Dating back over 100 years, the extreme sport of offshore powerboat racing is popular in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Modern offshore powerboats are classified into one of several categories based on the power of their engines, with the most powerful super boats falling into Class 1. This exciting sport has three major international competitions each year, where the best powerboat racers compete for glory. Let’s take a detailed look at the history of these races and what they look like in the present day.
1. UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship
Held each year since 1964, the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship is the premier class offshore powerboat racing competition and one of the sport’s most spectacular events. Class 1 race boats have twin inboard 1100hp engines and can reach speeds of over 160 miles per hour. In addition, they weigh a minimum of 4,950 kg (10,912 pounds).
Modern powerboat racing began in 1956 with the famous Miami-Nassau race, which was a precursor to the UIM world championship and Sam Griffith Memorial Trophy. From the inaugural race in 1964 until 1976, the World Champion was decided by points gained throughout multiple races across the globe. From 1977 to 1991, the winner was decided based on a series of races held at a single event at the end of the year. In 1992 the World Championship changed to its current multi-event format.
Each Class 1 boat is about 12-14 meters long, 3.5 meters wide, and built exclusively with composite materials. The cockpits of these boats feature modern technology like satellite GPS, trim indicators, engine data dashboards and instrument panels, and warning lights that keep the crew updated on how the boat is doing in the race.
While this is an extreme sport, modern powerboat racing is safer than at any other point in its history. This has been made possible through modern technology, along with the two-person crew of a driver, who navigates and steers, and a throttler, who controls the speed through the trim and throttles.
This two-person team is built on trust, as each member relies on the other and the two must work closely to steer the boat and maintain an appropriate speed. They must also work together with pit crews to determine how the race is set up, the types of propellers they will need based on the current conditions, the gear ratio settings, the amount of fuel they need, and race strategies.
The UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship consists of eight races at four venues. Similar to other major sports like football or baseball, these events make up a “season,” and the results of each race are calculated together to determine the winner of the World Championship. The team with the most accumulated points from the season is crowned champion.
2. P1 SuperStock Championship
While the UIM Class 1 Series may be the godfather of modern powerboat racing, P1 Superstock is a relative newcomer to the sport. Owned by Powerboat P1, the series bills itself as “the next generation of motorsport.”
The fastest-growing marine motorsport series, Powerboat P1 has become extremely popular across the globe. This variation of offshore powerboat racing is more affordable and accessible than the elite Class 1 series, which makes it a great entry point for new racers looking to compete in official events.
P1 events have been growing in popularity due to these and other factors including:
- The creation of inward economic investments for host venues
- Revenue generated from a commercial platform of sponsors, partners, and the wider marine industry
- Increases in competitor numbers, broadcast television deals, and spectators
- Boosts to the regional economy through the travel and tourism sector
The P1 SuperStock Championship is a series of races held each weekend between May and October. These races are restricted to boats in the 250+ hp class that can reach speeds of up to 70 mph.
3. UIM Powerboat GPS World Championship
Founded in Italy in 2003, this race series was originally known as the Powerboat P1 World Championship. In the inaugural race, twelve 15-year-old aluminum boats competed for the championship. This original era lasted until 2009.
Racing powerboats evolved significantly since the inception of this race, moving from simple aluminum boats to mono-hull twin-engine models with the capacity to reach up to 1800 horsepower. During this period, Powerboat P1 boats had approximately 40 percent more horsepower than Formula 1 racers.
This era was short-lived, as management canceled the series in 2010. However, the UIM took control of the series and rebranded it shortly thereafter, giving it the new name Powerboat GPS (Grand Prix of the Sea). The championship series continued, with some changes. Today, the series is divided into two main classes: Evolution and Motorsport. Additionally, racers use V-type monohull boats.