CLASSIC AND CURRENT INSHORE CIRCUIT RACING POWERBOATS ON THE MERE
The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power includes a fascinating array of Classic and current Inshore Circuit Racing Power Boats that will be racing, parading, giving rides and demonstrations throughout the weekend.
Click to see the full Programme of Events.
The high speed programme on the Mere in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle will start in earnest at noon on the Saturday and go on until 6 after which we will be giving boat rides for local Charities. On the Sunday the action will start from 10am when there will be tests done on the new F1 2 seater Hellcat Press Boat that is capable of 0-100 mph in 4.5 seconds. It is hoped this will excite the braver men of the Press and possibly one or two local celebrities.
The 2-day programme will include the RYA Junior National Class who will do 2 heats on each day as a round of the National Championship and then an Invitation Scratch Race late on Sunday. The other National Classes on show will be the little kneeler OSY Hydroplanes who will also be out at least 5 times over the weekend, plus their practice sessions. This class will include the current reigning World Champion.
Then on to the big stuff!!!
The most popular class in the UK is the Formula 4 catamarans, where again we can boast the reigning World Champion. It is expected to attract between 15-20 boats, all very flighty at 70 mph when the art is to fly them on a cushion of air with only the prop in the water. They turn phenomenally quickly around the turn buoys hardly backing off but just dropping the boat into the water by activating a power trim on the outboard engine. These boats are very prone to flipping over backwards during a race when dicing for position so video cameras are all important to record the action. At 120mph the F2 cats are too quick for the mere, however they will be there for round robin match racing with the Grand Final on Sunday at 4 pm.
All this will be supported by the annual Rally of the European Classic Boat Fraternity who intend to bring some really exciting and famous craft of all shapes and sizes to delight you both on and off the water. They will parade each day on the Mere, have organised head to head competition and also show you how boats have evolved through the years. A classic unlimited hydroplane has been invited, that will bang your ears as it takes off but only a quick burst because he would be into the next County before getting to full speed.
Finally, on display will be The World Speed Record Holders from Coniston... the famous Helen Loney in her Exide eco friendly boat of the future that runs on electricity, her Husband Chris in the F3000, the Alan Marshall F2 catamaran and the Ted Walsh F1.
Around the Mere will be viewing and picnic areas. There will be special trips on the Mere for the Raffle winners and there will be a chance to meet at least two world champions and probably more. There will be easy access from the Mere to the paddock and track to follow events there.