The Round Britain Powerboat Race is a huge endurance battle of 1,600 nautical miles round the treacherous coast line of Britain that will test most boats and crews to their limits. However, competitors will have a helping hand, both before and during the event, as Raymarine has joined forces with the organisers to offer free product support for the entire race.

Dedicated product support teams will be available on site from two days prior to the start of the competition at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, to offer professional technical advice and support to anyone who has questions and concerns about their kit, or requires additional training. In addition, Raymarine product support teams will be on hand at every stop-over to ensure on-site assistance is available for those who require it.

More than 40 boats are likely to start the race, including two Raymarine ambassadors; leading offshore powerboat racer Shelley Jory, and Greg Marsden, who’s extreme ‘Vampire’
RIB is expected to give the on-board Raymarine equipment a punishing workout during the challenge.

The event, scheduled to last more than ten days, will start and finish off the shores of Portsmouth, at Southsea Castle. Set to follow the same format as the 1969 and 1984 events, the race is believed to be the greatest offshore powerboat race to be held in the world for many years.

The event, which starts on Saturday 21st June, is not for the faint-hearted. It’s only the third time in the 100 year history of offshore powerboat racing in the UK that this race has been held, and it will echo the previous
races when bravery, endurance and sheer grit saw pilots power their way around the UK coastline.

Raymarine’s support schedule is as follows:

18-20.06.08 – Portsmouth, Raymarine Service Department
21-22.06.08 – Plymouth, Waypoint 1
22-23.06.08 – Milford Haven, Dyfed Electronics
23-24.06.08 – Bangor, (Northern Ireland)Marine Services 24-25.06.08 – Oban, Boat Electrics
26-27.06.08 – Inverness, Caley Marine
27-28.06.08 – Edinburgh, Blue V
28-29.06.08 – Newcastle, PA Lynch
29-30.06.08 – Lowestoft, Cliff Marine

For further information contact Chloe Bartle UK Marketing Coordinator, 44 (0)23 9269 3611 Ext. 1395 or chloe.bartle@raymarine.com or Alice Driscoll at ADPR, Tel 44 (0)1460 241641 or Fax 44 (0)1460 242719 or by email at alice@adpr.co.uk.