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Creating a splash

Published: 01/09/2006 - Filed under: Archive » 2006 » September 2006 » Destinations » Features » Destinations » Europe »

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I wake to the sound of thunder rumbling, and pull back my curtains ready for the disappointment of dark clouds and imminent rain. Instead, there is a clear blue Norwegian sky outside the window. Then the rumble turns to a roar and I remember what has brought me to Arendal – race day.

Once a year, this peaceful coastal resort in southern Norway is brought to life by the roaring, sea-churning world of offshore powerboat racing. An estimated 100,000 people descend on the harbour to watch a dozen 44ft catamarans race around an eight-mile course at speeds of up to 160mph in pursuit of the ultimate goal: the Class 1 Championship trophy.

The Norwegians have long been passionate about powerboating, and not without cause. Spirit of Norway, one of two national teams in the event, has won the championship for the last four years in a row and is currently in first position (albeit with Englishman Steve Curtis as one of its two crew). Teams from Dubai and Qatar are not far behind them.

But they're not having it all their own way – there's a new team on the starting block. As British as they come, the Chris Parsonage Racing Team is owned and throttled by Devon-based property developer Chris Parsonage, driven by James Sheppard of West Sussex, and sponsored by British grooming company King of Shaves. Will King, founder of King of Shaves, explains that it is the innovation and technology that appeals to him.

"Chris and the team are showing signs of what we look for in brand association, which is the transition from a potential winner to a real one. We look to back future kings."

It is a strategy that has already paid dividends with King of Shaves's sponsorship of footballer John Terry, recently named England's new captain, as well as Shelley Rudman, Britain's bob-skeleton silver-medallist at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Chris Parsonage must be hoping it's a case of good luck coming in threes.

Back in Arendal, the teams are busy preparing for the first day's racing. The event takes place over two days, with the first race for pole position having double significance. In addition to deciding the starting order for race day, there is a separate pole positions table, with podium presentations after each event. A scintillating lap gives King of Shaves their first-ever pole position, and in the process pushes them up to second in the table.

"It felt really smooth out there, and we passed very close to a couple of the course markers which helped our time," says James Sheppard, clearly pleased at their success. A former Honda 4 series driver (smaller, but still very fast boats), James and Will go way back. He tells me their original sponsorship deal was worked out on the back of a napkin.

The next day, as the catamarans are being craned into wet docks, I take up my position at the water's edge, less than 100 yards from where the boats will be passing. The Arendal course is one of the best for spectators due to its proximity to shore. Also, the fact that much of the action takes place in a sheltered harbour means a smoother ride for the competitors. Indeed, it's this protection from the elements that brought about Arendal's rise to prominence during the 18th century, when its harbour and timber resources made it an ideal location for shipbuilding, its docks brimming with elegant wooden sailing ships bound for the continent.

These days, the Pollen, or inner harbour, has been transformed into a trendy entertainment area, with boardwalks crammed with cafés and restaurants. But Arendal's passion for boats continues, albeit with wood and sails being replaced by carbon fibre and two ear-shattering, 8-litre V12 Lamborghini engines.

Nothing can prepare you for the noise as the powerboats roar off the line, leaving behind them 12-metre water sprays, or "roosters". After the first of 12 laps, King of Shaves lies in a respectable third position, and as they speed off into the distance, we sit back, confident of another podium finish. But as the boats pass us for a second time, we search the line-up for the King of Shaves boat, and it is nowhere to be seen.

Seconds turn to minutes as concern grows about the safety of James and Chris – at 160mph, hitting the water is like slamming head-first into concrete, and there have been fatalities in the past. Spectators look on anxiously until news arrives that the boat has suffered a technical failure and has slowed to a halt somewhere out near the edge of the harbour. A disappointing end to what had been a promising weekend for the team, but there's no doubt that the pole in qualifying has made the other teams sit up and take notice.

After Norway, however, the King of Shaves boat has had similarly mixed fortunes. Qualifying first at the next race in Plymouth, only to be sent to the back of the grid for a technical infringement, the boat was in third place in the main race before losing control and spectacularly turning upside-down in front of the watching cameras (for cockpit views of the crash go to kingofcrashes.com). Thankfully, the crew escaped unharmed, and while the boat was badly damaged in the process, Will King still managed to see the funny side of it all. "Chris is not going to get Norwich Union to quote him happy on this one," he quipped. "But if nothing else, it gave them the chance to check the safety features of the boat. Of course, in hindsight we should have put a logo on the bottom of the hull!"

Even without this extra coverage, Will seems happy with the boat's marketing power, if only because it brought a whole new meaning to the phrase "close shave".

For more information visit shave.com, class-1.com, chrisparsonageracing.com.

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