Sports Listings / This Weekend: Powerboats: London-Calais-London race: Tower Bridge
This weekend it is the turn of the mighty offshore powerboats to show their mettle in the London-Calais-London race. The event this year is broken as the competitors will stay overnight in Calais for the first time in 15 years and counts as the fourth and fifth rounds of the British offshore championship. Tomorrow morning the race starts upstream of Tower Bridge and refuels at Ramsgate before setting off on the final 32 miles to France. The 120-mile return leg on Sunday has no refuelling stop and, depending on conditions, could produce the fastest crossing from the Continent to London. Richard Carr, of Poole, attempts to do just that. His 40ft catamaran, powered by two 1200hp Lamborghini petrol engines, can reach 120mph, a speed which could carry Carr and his co-driver, Peter Dredge, to London in an hour.
Where to watch: Start and finish: Pool of London, London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Course: River Thames and estuary, Ramsgate (refuelling stop). First leg (tomorrow): 9.15am, restarting from Ramsgate at 1pm. Second leg (Sunday): 3pm (one hour ahead of BST) from Calais. First powerboat is expected at about 3pm. Scrutineering takes place today at Port East, Hertsmere Road, Isle of Dogs from noon to 5.30pm and is open to the public.
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