38 years ago, in 1972, England was shaken by an economic depression, and it wasn't all about yachts or voracious motor boats. However, there were some daredevils who proposed at that time to stage a grand "motor" race at the peak of sailing regattas. Everyone was offered a route from London to Monte Carlo!
Impetuous Britons have responded with unprecedented enthusiasm to the curious idea. At the start of the race 22 rivals, and two weeks and 2700 nautical miles later exhausted, but satisfied winners took the gold cup "London-Monte-Carlo" from the hands of His Highness Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Princess Grace. This swim was later unanimously recognised as the longest and most challenging ocean motor race in the world. Perhaps for the same reasons, it has never been held again since.
Now everything promises to change. The legendary race returns thanks to several enthusiasts from leading British yacht clubs. Gentlemen Mike Lloyd, Peter Myles and Alan Goodwin have been successfully running the Round Britain Powerboat Race with up to 47 boats on board for several years now, as well as a number of other offshore events.
The date of the upcoming race has already been announced. Given the scale of the action, we can not expect a quick start. The race, which will now take place on the route Kaus - Monte Carlo, will start at the legendary Royal Yacht Club Squadron (year of foundation - 1815) at 9:30 am on June 8... 2013.
News of the upcoming race was first announced at the opening of the London Yacht Show and according to Mike Lloyd, yachtsmen were very enthusiastic about the announcement. Although it was still more than two years before the start, the organisers had already received 47 serious bids from competitors - twice as many as had already started in the original race from London to Monte Carlo. In total, no more than 50 racing crews will be able to participate in the race, which is mainly due to logistics considerations. In the course of the race, the boats will cover a distance of 2500 nautical miles. The route goes through 11 ports in four countries - France, Spain, Portugal and Monaco.
Winners in various classes are expected to win prestigious historical cups, of which there are many in the UK maritime country. These include the Duke of York Cup, which was cast entirely in gold in 1924 and has since been contested by crews of the best British speedboats. Also among the prizes is the heavy centenary Britannia Cup, made of cast silver, now owned by the Sussex Motor Yacht Club.
