Offshore Champions: Boats With Most Race Wins

Offshore powerboat racing is a sport that has been around for over a century, with the first race taking place in 1903. The boats used in these races are typically ocean-going powerboats, and the races are usually point-to-point. While there is no clear answer to which boat has won the most offshore races, some notable races and their winners include the Round Britain Powerboat Race, which has been won by Timo Mäkinen, Fabio Buzzi, and Vassilis Pateras, and the UIM Class 1 World Championship, which has been won by Jim Wynne, Dick Bertram, and Don Aronow. The sport has evolved over the years, with modern races being shorter, track-style events that offer improved viewing for spectators.

Powerboat P1

The Powerboat P1 team works closely with the sport's governing bodies, the UIM, APBA, and the IJSBA. In 2010, Powerboat P1 launched a registered charity with the principal objective of promoting the conservation, protection, and improvement of the marine and coastal environment.

In addition to these thrilling competitions, Powerboat P1 offers an elevated VIP viewing experience for race fans, providing upgraded amenities, a LIVE stream of the racing action, expanded seating options, and enhanced dining and beverage selections.

UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship

The UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship is the premier class of offshore powerboat racing in the world. It is an international motorboat racing competition for powerboats organised by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).

Class 1 is considered one of the most spectacular marine motorsports. A Class 1 race-boat has twin inboard 1100hp engines and can reach speeds of over 160 mph (257 km/h). All boats are limited by a minimum weight of 4950 kg. Each boat has a two-man crew: a driver who navigates and steers the boat, and a throttle-man who controls the speed by managing the throttles and trim.

A Class 1 season consists of a series of Grands Prix, made up of three official practice sessions, one official qualifying session (also known as Pole Position) and two races. The results of each race are combined to determine the winner of the World Championship. The World Championship is awarded to the team with the most accumulated points throughout the season. A winning crew collects 20 points, the runners-up 15, and the third-placed team is awarded 12 points.

The UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship consists of eight races at four venues, with races run over approximately 55 or 75 Nm of multiple laps of approximately 5 Nm (including one or two mandatory long laps).

Over the years, safety has become a key concern and today's Class 1 boats are the safest they have ever been. Inside the cockpit, satellite GPS systems, trim indicators, engine data dashboards, instrument panels and warning lights keep the crew aware of the boat's progress during a race. The cockpit is reinforced to withstand enormous impacts that may occur if a boat crashes at speeds in excess of 150 mph, with an escape hatch in the hull as an added safety feature in the event of an accident.

P1 SuperStock Championship

The P1 SuperStock Championship is a major sporting festival that takes place over five or six weekends from May to October. Each race weekend features up to six races, lasting 30 to 45 minutes each. The events are free to attend and attract thousands of spectators, often running alongside the AquaX jetski series. All teams compete in P1 Panther race boats with 250HP outboard engines, reaching speeds of up to 70 mph (113 km/h) in flat water.

The 2017 UK Championship was a three-round competition hosted in Aalborg, Greenock, and Milford Haven. The winners were Sam and Daisy Coleman in the Pertemps Panther, sealing their victory in the final race of the series in Wales. The second and third positions were claimed by Milford Waterfront and Experience Kissimmee, respectively. Other teams that participated in the 2017 UK Championship included Typhoo, Spirit of Inverclyde, PickfordsFX, and Platinum Products.

The P1 SuperStock Championship is just one of the many powerboat racing series organised by Powerboat P1, which also includes the World Championship, the AquaX series, and the Offshore series. Powerboat P1 has delivered more than 85 world championship races in over a dozen different countries over the last decade, showcasing their commitment to the sport and its growth.

UIM Powerboat GPS World Championship

The UIM Powerboat GPS World Championship, also known as Powerboat P1, is an international powerboat racing competition. The series was founded in May 2003 in Nettuno, Italy, with 12 boats, most of them Italian, competing in the inaugural Grand Prix of the Sea. Powerboat P1 boats have evolved significantly since then, with monohull twin-engine boats now developing around 1800 hp.

Powerboat P1 is recognised as the premier series of offshore powerboat racing in the USA. It attracts over 50 race teams, with Class 1 teams reaching speeds of up to 160 mph. Races are held across the USA, with recent events taking place in Sarasota, Cocoa Beach, Lake of the Ozarks, Sheboygan, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater Beach.

The UIM Powerboat GPS World Championship is part of a broader range of powerboat racing competitions organised by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM). In most of the world, offshore powerboat racing is led by the UIM-regulated Class 1 and Powerboat P1. Class 1 boats are considered to be among the most spectacular marine motorsports vessels, with twin inboard 1100 hp engines capable of exceeding speeds of 160 mph.

The sport of powerboat racing has evolved significantly since the earliest recorded race in 1887 in Nice, France. The modern era of offshore powerboat racing began on 6 May 1956 with the inaugural Miami-Nassau race, which led to the introduction of the Sam Griffith Memorial Trophy and a UIM-sanctioned World Championship in 1964.

F1 Powerboat World Championship

The F1 Powerboat World Championship is an international motorboat racing competition organised by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) and promoted by H2O Racing. It is the highest class of inshore powerboat racing in the world, and its similarity to Formula One car racing has led to it often being referred to as F1H2O.

The competition was inaugurated in 1981 and is a Grand Prix-style event, with teams competing around the world each season. The races take place along a track of approximately 350 meters with multiple turns, over which the boats can reach 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph). The races are approximately 45 minutes long, which is longer than most powerboat races, but still shorter than many car races.

F1 racing boats are tunnel hull catamarans that are capable of high speed and exceptional manoeuvrability. They weigh 860 pounds (390 kilograms), including a 260-pound (118-kilogram) engine. They are 20 feet (6 meters) long and seven feet (2 meters) wide, and are constructed using lightweight materials like carbon fiber and kevlar to keep the weight low.

Safety has been a key focus of the F1 series, with a number of improvements made over the years. F1 drivers undergo a stringent medical and immersion test before obtaining a Super License to drive. They are also required to wear a HANS Head and Neck Restraint device, similar to those worn by Formula One car racing drivers.

The F1 Powerboat World Championship is broadcast live to over twenty countries, showcasing the ultimate in adrenalin-fuelled, high-speed racing.

Frequently asked questions