The brainchild of Lord Beaverbrook – a driving force of British powerboating for decades – the 2010 Cowes double-header comprised the Cowes 100 and the 50th anniversary of the Cowes Torquay Cowes. Together, these races would become the centrepieces of the British Powerboat Festival with two of the most prestigious prizes in world motorsport up for grabs, the Beaverbrook and Harmsworth trophies.

Reigning Powerboat P1 Evolution Class World champion Hannes Bohinc declined the opportunity to defend his crown, instead preferring to focus his sights on England and an endurance race recognised as one of the world’s toughest and most esteemed. Bohinc is a gentleman racer who thrives on such events. He loves the classic races, the occasion and the history. “The British Powerboat Racing Club always make us feel welcome and their race organisation is among the best,” he says. “We come to enjoy the event and participate in the tradition.”The reputation of Wettpunkt.com as one of powerboating’s most professional and prepared racing teams worldwide had ensured that owner and throttleman Hannes Bohinc, driver Max Holzfeind and navigator Ed Williams-Hawkes were one of the pre-event favourites for the aptly named UIM Marathon World Cup races and the fabled Harmsworth Trophy. However, they had decided to compete with a ‘race-prepared’ pleasure boat – not a dedicated race boat. The FB Design 39ft RIB powered by twin FPT 560’s had served the team well in 2009, almost winning in a three-boat dash for the line, a remarkable feat for the latest Wettpunkt.com boat in its first ever race. The lure of a place in history meant much stronger competition in 2010, the landmark 50th anniversar Cowes Torquay Cowes event had drawn some 50 boats to the Festival, 30 of which would compete in the headline event. The international field