Raymarine celebrates record breakers on Press Day at 2009 PSP Southampton Boat Show

Stand GO88

Friday 11 September 2009 -  With the 2009 PSP Southampton Boat Show aiming to break a number of world records over its ten day duration, Raymarine has invited a number of notable record breakers onto its stand to celebrate their outstanding achievements.

As a world leader in marine electronics, Raymarine equipment is used internationally, in some of the most extreme conditions, and in challenges deemed unachievable by many.  But the electronics, safety, navigation and communication are only a small part of any success - ultimately it comes from the bravery, sheer determination and endurance from the people who set themselves the challenge to break a world record.

Celebrating their success on Raymarine’s stand will be Hilary Lister, who recently became the first disabled woman to sail solo around Britain, an amazing achievement which she completed in August 2009.  Hilary is joined by Geoff Holt, also a quadriplegic, who was the first disabled person to sail single-handed around Britain.  Geoff also holds the record for the fastest disabled sailor to sail around the Isle of Wight, a record he set first in 1992 and repeated in 1997 shaving six hours of his time, and which still stands unbroken today.  This autumn Geoff sets off on his own Personal Atlantic Challenge, aiming to become the first quadriplegic to cross the Atlantic sailing single-handed.

Whilst for Hilary and Geoff the sail around Britain lasted many gruelling months, race boat champion and adventurer Neil McGrigor still holds the record for the fastest powerboat sprint around Britain.  In August 2005, Neil and his three man team set the World Record for the circumnavigation at just 27 hours and 10 minutes.   Averaging speeds of 61 miles per hour, the team relied on their Raymarine equipment to navigate safely at night and in poor visibility.

Another pair of record breakers who battled with poor visibility were the intrepid duo of Ray Bulman and Geoff Tobert, who in July 2009, became the oldest powerboat veterans to travel over 200 miles in one day.  The pair travelled from London to Calais, and back, in a fully restored Hostess ‘Sovereign 17’ – one of the very first models built by Sunseeker over 40 years ago – and which featured in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace.

From some of the oldest record breakers – Geoff was 80 and Ray a sprightly 79 at the time of the challenge – to one of the youngest, as Raymarine praises Katie Miller, who this summer became the youngest female skipper to complete the gruelling OSTAR single-handed transatlantic race.   Also being recognised for her numerous record breaking achievements, but like Katie unable to attend due to race commitments, is Shelley Jory.   

Shelley is one of the world’s foremost powerboat racers, and recently became the first woman to enter an all-female team in the men’s world of powerboat P1 racing, and also to win the Turkish Grand Prix.  This makes Shelley the first female to ever win a motorsport Grand Prix!  Amongst her many achievements, Shelley and her navigator Libby Kier were the first women to win the British Honda Championships racing as Team Raymarine in 2005, and Shelley still retains the world record for the three hour endurance race held on Lake Windermere, a record she set back in 2003.

The famous names and faces form just part of Raymarine’s celebration of record breakers.  With over 30 years heritage, the company continues to support boaters, whether racing, fishing, sailing, powerboating, exploring, or embarking on the adventure of a lifetime – and all enjoying the advantage of Raymarine onboard.

This text can be downloaded from www.adpr.co.uk

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September 2009 (RM634)