THE Ilmor-engined Warpath, raced by Antibes-based throttleman Glenn Chidzoy, Norwegian Ole Finholt and Southampton’s Gordon Compton, claimed victory in the marathon category and class B and earned valuable points towards the prestigious Harmsworth Trophy at the Fortitudo Property Poole Bay 100 Offshore Powerboat race, the opening round of the World Offshore Championship.

The Poole duo of Christian Toll and Mike Bontoft, together with Michael Peet, racing the Chevrolet-engined 35’ Dry Martini Cigarette, finished second and Dorian Griffith and Will Stevens rounded off the podium positions and also won class C in the Yanmar-engined Blastoff.

Compton said: “The navigation went perfectly. On the first lap, we were running fourth and we settled in and let them do what they wanted to up front."

Chidzoy added: “This is what you dream of. You need boats like this to enjoy racing. The team gave us a great boat. I’m so grateful to be here and a big thanks for the guys who organised this race.”

The experienced Exeter-based duo of Andrew Langdon and Miles Jennings suffered technical issues in their 38’ Outerlimits Silverline boat and eventually retired one lap from the chequered flag.

David Foa and Charles Swales, also from Exeter, completed all but one lap of the Marathon race in the Mercury-engined Mr Mako to take fourth and first in class E.

But the diesel-engined Fugitive of Rose Lores and Francis Whitley retired from class G with two laps remaining.

Any hopes that Poole businessman and title sponsor Richard Carr and his Florida-based team-mate Steve Curtis MBE had of winning the marathon class were dealt a shattering blow on the first lap when their 46’ Fortitudo Cougar sustained a broken drive shaft and they also retired.

Southend’s Kerry Bobin and Bermuda’s Errin Butterfield spun at the last turn mark in the class three race at the helm of their Mercury-powered Twister catamaran Motorvated Bermuda and that enabled Bobin’s son, the 2016 UIM 3A world champion Jack Bobin, and Stuart Unwin to claim the win in Motorvated Racing after a ding-dong tussle which entertained the crowds off Bournemouth Pier.

The X77 crew of Graham Reeder and Martin Foster reached the chequered flag in a close third place in Ananab Racing in the opening round of the British Offshore Racing series.

Sunbury’s Thomas Pelham and Brian Pelham won class N and finished fourth in The Beaver Returns, while Dave Sheldon and Chris Bailey entered their Phantom 19G under the co-sponsoring Multispark Race Products banner and rounded off the top five.

The Guernsey-based duo of Mark Terry and Suzanne Cosgrave retired their Evinrude-engined Dirty Deeds and Sandy’s David Boakes (Bad Habit) retired at the start line on Bournemouth Pier.

Robert Lister and Nick Crouch withdrew Jupiter with gearbox issues on lap one.

This year’s marathon race ran for 121.40nm over a start lap of 58.80nm, one shorter lap of 28.40nm and three laps of 11.40nm. The shorter class three race for British offshore points ran for 71.4nm over a start lap of 12.3nm and three shorter laps of 8.30nm and 11.40nm.