by Keith Nelson at Bembridge
for Cdr Peter Thornycroft and competed in the 1969 Round Britain
and Cowes – Torquay races. The Nelson hull is powered by twin
Caterpillar diesels giving 800hp. She is now owned by John
Trafford and based in Chichester.

Fortissimo
A production Fairey Huntsman 31’, Alan Burnard’s most elegant
design, and last of the hot moulded hulls. This aft cockpit
‘sport’ version was one of the six built. Originally exported
to Belgium she is now based at Kingsbridge.

Seaspray
Another 1962 production Fairey Huntsman 28’. Designed by Alan V Burnard, hot
moulded by Fairey Marine and powered by twin Barracuda Diesels. She raced in
the 1968 Cowes – Torquay race and in the1969 Round Britain Race for which she
was re-engined with 250 hp engines. Owned by Roger Perrot, she is based in
Guernsey.

Kiltie of Hamble
A Dell Quay Ranger 27’, built on an extended Fairey Huntress hot moulded hull,
originally designed by Ray Hunt. Primarily intended as comfortable cruising
boats, a Ranger did race in both the Cowes-Torquay and Miami-Nassau events.
This example is owned by Peter Aitken and based in Devon.

Xanthus
A 1974 aft cabin Fairey Huntsman 31, the last built at the factory.
Originally with 225 Sabre engines she was refitted with later 225 Mermaids,
and raced in the Historic Class in the 2008 Round Britain Race and 2009
Cowes – Torquay race by owner John Skuse and also based on the Hamble.

Thunderbolt
‘Thunderbolt’ is a 1961 Christina 25 which was driven by Tommy Sopwith
on 19th August 1961 to win the first Cowes – Torquay Race in 7 hours
17 minutes. The hull was designed by Ray Hunt and she was built by Bruce
Campbell Ltd. Powered by twin Crusader petrol engines each of 325hp.
Now restored by Mike James and powered by a pair of 220 hp Chevrolet
V8s.

Tornado
One of many Christinas to have survived, this single engine one is 23’-6″
long, with otherwise similar hull to ‘Thunderbolt’, but now with recent
wheelhouse added. Owned by Alan Perriam and based at Teignmouth.

Paper Tiger
A production Bertram 25, designed by Ray Hunt and built in 1963.
‘Paper Tiger’ raced in the Cowes Torquay powerboat races in the early
1960’s, winning her class in ’64. The type remains sought after in the
USA and Australia as the ultimate offshore sports fishing boat.
Originally powered by a 330 hp Mercruiser petrol engine and outdrive
leg, but recently restored and re-engined with a Yanmar 300.

Blue Corsair
The original Corsair 27 ‘Inertia’ was designed by Sonny Levi at the
end of 1963. ‘Blue Corsair’ built in Italy in 2002. A Corsair won
several Cowes-Torquay Concours prizes and a production class in the
1966 Wills International. She is powered by a pair of Volvo 230hp
diesels with sterndrives, and is owned by Tim Seward.

Ocean Pirate
Raced in Historic Class in the 2008 Round Britain Race and built by
Brooke Marine of Lowestoft, pioneers in aluminium boat construction.
Between 1961 and 1976 they produced around 25 Ocean Pirates. Mike
Barlow’s 1968 40′ boat, yard no 336, featured in the San Francisco
Boat Show, and finished 7th in the 1969 race.

Playtime
Another production Fairey Huntsman 28, hull no. 103. Powered by a
pair of Perkins Diesels she was driven by Charles Currey in the 1967
and 68 Cowes – Torquay races as ‘Fairey Huntsman’. Now owned by Ben
Curtis she is based in Southampton.

Original artwork and design by Charles Lawrence kindly reproduced with permission

There were quite a few locals turning up who had witnessed that first race back in 1961! All we needed was a little sunshine!

And so to the main event the Gala Dinner and Charity Auction..
Club secretary John Iddon had barley been seen Thursday, he had spent hours with his partner Trina revamping the table layouts the original guest list went out the window with the non arrivals to be replaced by new names and what a list..
The Commander and 5 leading officers from the Nuclear Submarine HMS Torbay, the Group Captain from RAF Devon, Lord Iliffe and Jon Eads of MDL.
Mark Rice and his partner Brenda owners of Laksfors drove down to Torquay, they had no boat due to engine problems but were determined to make it to the dinner… and yet again we had another amazing evening. Superb food and company, Dag Pike’s off the cuff speech about the madness of powerboating then the auction raising in combined total with Thunderbolt’s competition nigh on £4000.00 for H4H.

Friday arrived with yes you have guessed correctly, sunshine! And so the fleet gathered to depart, some back to Cowes and others to local ports. The send off was to be flagged by the Commander of HMS Torbay, so with all the boats circling off Livermead again led by Thunderbolt the time came for some more magic as the fleet lined up behind the start boat. The flag dropped off Torquay harbour and the first Classic Revival Rally finished with a flourish as the faster boats shot off towards Cowes…
Thunderbolt circled back into the harbour and was craned out ready for her road trip back to Hamble and then across to Cowes for her re christening on Saturday by Tommy Sopwith but that is another story..
My thanks to everyone involved, to the staff of the RTYC, Gordon Oliver, The Imperial Hotel, the Entrants whose determination made the event the success it was, the COPOC organisation committee and lastly to John Iddon…

By the way for those who did not make it some notes for your 2011 diary,
May – we are invited to the Sports and Rib Show in Southampton,
June – Help for Heroes are organising a massive pageant of the sea in Babbacombe Bay..
And
August – Bank Holiday at Cowes will be the 2nd Classic Rally…see you there!

Mike