History Part 3

In 1978, the first AYC shakedown powerboat event was proposed by the Power Captain R Eldred. Its original title was the April Fools Challenge. Ever since the race's conception it's been the event that precedes the National Season, a time to prepare and test before the season starts, and this race continues today.

Throughout the 70's and 80's AYC continued to develop racing, the club became one of the major organisers of National Offshore Power Boat Racing in the UK and were organisers of the National Class I, II, III, IV Annual Thanet Races at Margate, we staged an annual Class III national points event known as the Estuary Classic and also hosted the Class IV national Finals four years running!

During this racing heyday AYC had 66 boats entered into the Margate race (which in now the Ramsgate race).and 40 boat entries were common place for the Class IV races at the club (now known as Offshore Circuit Racing). In 1993, AYC hosted the World 1.3 litre finals. This event was spread over a week and we had over 17 countries represented with entries coming from as far as Argentina. In fact we played them at a friendly game of football on the green outside the club and won 2-1 in a World Cup style revenge attempt for Maradona's hand ball in 1986.

AYC can be proud of its past and as the club heads towards it's half century we can look forward to and embrace a new era in water sports.