Dubai Boat Show Decision Looms as Gulf Racing Faces Disruption
The Dubai International Boat Show is preparing an official statement on whether its April 8-12 event will proceed, as escalating military conflict in the Middle East puts a series of powerboat racing events in the region under active review.
Nine days after DIBS closes, XCAT is scheduled to open its 2026 world championship in Fujairah, … Read more
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.
Peter Bonham Christie Takes Custodianship of Apache 555
Peter Bonham Christie has announced he has taken over as custodian of Apache 555, the Don Shead-designed offshore racing boat that won the 1972 London to Monte Carlo race and the 1979 World Class II Championship in Venice.
The boat, one of the most decorated hulls in British offshore racing history, changes hands after 14 … Read more
Wellcraft Scarab 38KV Miami Vice Edition Review
With filming set to begin in June 2026 for the Miami Vice reboot, Miami’s waterways are about to get their close-up again.
Joseph Kosinski’s production, starring Austin Butler and Michael B Jordan, returns to 1985 for what the director calls a “full on” period aesthetic.
Falcon’s Story Heads to Screen, With Offshore Racing at Its Heart
Gustavo Falcon, younger brother of 1980s offshore racing champion and cocaine kingpin Willy Falcon, has broken his public silence.
Offshore powerboat racing is a thread running through everything he is now saying.
SWSC Launches British Masters Championship for 2026
Stewartby-based circuit powerboat club SWSC has launched its own three-element British Masters Championship, with four rounds confirmed between April and October.
The move follows the CPA’s advice to scrap the national and sprint championship rounds that SWSC had committed to hosting following the drivers forum.
Andrew Tate Takes First F1 Victory at Bradenton Opener
Andrew Tate won the inaugural round of the 2026 IHRA F1 Powerboat Series at the Bradenton Area River Regatta, completing a commanding weekend on the Manatee River that gave him his first F1 win in the series and also produced victories for Mason Rinker in Tri-Hull and Shelby Love in Formula Lights.
The event marked … Read more
Bradenton Regatta 2026: Full IHRA Powerboat Entry List
Forty-two competitors are entered across three classes for tomorrow’s racing on the Manatee River, with Formula 1, Formula Lights, and Tri-Hulls all competing at the 11th Annual Bradenton Area River Regatta.
The Formula 1 class draws 16 boats, Formula Lights 15, and Tri-Hulls 11, as the International Hot Rod Association runs its first ever sanctioned … Read more
Your Boat Flares Are Expiring? Here Is the Alternative
The U.S.
Coast Guard is retiring pyrotechnic flares from its vessels in favour of electronic alternatives this year, setting an international precedent that could reshape maritime safety requirements worldwide.
2026 UIM-ABP European Aquabike Championship
Aquabike Promotion has confirmed a three-round calendar for the 2026 UIM-ABP European Continental Aquabike Championship, with Grand Prix in Portugal, Hungary and France running from July through to September. 3 Grand Prix July 3 Season Opens Sept 6 Season Closes Portugal Opens the Season The championship begins at Barrinha da Praia in the town of … Read more
Bradenton Regatta 2026: IHRA F1 Powerboat Race Guide
The International Hot Rod Association brings its Formula 1 Powerboat Series to the Manatee River this weekend for the first sanctioned event in the organisation’s powerboat racing history.
Here is everything you need to know about the 11th Annual Bradenton Area River Regatta.
Don Johnson’s 1988 World Championship Scarab at Auction
The 46-foot Wellcraft Scarab that carried Don Johnson to the 1988 APBA Superboat Class World Championship is heading to the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction in April, selling with No Reserve.
The boat, known as the Gentry Turbo Eagle and racing under number 99, was originally commissioned by Hawaiian developer and offshore racing champion Tom Gentry … Read more
Malcolm Campbell’s Blue Bird K3 Confirmed for Coniston Festival
Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1937 world water speed record hydroplane Blue Bird K3 will run on Coniston Water for the first time in May alongside Donald Campbell’s restored Bluebird K7.
The Ruskin Museum confirmed K3’s attendance at Bluebird K7 – The Festival, creating the first occasion both Campbell craft will appear together on Coniston Water.
Miami Boat Show Opened With Collins Avenue Return
The Miami International Boat Show opened its 85th edition on Thursday with a reimagined layout that returns luxury yacht displays to Collins Avenue for the first time since 2018, alongside world debuts in AI-driven marine technology and hybrid propulsion systems.
Return to Collins Avenue Waterfront The show introduced the Miami Beach Yacht Collection along Indian … Read more
Testing Seakeeper’s Dual Stabilisation in Miami
Seakeeper has built its reputation on eliminating boat roll at anchor.
The company’s gyroscopic stabilisers have become standard equipment on vessels from 23 feet to 100-plus feet, reducing port-to-starboard roll by up to 95 percent.
IHRA Publishes 2026 Offshore Rulebook
The International Hot Rod Association has published its 2026 General Rules for Offshore Racing, a 62-page document dated today that establishes the regulatory framework for its seven-round National Championship season beginning March 27 in St Petersburg, Florida.
The rulebook covers everything from class definitions and points systems to safety staffing, protest procedures and member conduct. … Read more
Lithuanian Motorboat Academy Delivers First International Formula Future Training Camp in UAE
Matas Kvizikevičius, head of the Lithuanian motorboat academy, has successfully delivered the first international Formula Future training camp with a week-long programme at Fujairah International Marine Club in the United Arab Emirates.
The inaugural camp brought together 13 young drivers and their families for intensive training combined with a taste of Emirati culture.
Riabko Swaps His OptiMax for a Padel
Take two sports that shouldn’t meet, add 12 hours of non-stop action, throw in an East European powerboat racer with a sense of humour, and you’ve got Lithuania’s most unlikely tournament format of the winter.
UIM F2 racer Edgaras Riabko is bringing his motorsport mindset to the padel court, participating in Lithuania’s first 12-hour endurance … Read more
IHRA Seeks Rescue Divers Seven Weeks Before Season Opener
IHRA has posted job listings for rescue divers with its first offshore event 49 days away, as talks with the sport’s established rescue provider collapse and competitors demand answers on safety.
Powerboat News has followed the International Hot Rod Association’s expansion into offshore powerboat racing since its acquisition of Powerboat P1 USA in October 2025, … Read more
Falcon Tenders Unveils 11m with Tim Heywood Design
Falcon Tenders has unveiled an 11-metre custom superyacht tender created in collaboration with Tim Heywood Design, bringing together two names synonymous with quality in the superyacht world.
The project marks a meeting of Falcon Tenders’ expertise in precision-built, high-performance tenders with Tim Heywood’s unmistakable design signature, known for shaping some of the most iconic yachts … Read more
UIM Adds Three Events to 2026 World Championship Calendar
The Powerboat News 2026 World Championship Calendar has been updated with the latest dates from UIM Calendar News, adding three new events and correcting venue details for aquabike and circuit racing championships.
Latest UIM Calendar Updates The UIM published its first calendar update of 2026 in February, confirming three additional events across circuit and aquabike … Read more
Maverick Racing Retains Drivers, Deguisne Switches to 4-stroke
Maverick Racing has become the second F1H2O team to confirm its 2026 driver line-up, retaining both Cédric Deguisne and Alexandre Bourgeot alongside reserve driver Beranger Robart for the French operation.
Driver Line-up Confirmed The French pairing competed in every Grand Prix of the 2025 season, with both drivers recording their best finishes at the closing … Read more
