A young team in the 2011 United Kingdom Formula Future Offshore Racing circuit will get support this season from Peters & May, an international leader in boat shipping and logistics. While Peters & May has made an impact by helping large and small race teams with transport assistance and sponsorship, the company has added some mentoring through international racing star Steve Curtis.

Curtis, a world champion in many classes of racing and currently the throttleman alongside Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani of the Qatar Team, found he has a namesake in the F400 class. The class consists of competitors (driver and navigator at least 12 years old), who race 14-foot two-seater boats with a 40-hp Yamaha outboard. The boats reach speeds of 30 to 35 mph and are an ideal way for youth to hone their racing skills and progress through the ranks to higher-speed classes.

Ben Pocknell, 16, has been racing powerboats since he was 8 and has three national championship titles and two national speed records. Pocknell will be racing in both the F400 and the next-level E900 classes this season. His racing partner, 14-year-old Steve Curtis (no relation), has also won two Honda Youth RIB national championship titles and an RYA East Regions Young Sailor of the Year award.

“It’s an extreme sport, but with the right training, kids can be as safe on the water as adults, sometimes more so," said the younger Curtis, who attends Kimbolton School in Cambridgeshire and has ambitions to expand the sport to other youngsters.

Peters & May, the preferred logistics provider to the Qatar Marine Sports Federation, arranged with the world-champion Curtis to have the young team take a seat in one of the two Spirit of Qatar Class 1 boats. The newest Peters & May Racing team was treated to an all-access tour of the Qatar Team workshop, too.

“We are really excited about being here and about racing for Peters & May,” Pocknell said. “It's amazing that we have some of the same branding as the Qatar Team boats! These guys are at the top of our sport, and one day we hope to be there, too.”

Peters & May Racing is an effort by Peters & May corporate to give back to the sport through sponsorship and logistical support, which enables teams to invest further in their racing efforts by leaving transport to the professionals. This year, Peters & May Racing is off to a smashing start as 13 different boats are carrying their colors in 2011, including Powerboat bloggers Shaun Torrente and Nigel Hook.

“Wherever boats are in motion, we like to be there,” said David Holley, CEO and race enthusiast. “Through youth racing programs, we can help encourage growth in powerboat racing and all kinds of recreational boating. It’s good for the kids and it’s good for our industry.”

For more information please visit www.petersandmay.com/news. Follow Pocknell and Curtis as the newest Peters & May Racing team at www.benatom.co.uk.