HAMPSHIRE powerboat star Steve Curtis has finally won his first ever Cowes-Torquay-Cowes title.

He was part of the three-man team aboard Cougar 46 that was one of only two boats, out of the 14 which started, to complete the historic race.

Curtis, the eight times UIM Class 1 World Champion, was helped by Richard Carr and Paul Sinclair to push their Mercury powered aluminium mono hull to victory with an average speed of 51.88 mph.

Their winning time of four hours 12 minutes and 36 seconds was well in front of runners-up Blastoff, who finished on five hours 33 minutes and four seconds.

Onboard Blastoff was Southampton's Shelley Jory-Leigh.

Curtis, 52, runs the family business Cougar Marine in Warsash, has won more world titles than any other powerboat race.

He first won the title in 1985 and added further crowns in 1987, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.