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19 August 2003
for immediate release A
love of offshore powerboat racing coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit led Charles
Gardiner, 40, from Chichester, West Sussex, to take over the distribution of V24
powerboats earlier this year. Following a meeting with Swedish designer Ocke Mannerfelt
in January 2003, the wheels were set in motion to have the boats manufactured
in the UK for distribution throughout the world with the exception of the USA.
V24 powerboats Ltd was born and is now run from the premises of Gardiner's main
business Gardiner Graphics Ltd in Portsmouth. Gardiner's aim was to produce
a race series where the results are based on the ability of the driver and navigator
and not the size of their wallet or advantages in body weight. His view was that
in order to get a race series off the ground you need boats on the water and he
took the bold move of guaranteeing potential purchasers that there would be at
least five V24s racing or they could have their money back. As things have turned
out, the enthusiasm for the boat has meant that, far from there not being enough
boats required, initially production could not keep up with sales. The V24
powerboats are manufactured by Mark Pascoe Ltd in Southampton and ten boats have
been produced this season with further orders already being placed for next season.
The V24 race series has been endorsed by the UIM (Union Internationale
Motornautique), the international governing body of powerboat racing and by the
RYA, governing body of powerboat racing in the UK. The boats now hold their own
one design class status and can compete both in the RYA National series and internationally
in the V24 one design class. Designed by Sweden's Ocke Mannerfelt, the V24s
offer racers the chance to take part in a notoriously expensive sport at a relatively
low cost. New boats cost £36,000 plus vat and, as they run with standard
production engines, maintenance costs are kept to a minimum. As a one design class,
no alterations are allowed. All V24s must weigh a minimum of 1460kg (including
their crew). V24s race in the UK in both the RYA National series and also
in the V24 Offshore Powerboat Championship. The V24 Championship has £10,000
in prize-money over the season, with £5,000 going to the series winners.
There are 5 races in the V24 series with rounds in Exmouth (5 July), Poole (16
August), Cowes (23/24 August) and Portsmouth (27/28 September). The V24
series has already attracted past champions from the world of powerboat racing
including former European Champion Ricky Hill (V9), four times World Champions
Peter Little and David Arthur (V27), European bronze winner Shelley Jory (V8)
and former Class One racer Richard Carr (V69). With a foot throttle and
steering wheel, the V24's are relatively straightforward to drive but there is
no substitute for practise. Powered by a 320hp, 5.7l V8 Volvo Penta engine they
will travel at speeds of 75-80mph which, on the ever changing 'track' of the sea,
commands a high level of respect. With its' distinctive 'wings' and canopy,
the V24 is a stunning boat but it has been built to maximize aerodynamics and
stability at high speeds. The wings give the boat lift to enable it to run over
the waves on the small pad on the hull just in front of the engine, keeping as
much of the boat out of the water as possible for maximum speed. The V24s
inboard engine sits much lower in the water than an outboard. Even in rough water,
the Duoprop will remain in the water for longer than the prop of its' outboard
counterpart thus maintaining forward momentum for longer giving a faster, smoother
ride. The use of a DuoProp propeller helps the stability of the boat as one part
of the prop turns left and the other right helping to keep the boat flying level
over the tops of the waves. Having set up the V24 series, Gardiner has been
overwhelmed at the reaction to the boats. 'We aimed to have 5 boats racing in
this first season but we've already got 7 out there and will have 9 or 10 by the
last couple of races which is a fantastic achievement by everyone involved,' he
commented.
In addition to the success of the UK series, the V24s will
be travelling to Key West, Florida, US for the World Championships (19-23 November
2003). 'Key West is a huge event and we are all thrilled to be going. It will
be great exposure for our sponsors and definitely the icing on the cake for our
first season,' commented Gardiner. New V24s are available for next season
priced £36,000 plus vat. Test drives and training days are also available
through V24 Powerboats Ltd. Details of V24 are available at www.v24powerboats.co.uk. -
ends - For further information, please contact:
Bambi Gardiner
V24
Powerboats Ltd
Unit 3 Oak Park Ind Estate
Northarbour Road
Portsmouth
PO6
3TJ Tel: 023 92 221133
Mobile 07768 698070
Email pr@v24powerboats.co.uk
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site are available for free use by the press. Use of photographs
must be obtained either direct from the photographer, or through
V24 Powerboats (email pr@v24powerboats.co.uk)
and can then only be used with credits given to the relevant
photographer. Thank you.
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