Dubai International Boat Show Rescheduled to November
The Dubai International Boat Show has been rescheduled from April to 25-29 November 2026, with organisers also confirming that the event will move permanently to the November calendar going forward.
The April 8-12 edition at Dubai Harbour had been under review following the outbreak of military conflict across the Middle East.
Monster Energy Named Official Energy Drink of the IHRA Offshore Racing Series
Monster Energy has signed as the official energy drink of the IHRA Offshore Racing Series, the first major brand partnership for the series as it prepares to open its inaugural season at the St.
Pete Powerboat Grand Prix on March 27.
World Champion Anton Modin Joins UKOPRA 2026 Grid
The 2026 UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Championship field has acquired Anton Modin, the reigning UIM Class 3A World Champion.
He has confirmed an entry in Class 3C, campaigning the Frodé monohull C-4 owned by Jason Briggs, with step-brother Jakob Bälter navigating.
Marszalek Safe After Iranian Attacks Disrupted UAE Pre-Season Preparations
Bartek Marszalek, Poland’s F1H2O driver, was caught in Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates during pre-season preparations and has returned safely to Poland, crediting diplomatic assistance from Polish Ambassador Robert Rostek for helping him through the crisis.
The Warsaw-based driver posted on Facebook that he had been in the UAE for sporting and logistical … Read more
UKOPRA 2026: Already a 45-Boat Season Entry
Forty-five boats have already registered for the 2026 UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Championship, with the entry list spanning seven classes and including a reigning UIM World Champion.
The five-round series opens at Shamrock Quay, Southampton on May 15-17.
Red River Rumble Set for IHRA F1 Powerboat Series Inaugural Season
The IHRA F1 Powerboat Series heads to Louisiana for the third running of the Red River Rumble, with Shreveport-Bossier confirmed as the venue for Round 4 of the 2026 championship over Memorial Day Weekend, May 22-24.
Racing takes place on the Red River waterfront, with spectators able to watch free of charge from Riverview Park … Read more
Sunseeker Marks First Hull Lamination of the 134 Superyacht
Sunseeker International has begun the first lamination of Hull No.1 of its new 134 Superyacht, marking the formal start of construction at its dedicated superyacht facility at Osprey Quay, Dorset.
The milestone was celebrated on March 10, 2026 with a ceremony attended by colleagues from across the business.
RWO Sign Ten-Year Deal With UIM
Race World Offshore and the Union Internationale Motonautique have signed a ten-year agreement establishing Race World Offshore as the official promoter of the UIM Offshore World Championship Series in North America.
Under the deal, Race World Offshore will organise premier offshore events across the United States, with teams competing for official UIM world championship titles … Read more
Molabo’s ARIES 50: The Drive Unit Inside Formula 60 Electric
When Formula 60 Electric was announced last week, the central claim was straightforward: a standard F4 hull, same platform teams already know, with the combustion engine replaced by Molabo’s ARIES 50 electric drive.
That retrofit approach only works if the drive unit is genuinely capable.
UIM Honours Over 70 World Champions at Monaco Trophy Ceremony
More than 200 competitors, officials and race promoters gathered at the Fairmont Monte Carlo on March 7 for the Union Internationale Motonautique’s annual awards ceremony, with over 70 drivers recognised for their achievements across the 2025 racing season.
Disciplines honoured on the night spanned offshore powerboat racing, circuit racing, pleasure navigation, XCAT, MotoSurf, Aquabike and … Read more
Father, Son, Daughter: The Mullan Family’s World Championship Double
Phonsy Mullan claimed his second UIM Unlimited Superboat world title at Whanganui, New Zealand, in February 2025 – but the bigger story was what happened in the class next door.
His son Bastian, navigated by sister Tahleah, became the first-ever world champion in the newly introduced LS Class.
Jamie Copas Named as New E1 Series CEO
Jamie Copas, former chief executive of WPP’s Prism Sport & Entertainment agency, has been appointed CEO of the E1 Series, SportBusiness has reported.
E1 confirmed the appointment to Powerboat News after publication.
Mercury in Britain: How Big Is the Market, Really?
The last time anyone published a verified annual sales figure for Mercury outboards in the UK, the number was 2,500.
How Barrus Inherited the Contract That was the volume reported by Sowester Simpson-Lawrence, the Poole-based distributor that held the Mercury UK import contract until it went into administration in October 2001.
UIM Delays F4 Cockpit Rules as Compliance Concerns Mount
The UIM has delayed the mandatory 3000N cockpit requirement for F4 and Endurance S3 boats by five months, with UIM Secretary General Thomas Kurth issuing a circular to all member federations confirming the implementation date has moved from January 1 to June 1, 2026.
The 3000N cockpit standard was ratified at the 98th UIM General … Read more
Estonia’s Powerboat Stars and Team AlUla’s RaceBird Headline Meremess 2026
The biggest boat show in the Baltic states is hosting a powerboat line-up this weekend that most international venues would envy.
At Meremess 2026 in Tallinn, the Estonian Water Motor Sports Federation has installed Team AlUla’s all-electric E1 RaceBird in the B-hall exhibition pool, with two of Estonia’s most decorated aquatic motorsport racers on hand … Read more
The Electric F4 That Broke a World Record Is Now a Championship
A new fully electric powerboat racing series will debut in France this year, built on the standard UIM F4 race boat platform rather than the purpose-built hardware that has defined other electric racing concepts.
The Formula 60 Electric Championship has been developed by German electric propulsion company Molabo and French clean energy firm Protenergies, and … Read more
Lithuanian Prime Minister Commits to Attending F2 and F4 World Championship in Klaipėda
Photo: EPA/Olga Posaskova / Lithuanian Seimas Office / Handout Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has committed to attending the UIM F2 and F4 World Championship in Klaipėda, after being personally invited by Karolis Ramoška, President of the Lietuvos techninio sporto federacijų and the Lietuvos Motorlaivių Federacija.
The invitation came during what Ramoška described as a … Read more
F1LIP Junior Team Reveals Four-Driver Lineup for 2026
Filip Roms’ F1LIP Junior Team has confirmed four drivers for the 2026 season, with GT15 multi-champion Leevi Paasonen making the step up to GT30 as the team targets its strongest international campaign to date.
The announcement, made by Roms on social media, also confirms a significant expansion in the GT15 class and two returns to … Read more
Aquabike World Championship heads to Shanghai as 2026 calendar takes shape
The 2026 UIM-ABP Aquabike Circuit Pro World Championship will open in Shanghai, China on October 1-2, H2O Racing has confirmed, with a four-round calendar that stretches from the Far East to the Middle East before the season closes in December.
The announcement came on March 4th and carries an immediate headline: the original Middle Eastern … Read more
H1 Unlimited Introduces New Race Format Debuting at Madison
H1 Unlimited has announced a new race format that will debut at the 76th Madison Regatta on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana, July 3-5, 2026.
The change replaces draw-based positioning with a cumulative scoring system that connects every session from Time Trials through to the Final.
Dubai Boat Show Decision Looms as Gulf Racing Faces Disruption
Updated 11 March 2026: The Dubai International Boat Show has been rescheduled to 25-29 November 2026 at Dubai Harbour.
Organisers have confirmed the event will move permanently to the November calendar.
World Champions at Sweden’s Biggest Boat Show: Wiberg Siblings to Appear at Allt för sjön
Sweden’s largest indoor boat show opens in Stockholm this week, and the Smedjebackens Båtklubb stand will have company worth travelling for.
The 2025 UIM F2 World Champion Mathilda Wiberg and her brother Hilmer, runner-up in the same championship, will both appear at the club’s exhibit during the two-weekend event.
Sunseeker Acquisition Completed as Staff Notice Reveals KCP Holdings’ Plans
The sale of Sunseeker International to a consortium led by KCP Holdings has been completed, with an internal staff communication seen by Powerboat News confirming the new owners’ plans for the Poole-based yacht builder and the appointment of Andrés Rubio as permanent chief executive.
The completion follows reporting published yesterday that the deal was close. … Read more
UIM Homologates Four Mercury Racing Engines for Offshore International Racing
The UIM has homologated four Mercury Racing engines for offshore international racing, opening them up across multiple classes from Offshore 2 through to the APBA Superstock category.
The approvals were announced by the UIM and cover engines at different power levels, each assigned a homologation number and cleared for specific class eligibility in line with … Read more
Mike Denslow Steps Down as H1 Unlimited Chairman
Mike Denslow will not renew for another two-year term as Chairman of H1 Unlimited.
He confirmed that his decision is unrelated to any individuals, board decisions, or matters concerning the organisation.
Sharrow: Music to the Ears for Recreational Boaters
It started with an orchestra.
Greg Sharrow, a Detroit-based Executive Producer and Director, needed aerial footage of a live concert.
Sunseeker Set for New Ownership as KCP Moves to Acquire British Yacht Builder
Correction, March 3, 2026: An earlier version of this article incorrectly named the acquiring firm as KPC.
The correct name is KCP.
Powerboat Racing Joins Douro’s Tourism Pitch at Lisbon Travel Market
The president of the Federação Portuguesa de Motonáutica (FPM) joined municipal leaders from the Douro region at Portugal’s largest tourism trade fair on Thursday, promoting UIM F2 World Championship racing as part of the Douro Valley’s tourism offer.
Paulo Ferreira appeared at the CIM Douro stand at BTL (Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market) 2026 alongside … Read more
Al Copeland: The Fried Chicken King Who Ruled Offshore Racing
The Popeyes founder spent millions transforming American offshore powerboat racing into a corporate spectacle, won six national championships, and died chasing one final speed record.
The Morning After in California Al Copeland woke up in California in 1980 with the worst hangover of his life.
Race World Offshore Returns to Michigan City as SSR Reaffirms Safety Partnership
Race World Offshore has confirmed its return to Michigan City, Indiana, for July 31 to August 2, 2026, marking year two of a planned five-year commitment to the venue.
In a separate development, SSR Safety and Rescue Services has issued a statement reaffirming its partnership with RWO and revealing that the SFI Foundation has confirmed … Read more
F4 Season Opener at Mons Cancelled
The opening round of the 2026 UIM F4 World Championship at Mons, Belgium, has been cancelled due to ongoing construction work at the Grand Large race circuit.
The event was scheduled for May 16-17 as the first of three World Championship rounds.
