28 April, 2008
Kleinwort Benson, one of the most innovative providers of banking and financial services to corporate and private clients in the UK and Channel Islands, is proud to announce their sponsorship of a Channel Islands based team in the 2008 Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race.
Kleinwort Benson sponsors the team in celebration of 45 years’ presence in the Channel Islands. The team will undertake the endurance race in the Sports Boat and RIBs (27ft-33ft) class, beginning at Portsmouth on 21 June. The race covers 1600 miles calling at Plymouth, Milford Haven, Bangor in Northern Ireland and then Oban. The teams will then cross over land to Inverness and race again to Edinburgh, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Lowestoft and are due to arrive back in Portsmouth on 30 June.
The race was last run in 1984 and this year will see up to 75 boats compete across seven classes made up from teams from all over the world, with entrants coming from Scandinavia, Poland, United Kingdom, United States and theChannel Islands.
The Kleinwort Benson sponsored team consists of four crew members who will race two at a time and a support team. The impressive crew comprises two time world champion Roy Smith, Jersey champion, Toby Clayson, Jean Riou who was placed 3rd in the 1997 European Championships and Dave Myles who has been a highly regarded member of Jersey Powerboat Club for the past 15 years. They will race in a 28 foot Ocke Mannefelt designed Batboat powered by a pair of 200hp Mercury Racing Engines giving it a top speed of in excess of 90mph and a range of 250 miles.
The team are confident that they stand an excellent chance to win their Class and are eager to try out their new boat at the
Channel Islands Air Search Challenge on 10 May. There they will race against a plane from Jersey to Guernseyin aid of the Channel Islands Air Search fund.
Roy Smith, two times world champion said: "We have worked hard as a team over the past 18 months to get to this point and are very excited that the race is approaching fast. The boat we have today is brand new and we can’t wait to get her on the water!"
Press enquiries: Rachel Butler +44 20 3207 7239