Second for Powerboat Team Ocean Dragon Racing in Cowes 164nm Classic Local restaurateur and member of Exmouth Powerboat and Ski Club Martin Lai will probably have been spotted by many locals during testing off Exmouth &Budleigh Salterton on Monday 22nd August. Martin as throttleman and his team of Chun Kit Sui (Driver from Hong Kong) and navigator Tom Williams-Hawkes were conspicuous in a 41ft red and yellow race boat built in the USA by Pantera with two 525hp Mercury engines, testing was eventful and probably a good omen when Martin and Chun Kit Sui were both thrown from the boat following a tight corner, both were unhurt and no damage was sustained by the boat.

The whole team then moved to Cowes, Isle of Wight in readiness for the 164 nautical mile World Cup Endurance Race on the Bank Holiday Sunday (28th August) from Cowes to Torquay and back non-stop. Seventeen boats competed in fairly rough conditions and Ocean Dragon Racing competed under the Chinese Flag was beaten by just 9 seconds in a nail biting finish with Cinzano a more powerful boat with two 725hp engines who finished in 2 hours 53 minutes and 44 seconds, the third place team came in 26 minutes later.

At the awards ceremony at the Royal Yacht Club that night Ocean Dragon Racing were awarded several trophies for their effort: The Royal London Yacht Club Trophy (2nd Crew Overall), The Haimed Buhaleeba Trophy (1st Overseas Entry) and Team Navigator Tom Williams-Hawkes collecting the Alex-Foster Meridien Trophy (Youngest Competitor at 29.)

The team has now set their sights on racing in the USA Key West, November. The Team would like to thank their sponsors who joined them for a great racing weekend, Sun Lik Beer, Stanley Casinos and MHL Trading Ltd.