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The Guernsey Powerboat Association (GPA) has secured its first ever major sponsorship deal which it hopes will provide a big boost to the sport in the island. The Stanley Gibbons 2015 Guernsey Powerboat Series is to be sponsored by the Channel Island based investment grade collectibles company.
Chairman of the Guernsey Powerboat Association, Colin Clarke, said securing the sponsorship is going to make a big difference to the club, "We have had to be self-sufficient for a long time with racers themselves having to pay everything to put the races on. Stanley Gibbons’ sponsorship means we can reduce entrance fees and so hopefully attract more competitors, plus we will now be able to afford advertising to let spectators know when they can turn out to watch."
Guernsey used to host world class powerboating events in the 1980s and 90s. The GPA has been trying to revive the sport in the island and last year hosted the UIM 2014 class 3A and 3B World Powerboat Championships in Guernsey. The international event saw teams from as far afield as Norway, Sweden and Belgium, travelling to the island to compete. The Club is currently bidding to host another international event in 2016.
Keith Heddle, Managing Director, Stanley Gibbons Investments said the sponsorship is an excellent way to invest in local sport, "Powerboating is an exhilarating sport which makes the most of Guernsey’s natural resource - the sea, and provides not only a great spectators’ sport, but also has the potential to bring tourists to the island. The GPA are working hard to revive powerboating in Guernsey and Stanley Gibbons are pleased to be contributing towards that effort."
Stanley Gibbons will also be sponsoring a race boat, a 23 foot ‘Bat boat’ with a 200hp outboard engine owned by Niall Bougourd. The boat was highly successful in the UK with its previous owner and looks set to be one of the fastest in Guernsey waters this year. It will be travelling to the UK for two weekends competition, as well as competing in the Water Speed Record on Lake Coniston at the end of the 2015 season.
The GPA is holding a training weekend and Open Day at the end of April. From Saturday 25th April race crews can undertake theory and practical training, culminating on Sunday 26th with a Club Open Day where the public are invited to view the race boats and talk to the crews. Children’s activities will also be on offer.
The first race of the Stanley Gibbons’ 2015 Guernsey Powerboat Series is the local Championship on 16th May with the National races in June.
