Harmsworth Trophy | Season 2010

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Harmsworth Trophy

Founded by Alfred Charles William Harmsworth in 1903, the Harmsworth Trophy has gone on to become the Holy Grail of powerboat racing.

One of the most prestigious prizes in world motorsport, powerboating’s equivalent of the America’s Cup will this year be awarded to the boat recording the fastest average speeds in completing the UIM BPRC Marathon World Cup events, Cowes 100 and the Cowes Torquay Cowes.

Originally introduced to encourage and stimulate the development of the marine industry, the trophy was competed for by gentleman racers with Corinthian spirit.

Austrian Hannes Bohinc, considered by many as the modern day equivalent of his predecessors, is already one of only 10 powerboat drivers to have won the Harmsworth Trophy on more than one occasion.

He will compete again alongside fellow Austrian Max Holzfeind and distinguished English navigator Ed Williams-Hawkes at the 2010 British Powerboat Festival as the experienced crew attempt to secure the coveted solid bronze sculpture in Wettpunkt.com, the FB RIB 39, powered by twin FPT 560hp diesel engines.

Bohinc first achieved the feat in 1995, arguably his most successful year in powerboating to date.

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2010 HIGHLIGHTS

With even rougher waters and 10fit waves in places, it was no surprise that the treacherous conditions forced a host of early retirements in what has been aptly described since ites formation in 1961 as one of the toughest endurance races on the plant. Despite his frustration with the outcome of the racing. Bohinc did hint that he expects to return...

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2009 HIGHLIGHTS

Austrian Hannes Bohinc and his Wettpunkt.com team were cruelly denied victory in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes when a ruptured fuel tank forced the Buzzi-designed powerboat to retire just 1.5 miles short of the finish after almost four hours of grueling race action. There was no stopping them, however...

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2008 HIGHLIGHTS

Wettpunkt.com completed a hat-trick of consecutive wins at an impressive average speed of 88mph, followed by Andy Macateer’s Venturer, the leader in the RB1 Class. Although moderate conditions had prevailed over most of the stage, the opening miles down the Firth of Forth brought strong headwinds and punishing seas...

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2007 HIGHLIGHTS

During 2006, Hannes Bohinc commissioned Italian powerboat legend Fabio Buzzi to design and build a brand new boat to compete in Offshore powerboat racing. Powered by Isotta Fraschini engines, the boat lined up for the start of the 2007 Powerboat P1 World Championship in Valletta, Malta and...

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2006 HIGHLIGHTS

Hannes Bohinc began the 2006 Powerboat P1 season as reigning World Champion. It started the season brightly in Valletta, Malta, powering into second place, until an onboard fire stopped it in its tracks. Further boat-related issues during the second race in Anzio, Italy saw Wettpunkt.com withdraw from the 2006 Championship.

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2005 HIGHLIGHTS

The team knew that its rivals would have to win by a clear margin and, having adjusted its race strategy accordingly, was happy to bring the boat home in second place to claim the World Championship crown; a more than fitting reward for every member of the Wettpunkt.com team...

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2004 HIGHLIGHTS

"These were some of the worst conditions we have ever experienced, but we knew the pedigree of boat and crew." said Bohinc. The sweet taste of victory in Europe's premier offshore series had whet the appetite of the Austrian team, 2005 could not come soon enough.

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2003 HIGHLIGHTS

The Needles Trophy is one of the most beautiful in Offshore, a solid silver sculpture of the Needles Lighthouse off the western tip of the Isle of Wight and was inaugurated in 1932.The inside line was held to the Dolphin buoy turn and on the last leg, at 76 knots in big water, the crew managed to get 'Wettpunkt' ahead by about 40 meters...

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2002 HIGHLIGHTS

The team started the Cowes Classic as favorites, with perfect racing conditions and on a high from the ‘Round the Island’ record. Hannes and his team led the fleet all the way to Portland Bill, however about half a mile into the crossing of Lyme Bay they broke down and, although making a successful effort to restart...

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2001 HIGHLIGHTS

The team started the Cowes Classic as favorites, with perfect racing conditions and on a high from the 'Round the Island' record. Hannes and his team led the fleet all the way to Portland Bill, however about half a mile into the crossing of Lyme Bay they broke down and, although making a successful effort to restart...

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1999 HIGHLIGHTS

The 1999 European Endurance was the first continental championship to be officially recognized by the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique). Having established himself as a strong presence time and again in his first few years on the competitive powerboating circuit, the Austrian was unbeatable in Class P2...

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1998 HIGHLIGHTS

The 1999 European Endurance was the first continental championship to be officially recognized by the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique). Having established himself as a strong presence time and again in his first few years on the competitive powerboating circuit, the Austrian was unbeatable in Class P2...

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1995 HIGHLIGHTS

The year of 1995 would become Bohinc's greatest and most prolific in powerboating. The 1993 Martini Endurance Trophy winner became the owner of a 1989 FB 46’ already possessing a winning pedigree; it was from then on that the relationship between Bohinc and Buzzi grew stronger and stronger.

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1994 HIGHLIGHTS

The first distinctive FB 46’ Casino Tivoli of Hannes Bohinc, boasting three Seatek engines, won all the Martini races during 1994 at an impressive average of above 70 knots as the Austrian continued to dominate, this time in the Sport 2 category. With silverware and Bohinc now well acquainted, …

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1993 HIGHLIGHTS

Piloting the same monohull Offshorer Marine 38’ which had brought him so much success during 1992, Hannes Bohinc continued a rich vein of form to not only match but improve upon his debut power boating season. 1993 ranks as a defining year in the power boating career of Hannes Bohinc as his exploits achieved world wide recognition.

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1992 HIGHLIGHTS

In what was his debut season in competitive power boat racing, Austrian entrepreneur Hannes Bohinc began his career in the sport in the best way possible – with silverware. Though he had been a seaman since 1984 – sailing around the Mediterranean in his first sports boat – his passion for competition was not kindled until 1992.