Belgian participation in the World Offshore Powerboating Class 3B

Matthew Webb and Gino PasschierAfter a while and being absent, Gino Passchier returns to racing in Europe. Although he races in a smaller class he still enjoys racing in a competitive fleet of 13 participants at Torquay (England). Gino races in the only Belgian team “Peters & May # B-75” along with Matthew Webb.  

The race is held under the RYA regulations and is coordinated by the UIM that it recognizes as an official World Cup race. A valid and official World Cup needs to have three different nationalities. The condition for entry of a Belgian team was that Gino had to be the pilot. Matthew Webb is no stranger to the circuit and has already achieved many national titles in its class. Gino and Matthew raced already together in 2008 Arendal (Norway) in the same class 3B where they achieved a fourth place in a Mannerfelt Batboat 22. This time they will race in a Phantom 18.

Peters & May - (the biggest worldwide yacht transportation servicesThe boats in the 3B Class are between 16 and 22 feet long and fitted with a 90 or 115 hp outboard. The 115 hp engine should be HO and the 90 hp a Tohatsu or a Yamaha. It is a fierce competition with 13 participants at the start where Gino and Matthew will try to distinguish themselves from the rest thanks to their experience. Gino: “I hope for a short ‘chop’ but it may be a little more. This time we throttle with the foot so my nickname “Golden Hands” should be changed. I don’t mind racing in a smaller class. You must respect each racing class and maybe in future I might race in the turbine-class in the U.S.”. Gino is still racing in the American circuit: the “Super V”. In his powerboating career Gino has collected a lot of experience in several classes. He is amonst others the speed world recordholder in the P1 Evolution Class (Lake Coniston, 2008) and has set the fastest time during the storm that hit Ramsgate-Ostend during the Bladerun 2007. “This World Championship was a “last minute” and thanks to the sponsor Peters & May (the biggest worldwide yacht transportation services) we can participate in this World Cup.” he states.

Here is the complete entry list of the World Offshore Powerboating Class 3B taking place from September 1st to 4th 2011.

Race No
Boat Name
Driver
Navigator
 Boat /Engine
Hull
Colours
Location /
Country
B-2
BRAATEN OFFSHORERACING
Jan Trygve Braaten
Rasmus S?derholm
Twister Cat 20 / Yamaha 90
Catamaran
Silver
Songe, Norway
B-7
PHANTOM FIDDLERS
John Guile
Tom Williams Hawkes
Phantom 18 / Evinrude 115 HO
Monohull
Black
Sark. 
Channel Isles
B-9
BERNICO INTERNATIONAL
 
Bob McCarthy
 
Nick Surry
Bernico 20 / Evinrude 115 HO
Monohull
Grey
Devon. UK
B-13
CIRCLE EXPRESS
Brian Peedell
Pat Peedell
Batboat 19 / Yamaha 90
Monohull
White
Surrey. UK
B-17
SICK CHILDRENS TRUST
Daniel Priestley
Sam Brewster
Phantom 18 / Evinrude 115 HO
Monohull
White/Red
Berks.  UK

B-19
BEECRAFT
Hakon Christoffersen
Kjetil Christoffersen
Beecraft 19 / Evinrude 115 HO
Monohull
White
Sande, NORWAY
B-28
PIRATES CAVE
Sharon Atlee
Graham Atlee
Tintorera 20 / Yamaha 90
Monohull
White
Kent. UK
B-48
RELENTLESS
John Richardson
Tom Sauvarin
VS22 / Evinrude 115 HO
Monohull
White
Guernsey
B-52
BLITZ RACING
Neal Ives
Michal Galczewski
Barracuda 18 / Yamaha 90
Monohull
Blue
S?hampton UK
POLAND
B-65
CRC RACING
Adrian Foulser
Stewart Dick
VS22 / Evinrude 115 HO
Monohull
White
Surrey. UK
B-66
OLD BOYS
Inge Lund
Kurt Egil Jensen
Batboat 19 / Yamaha 90
Monohull
Red
Twedestrand Norway
B-75
PETERS & MAY
Gino Passchier
Matt Webb
Phantom 18 / 90 Yamaha
Monohull
White/Blue
Belgium
B-92
DIGITAL CLARITY
Ashleigh Foulser
Alan Power
Bakdraft 22 / Yamaha 90
Monohull
Yellow
Surrey. UK