PowerBoats

When the Club was founded by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in 1905, it was viewed as the marine section of motoring and was established to ‘encourage and foster the sport and industry of motor boating and yachting’.

From its early days, the RMYC has promoted the sport of offshore powerboat racing where average winning speeds have increased from 15.48 mph in 1906 to over 100 mph today. Some of the more popular events in recent history include the international Needles Trophy race as well as a fun event which has raised thousands for cancer charities.

The Needles Trophy Race carried World Championship, European Championship and British Championship status, making it one of the UK’s most prestigious annual events. It usually took place the weekend before the famous Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race, so that overseas competitors could make the most of their visit to the UK by entering both races.

The first race in 1967 was won for Great Britain by the Hon. Edward Greenall in Gee (pictured here) and over the years it attracted competitors from around the world including the USA, Italy, France, Monaco, Sweden, South Africa and Argentina.

The Camden Trophy was presented to the Club in 1966 by the Marquess Camden who was the Club’s Rear Admiral from 1963-1979 and Vice-Admiral from 1979 to 1984. The race was open to ‘Class III’ and ‘National Cruisers’ offshore powerboats and was one of the qualifying races in the British Championship series.

The first Cancer Research Race was held in 1975 as a memorial to John Bonham Christie, a prominent RMYC member who died of cancer. This ‘basic’ race – which consisted of four laps of a 10-mile course in Poole Bay – appealed to people with all sorts of boating interests from 50hp outboard ski boats through to the largest and fastest offshore powerboats.   Most importantly, everyone raced as equals which gave newcomers the opportunity to have a go at offshore powerboat racing.

Over the years the event has raised tens of thousands of pounds to support cancer charities. Money was raised in several ways. Competitors were sponsored by friends and family – some of them raising more than £1000 per race. Their fund-raising was also boosted by donations over the weekend, plus a post-race auction or tombola with some stunning prizes.

During the 1990’s and the early part of the 21^st century, the RMYC decided to break up the long winter months with the Brass Monkey Race which took place in February.

It took place on the same weekend at the RYA’s annual Powerboat Awards event which was held at the Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth – so most of the competitors were in the area anyway! It was open to all classes and usually attracted a fleet of a dozen boats, despite the fact that dry suits and thermals replaced the competitors’ more traditional wet suits and race overalls!

Club member, John Walker, has recently spent two years investigating the story of Idaho – which he has described as the boat that never was.  Read his fascinating story here:

THE YACHT THAT NEVER WAS

and see the certificate which is now on display in the Clubhouse here:

Royal Motor Yacht Club A3 certificate

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