British powerboat title for New Forest's Rob Lister and Nick Crouch

NEW FOREST powerboaters Rob Lister and Nick Crouch have been officially crowned UKOPRA Offshore Class 3 British champions.

Perry McCarthy, aka BBC Top Gear’s Stig, presented the Class 3 trophy to Milford’s Rob and Keyhaven’s Nick at an awards evening held earlier this month at the Royal Southern Yacht Club.

Driver Rob and navigator Nick secured their number one status in their category when they powered through the rough waters in their vintage forge craft, Jupiter and took her to a substantial win against their fellow Class 3 competitors.

Rob and Nick started the season well, excelling in rough conditions at Falmouth. Then disaster struck when whilst leading at Poole they were forced to retire due to propeller failure. Finally, a crucial win in rough conditions at Cowes Torquay/Poole earned them the British Class 3 title.

It also won the Tim Powell Trophy for “most outstanding performance”.

The new British champs spoke to the A&T, they said: “We would like to thank all those who have helped the Jupiter offshore race team to achieve our goal.

“Thank you, Mark Cutler auto engineering, Solent Projects, Tony Hope, Andy Haines Greenham Regis marine electronics Lymington, and all of our support team.”

Next season Rob and Nick plan to return to defend their British title and hope to take the Class 3 World Championships which is due to be held in the British Isles.