Cowes faced losing the race earlier this year when the BPRC threatened to take the race elsewhere unless the Isle of Wight Council coughed up extravagant amounts of cash to support the event.

The race, established in 1961, brings together powerboats and their crews from across the globe for five days of spectacular and highly competitive racing. The 2005 festival will commence on Thursday August 25 and include a series of national and championship rounds along with the British Grand Prix, comprising two rounds of the Powerboat P1 World Championship.

More than 70 boats are expected.

The motoring and sailing tests were then immediately duplicated with the freshly scrubbed bottom.

That there was an immediate and noticeable speed difference was no surprise. But the size of the difference was an eye opener, says BB contributor Peter Poland who witnessed the tests. Under engine (average of log and GPS) the improvement was 21%. Under sail, it averaged 39%.

The boat's owner also noted how the handling became crisper and quicker, both under engine and sail.

BoatScrubber says a Fairline 40 Targa powerboat undergoing tests in October 2004 recorded a time reduction from 27.1 minutes (before scrubbing) down to 17.5 minutes (after) over a fixed distance at fixed cruising revs of 2800 rpm. This improvement equates to a lot of fuel - and a lot of money if Gordon Brown doubles the price of red diesel.

BoatScrubber has also launched EcoAntifouling Membership. This combines the company's other innovation - a non-toxic silicone based EcoAntifouling - with unlimited scrubbing all year round at any BoatScrubber location for three years.

The first 100 clients taking up three year membership will get a discount equating to receiving the EcoAntifouling paint free, only having to pay an approved EcoAntifouling Centre to actually apply it - or apply it themselves.

BoatScrubbers are located in Cowes, Hamble, Gosport, Port Solent, Chichester and Brighton and more are planned: T: 0870 2401157. W:

boatscrubber.com