Veteran ‘Thunderstreak’ prepares for the new-style 2024 Cowes Powerboat Festival: Probably her final race

Team:Royal Yacht Squadron, Class 3E National UK powerboat champions in 2022 and 2023, have again entered their veteran race-boat “Thunderstreak” for both Cowes Powerboat Festival events over the August Bank Holiday race weekend. Sadly, however, this might be their last race as they retire the boat this season.

As the oldest race-boat in the fleet, this 1963 Bertram currently leads the UK national championship after three races with 1200 points – some 300 ahead of their nearest competitor, fellow Islander Peter Hall’s 1980s Hunton 28, “Mango Crazy” and many younger, faster entries.

This Cowes-based prize-winning team [see right: clockwise from top centre] comprises Hugo Peel/owner-driver; Richard Jessel [navigator/strategy]; Adrian de Ferranti [throttles/trim]; and John Simmonds [laughing Team:RYS skipper]. All four have been preparing for the revitalised Cowes Powerboat Festival, organised by Laura and Martin Levi of the British Powerboat Racing Club in a new partnership with international PowerboatP1. New sponsors are Experience Kissimee, of Florida, USA.

The race weekend which includes the celebrated 200-mile+ Cowes-Torquay-Cowes [CTC] for the bigger Class 1 and marathon race-boats for this Saturday. However, “Thunderstreak”, as a veteran entry, will compete with over 20 other Class 2 and 3 challengers in the 80-mile Cowes-Poole-Cowes race [CPC].

Again, on Sunday Team:RYS will enter the 60-mile Round-the-Island Race [RTI] hoping to repeat their performance from the identical race in May this year where “Thunderstreak” romped home in Class 3E first place – and set a record rounding time for a veteran Bertram 31’ of 66mph.

Owner/driver Hugo Peel observed: “She fairly flew round the Island earlier this May with her new race-propellors. This re-fitted veteran race-boat achieved an average speed well beyond her original designed velocity of 30mph.”

He added: “Sadly, however, Team:RYS will call it a day at the end of this season, so this is our last CPC and RTI. “Thunderstreak” has enjoyed an amazing second life and given us huge success – but this is our last hurrah!”