Concern over UK powerboat race course

The 2008 Round Britain Powerboat Race is the “Mount Everest” of all powerboat races and is the longest and toughest event for powerboat drivers anywhere in the world. Offshore powerboat racing is racing by large, ocean-going powerboats, typically point-to-point racing.

The race around the UK shoreline will cover over 200 nautical miles through some extremely difficult seas and test boats and crews to their limit. However the Marine Connection is concerned of the effects that this could have on marine life because it will not only cause a huge amount of noise to the animals nearby but it could possibly injure or kill them if the vessels collide with any.

Speeds vary from 65mph to 190mph and a collision with such a fast, powerful vessel could kill or seriously injure species including bottlenose dolphins, seals ,porpoises and minke whales which frequent some of the areas covered by the race, including the Cardigan Bay and Moray Firth areas - both of which has resident bottlenose dolphins.

The Green Blue, the environment programme for The Royal Yachting Association (RYA), met with the race organisers and agreed a number of mitigations but there are no real mitigation measures in place to prevent disturbance and injury to the many cetaceans around the UK coastline. They include:

• Compulsory waypoints to avoid the most hazardous areas
• Daily briefings about known animal activity along the route and information clarifying potential problem areas
• All relevant information included in race briefing materials

The power boats will drive through important areas for marine wildlife including breeding and foraging areas. The organisers were aware that there are potential problem areas and that marine life can be seriously injured or killed.

The race starts on June 21 and lasts for approx 9 days.
Click here to see the course

The charity feel that both the RYA and the race organisers should have considered consulting with NGOs such as the Marine Connection who work towards protecting marine mammals in order that we could have advised on where the cetacean hotspots are, and also what species may be in the waters at this time of year.

Take Action

Please email the following asking that marine wildlife around the UK coastline is considered far more comprehensively when planning similar events in the future.