Round Britain 2012

[RB12]

Round Britain 2012

John “Cookee” Cooke here - I have been asked to represent the RB12 race ”Online” for the benefit of everybody – the competitors, the spectators and of course the organisers – so that everyone can keep up to date with what’s going on as the race develops, and ask questions about the race.

First things first - My observations and questions answered.

The start/finish and venues will be confirmed by the last quarter of this year, that is to say sometime after the beginning of September, but definitely before the end of the year.

The race already has the stamp of approval from the UIM, the RYA, the Princes Trust -Sport United, the Royal Aero Club and GoMotorsport.

John Puddifoot and Richard Salaman are confirmed as Race Director and Safety Officer.

The Air race will be launched between April and June, and the road race between July and September.

The event itself will be Carbon Neutral as RB12 will be purchasing carbon credits on behalf of the competitors. If any team requires assistance in becoming carbon neutral in the build up period or racing in general then RB12 will be able to help advise.

If anyone would like a copy of the presentation that was shown at the boat show, then drop me an email and I’ll reply with a copy for you.

There has been a lot of conjecture about the entry fees paying for or supporting a massive shore side entertainment event at every venue, the fact is that these events will be self supporting and merely an “add on” for the venues to make it more of an event and to attract spectators and sponsors.

Another aspect of the event are the “Social Inclusion”, “Social Enterprise”, Training and Employment” and “Education” elements of the event as a whole, all of which add value to the event for everyone involved, especially the host venues that support the event.

In the coming months I will be writing a series of articles covering every aspect of the event, and trying to make it clear exactly what the paragraph above means to the race and the people involved.

I will be answering questions on Boatmad, RIBnet and of course the RB12 forum – if I don’t have the answer, I know a man who does!

On a personal note I am doing this because I have seen so many misunderstandings in the past, and it seems that rather than ask the organisers of a race questions are put on forums where people who aren’t in the know give the best answer they can, and sometimes this can lead to misunderstandings – that and they’re paying me!

You can email me at the address in my profile or send me a PM

[biffer]

good luck with all that work john

[Lewy]

good luck Cookee, thats some challenge you've taken on.

but as they say "your da man"

do you have a job title?

[RB12]

Thanks Biffer,

Lewy - good point - I don't have a job title, but I will be doing all of the internet stuff as well as doing a bit of writing, so definitely Press/PR related - I'll let you know when I get called something repeatable!

[RB12]

Just a quick update for everyone - there is a new newsletter out published yesterday - I have attached a PDF of the original which gives details of a discount scheme for the entry fees, and lots of general update stuff. If anyone has any questions let me have them - either below, PM or email, and quite a few of you have my phone number as well I think!

[RB12]

The "Notice of Race is now up on the RB12 Forum at www.RB12.com or you can download it here:

[RB12]

RB12 will be at RIBEX in Cowes during the 7-9 May 2010. The team from RB12 will be more than happy to chat over any part of the event.

The discount offer ends 31 April 2010.

Just to remind everyone that has registered that the discount scheme ends at the end of the month. If you intend to take advantage of the discounts offered, then time is running out fast!

[RB12]

Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) has focused the start of the winter months on a full throttle business push which looks set to prosper the Dorset region in the lead up to, during and post 2012.
Heavy weights of the yacht racing world including Sir Keith Mills, Rod Carr OBE, Jonathan Levy from the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and Maria Moynihan-Lee from the Galway stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race travelled to Dorset today in order to share their views on successful business practices.
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy also took the opportunity to announce themselves as the national start and finish venue of the ‘Round Britain 2012’ (RB12) dubbed Britain’s biggest multi-faceted land, sea and air event, which will involve over 1,000 contestants and supporting crew during June 2012. Celebrations included appearances from an original Ford GT40 Super Car, Twin Squirrel Helicopter and a Goldfish 36 P1 (Team Rooster) ‘the Fastest Diesel Production Boat in the World and the Fastest Rib to Round Britain in 08’. Despite this event using supercars, aircraft and powerboats, the organisers will be ensuring that RB12 incorporates carbon offsetting to ensure that the overall event is carbon neutral.
Speaking at the conference today John Tweed, Chief Executive of the WPNSA highlighted the importance of a business focus, ‘Weymouth and Portland are becoming buzzing event locations which is positive for the local Dorset economy. We feel that conferences bringing experienced individuals together can produce new ideas and opportunities for the future of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and we hope to build on all qualities of the area to bring future major yacht racing events to the South West and to ensure a prosperous future for the region.”

As an aside the GT40 is allegedly worth over £3,000,000 and is obviously an original Le Mans car. It was certainly interesting to rub shoulders with the great and the good from the sailing fraternity with some very important people there to listen to all of the presentations including the RB12 one.

[RB12]

Sorry I missed the photos off!

[RB12]

A newsletter just landed in the Inbox which is attached below.

If you can't be bothered to read it here are the major points:

32 paid entries

Fees capped at 1250 hp total or £10,938 + VAT

A discount scheme is still available (get the deposit in before the end of the year for the best deal) with an excellent package (to be announced) on shipping from the US

The first RB12 related Aero event to be in Germany at Aero Expo Europe in Bitburg

Don't forget the VAT goes up in January 2011!

[RB12]

A short reminder that the 30% discount ends at the end of this month and that the VAT goes up to 20% on January 1st!

For those of you that are wondering the following is a list of proposed venues listed on the aero pages of the RB12 website -

Leg 1: Weymouth Penzance
Leg 2: Penzance Swansea
Leg 3: Swansea Liverpool
Leg 4: Liverpool Campbeltown
Leg 5: Campbeltown Kyle of Lochalsh
Leg 6: Kyle of Lochalsh Thurso
Leg 7: Thurso Edinburgh
Leg 8: Edinburgh Hull
Leg 9: Hull London/Harwich
Leg 10: London/Harwich Southampton
Leg 11: Southampton Weymouth

It will be the first race to circumnavigate Scotland - real RIB territory up there! :-)

[John Kennett]

Wow. The first real Round Britain race! That's going to be very interesting

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Wow. The first real Round Britain race! That's going to be very interesting

Yes

Shame about this bit:

Originally Posted by RB12

Leg 2: Penzance Swansea
Leg 3: Swansea Liverpool

Let's hope the venues are reviewed

[RB12]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Yes

Shame about this bit:




Let's hope the venues are reviewed

a list of proposed venues!!!!

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by RB12

a list of proposed venues!!!!

Hmm, I'd like to propose an alternative

[RB12]

Time for an update before Cowes!

The website now has full details of the course and I will be updating everyone with more details of the venues etc soon.

For those of you that have read the Cowes Race Instructions (available on The British Powerboat Festival - 2011) you will see that RB12 is once again supporting the Cowes Torquay race and there will be a meeting at the Cowes Corinthian YC at 12 on Saturday for anyone that would like to come.

There are now only 15 places left in the Boat section of the race, and the air and road parts are also filling up nicely.

Full details will be posted on the RB12 website of the meeting for those that cannot attend the meeting in Cowes - It's only 10 months to go now so start making plans now or you'll be too late!

In RB08 RIBs did very well with Goldfish sending over a few boats and the Techno RIB had some brilliant results, with an even longer course and potentially much more challenging conditions especially around the North of Scotland it will test every boat - it will certainly sort out the men from the boys (and the RIBs from the hardboats :-) ?).

[RB12]

The meeting is now going to be at 1715 just before the Drivers Briefing still at the Cowes Corinthian YC. It was felt that there would be not enough time between events - this should make it more convenient for everyone.

[Cookee]

Things have progressed as you would expect by now. The route has been finalised and it is now:


Weymouth - Falmouth - Swansea - Conwy - Troon - Kyle of Lochalsh - Thurso - Edinburgh - Hull - Ramsgate - Weymouth - 1723 nautical Miles.

You will notice that Penzance, Liverpool, Cambeltown, Harwich and Southampton have all been dropped.

The event now has a title sponsor - Saxo Capital Markets, the specialist in online trading and investment.

[Downhilldai]

I see that unfortunately, they still have one 'S' word in there.

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

I see that unfortunately, they still have one 'S' word in there.

Not a big fan of Swansea then?!?!?!?!?!?!