#thundercat – Building on last year's race across the Irish Sea to Holyhead, four Irish powerboat racers are taking on a Cork to Dublin challenge that puts them and their boats to the test, all in an effort to raise funds for Pieta House as part of Suicide Awareness Week.
The teams were training over last weekend, covering over 100km each in efforts to condition themselves to this lengthy endurance event - preparations are well under way. A press launch and wet demonstration outside of the Clarion Hotel in Cork is due in the coming days.
The teams have also raised just over €1,000 at a table quiz for suicide charity this week.
The boats are very light (boat = 85kg, engine = 80kg) meaning they are fast! They can reach speeds of over 35 knots and jump up to 6 metres in the air. The primary purpose of these boats is surf racing and they race at high speeds in surf of up to 5 metres and wind speeds up to 45 knots. Crews consist of a pilot and a co-pilot. The pilot drives from the rear, while the co-pilot uses their weight to adjust the balance and trim of the boat.
The crews are Donnchadh Mac Cobb at the helm of one boat with Carmel Guilfoyle crewing making up Team Adventure Training Ireland, while Peter Sweeney will helm the second with Mick Killen as crew making up Team Aptriva. A third boat is manned by Aileen Mann and Jack Kingston. The boats and crews race competitively in the P750 National Powerboat Championship and will be taking time out from training between races to undertake this huge challenge.
The fundraiser has a facebook page here
