NAVARINO TELECOM, one of the leading satellite communications service providers and the largest distributor of Stratos services worldwide, is delighted to announce that the Navarino sponsored Blue FPT powerboat has won the Round Britain Powerboat Race 2008.  
 
The race, held for the first time since 1984, and having previously been run in 1969, ran from June 21st to June 30th with 48 different powerboats from various countries participating. Starting in Portsmouth, England, the route takes competitors 1400 nautical miles around the British Isles over nine days, before returning to Portsmouth for the chequered flag. The race is characterised by the extremely difficult sea conditions that racers face and the gruelling schedule that allows little time for rest.  
 
Representing Navarino on board the Greek flagged boat was commercial director, Panos Tsikopoulos. Panos was invited to join Blue FPT as co-driver and throttleman, as he has raced powerboats previously in Greece and has a good deal of experience in high speed racing at sea.  
 
Also in the team were Vasilis Pateras, (driver) Lefteris Vasileiou (engineer) and Dag Pike (navigator), who competed in both previous Round Britain Races and was in the winning boat in 1984. Dag is also a member of the Council of the Royal Institute of Navigation, and as Vasilis Pateras commented after the race, having him on board was a great honour for the Greek team as Dag Pike is considered one of the best navigators in the racing community. Among his many achievements, breaking the world speed record for a cross Atlantic crossing with Richard Branson in the Virgin Atlantic Challenger II is the highlight.  
 
Blue FPT is designed by the famous Fabio Buzzi of Italy, has a 15 metre hull and is equipped with 3 FPT engines. The power output of these 3 engines is 1440 hp for a top speed of 70 knots. Having 3 engines meant that even if one broke down, the other two could keep the boat competitive at around 50 knots.  
 
As the race is as much about endurance as it is about speed, reliability was key to the success of the team, as many of the boats that broke down discovered to their cost. By carefully maintaining a high average speed of around 60 knots, Blue FPT took the chequered flag after 20 hours, 36 minutes and 47 seconds without technical incidents and 80 minutes faster than its nearest rival.  
 
On his triumphant return to Greece, Panos was extremely pleased to have participated so successfully in such a difficult event- ‘The race was one of the hardest things I have ever done – the weather conditions and the intense concentration needed for so many hours a day meant that we were all pretty exhausted by the time we passed the finish line. Winning it was amazing though and we are extremely pleased to have done so well. I would like to also thank the organisers, sponsors and other competitors for putting up such a good fight and for contributing to such an unforgettable experience.’