Owners of classic and modern Fairey boats are nothing if not enthusiastic and the 2008 Round Britain Race sees them participate at three levels.

Fairey Owners Club members Jonathan Napier [Team 747], Mike Barlow [Ocean Pirate], John Skuse [Xanthus] and Jonathan Townsend [Swordsman] are all competing in the Historic Class for vessels whose designs are 20 years old or more and have the capability to maintain an average of 30 knots or better.

Several Club members have offered their boats for marking or safety cover duties and Hon. Sec., Huw Prothero, will be on station with his Fairey Fantome, Gin Mix, just to the east of South Bramble buoy.

It is here, at South Bramble, that as many as twenty other members will gather from along the South Coast and as far afield as Guernesey and the Isle of Man to cheer on their racing colleagues, who will start their 1,400 nautical mile odyssey from Portsmouth at 09.30 on Saturday, 21 June.

Team 747’s Jonathan Napier is really looking forward to the challenge and support: “ Getting my Spearfish back to her spiritual home in the Solent for this race was a real boost to morale as nothing quite measures up to British waters.

“ Alan Burnard’s Fairey designs have featured in both previous Round Britain races and we are all determined to show that these classic boats still have what it takes to get round our coast competitively, safely and in good order. Having our fellow Club members in the Solent to watch us past will be a real thrill.”

Nor will the modern Faireys built by Swordsman Marine be left out. Richard Gough, who has backed Team 747, will be out with his new Swordsman 40 and may show that her twin 380HP Cummins Mercruiser Diesel engines on Kamewa water jets give her a turn of speed to equal the classic racing fleet.