The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
This film is part of Free
Go Go Go!
From Cowes to Torquay, followed by cameras all the way, the world’s fastest powerboats speed along the south coast.
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Overview
On a calm, clear day and filmed in spectacular style from the powerboats themselves, helicopters, low-flying planes and following speedboats, this glamorous event showcases the fastest powerboat technology of the time, as well as some of the latest fashions. Technical problems with the powerful engines and a catastrophic fuel-tank fire raise the tension throughout the race until the clear winner finally emerges, and celebrations follow.
In 1961, the Cowes-Torquay race was introduced by Sir Max Aitken as the first offshore powerboat race in Britain. Initially sponsored by the Daily Express newspaper, it is the longest-running offshore powerboat race in the world and building on the already established US Miami-Nassau race, introduced offshore powerboat racing to the rest of the world. The 1967 Cowes-Torquay race was the last if its kind, as the following year the format became Cowes-Torquay-Cowes to enable the event to qualify as a championship heat for the newly introduced World Offshore Championship.
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