The 73rd Raid Pavia-Venezia runs from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May 2026 across 361 timed kilometres of Italian inland waterway. The start has moved from Pavia to San Nazzaro d’Ongina due to low water levels on the Po – full details in our separate report. Boats finish at Brondolo near Chioggia, with the top three in each class transferring by parade to Venice for the prize-giving at the Arsenale.
The entry list below is sourced from the official Raid Pavia-Venezia website, last updated 25 May 2026. It carries 91 entries across 20 classes.
DIPORTO 8:1
The highest power-to-weight ratio in the DIPORTO leisure craft category. Large, fast outboard-engined hulls capable of high average speeds across the 361 timed kilometres.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 🇮🇹 Lorenzo Ferrari | 1 | Solcio Orbiter | Mercury |
| 522 | 🇷🇴 Filip Florin | 2 | Hi Performance | Mercury |
| 578 | 🇮🇹 Giorgio Guarneri | 2 | Four Winns | OMC Cobra |
DIPORTO 7:1
High-performance leisure craft at the upper end of the DIPORTO power-to-weight spectrum. Five entries in 2026, including an all-female crew: Daniela Covati, Laura Varesi and Giulia Nordio in boat 13.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 🇮🇹 Daniela Covati | 3 | Nuovajolly | Honda |
| 27 | 🇮🇹 Mattia Dall’Oglio | 2 | Zaniboni | Mercury |
| 66 | 🇮🇹 Silvano Coatto | 2 | Estilo | Selva |
| 123 | 🇮🇹 Luca Caretto | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 444 | 🇮🇹 Pietro Scarpa | 2 | Fletcher | Mercury |
DIPORTO 6:1
Fast leisure craft with substantial power-to-weight ratios. Mercury dominates the engine choices; Mostes, Tullio Abbate and Focchi hulls feature heavily. Belgian René Van Hemelrijk (Piranha / Mercury) adds international colour alongside Pierluigi Nordio on an unusual Parsun-engined Mostes.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 🇮🇹 Giampaolo Focchi | 1 | Focchi | Yamaha |
| 29 | 🇮🇹 Alessandro Luisetti | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 34 | 🇮🇹 Umberto Nordio | 2 | Scanner | Mercury |
| 70 | 🇮🇹 Pierluigi Nordio | 1 | Mostes | Parsun |
| 76 | 🇮🇹 Guglielmo Dilda | 2 | Siewinder | Mercury |
| 86 | 🇮🇹 Juri Tiozzo | 2 | Mostes | Mercury |
| 93 | 🇧🇪 René Van Hemelrijk | 2 | Piranha | Mercury |
| 113 | 🇮🇹 Marco Laganà | 2 | Zaniboni | Mercury |
| 231 | 🇮🇹 Paolo Martinelli | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Suzuki |
| 238 | 🇮🇹 Gabriele Guffanti | 2 | Focchi | Honda |
| 561 | 🇮🇹 Ezio Passarella | 1 | Mostes | Johnson |
DIPORTO 5:1
The second-largest class with 15 entries. UK competitors Jason Briggs (Phantom / Mercury) and Benjamin Holehouse (Phantom / Mercury) enter alongside Belgian Tim Van Bruyssel (Abbate / Mercury).
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 🇮🇹 Francesco Busetto | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 35 | 🇮🇹 Mattia Volpi | 2 | Ring | Mercury |
| 38 | 🇮🇹 Andrea Gelmetti | 2 | Mostes | Mercury |
| 39 | 🇮🇹 Roberto Salvi | 1 | Focchi | Honda |
| 46 | 🇮🇹 Alessandro Pavanelli | 2 | Zaniboni | Mercury |
| 73 | 🇬🇧 Jason Briggs | 1 | Phantom | Mercury |
| 88 | 🇮🇹 Danilo Dall’Asta | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 94 | 🇧🇪 Tim Van Bruyssel | 2 | Abbate | Mercury |
| 118 | 🇮🇹 Federico Faggi | 1 | Abbate | Suzuki |
| 121 | 🇮🇹 Amedo Lepre | 2 | Abbate | Mercury |
| 124 | 🇮🇹 Davide Borrini | 2 | Focchi | Mercury |
| 125 | 🇮🇹 Giulio Bizzozero | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 126 | 🇮🇹 Simone Calza | 2 | Ghibli | Mariner |
| 173 | 🇮🇹 Matteo Gallet | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 195 | 🇬🇧 Benjamin Holehouse | 2 | Phantom | Mercury |
DIPORTO 4:1
The largest class in the 2026 entry with 23 boats. Belgian competitors Robert McCarthy (Bernico / Yamaha) and Nico De Stoop (Bernico / Evinrude) join a wide international field including entries from Germany and the Netherlands.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 🇮🇹 Tulliomaria Abbate | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 7 | 🇮🇹 Luca Tovaglieri | 2 | Carrera | Mercury |
| 8 | 🇮🇹 Francesco Marinoni | 3 | Mostes | Mercury |
| 9 | 🇮🇹 Marco Bianchi | 1 | Focchi | Mercruiser |
| 12 | 🇮🇹 Alberto Scuro | 2 | Abbate | Suzuki |
| 15 | 🇮🇹 Antonello Sala | 2 | Focchi | Mercury |
| 17 | 🇮🇹 Matteo Bodini | 2 | Chaudron | Mercury |
| 18 | 🇮🇹 Ivan Zanocchi | 2 | Mostes | Mercury |
| 22 | 🇮🇹 Giuseppe Corazza | 1 | Abbate | Mercury |
| 23 | 🇮🇹 Federico Sposini | 2 | Mostes | Mercury |
| 36 | 🇮🇹 Filippo Giorgio Colnaghi | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 44 | 🇮🇹 Mirco Narduzzi | 2 | Cantiere San Pietro | Mercury |
| 64 | 🇹🇳 Mohamed Amin Zawali | 1 | Focchi | Suzuki |
| 69 | 🇩🇪 Felix Hofmann | 3 | Bernico | Evinrude |
| 79 | 🇮🇹 Mattia Turati | 2 | Ananciana Boutique | Mercury |
| 90 | 🇧🇪 Robert McCarthy | 2 | Bernico | Yamaha |
| 95 | 🇮🇹 Christian Cesati | 2 | Abbate | Mercury |
| 97 | 🇮🇹 Luciano Pesenti | 2 | Albatro | Mercury |
| 100 | 🇮🇹 Massimiliano Barro | 2 | Abbate | Mercury |
| 115 | 🇳🇱 Jan Korteland | 2 | Bernico | Mercury |
| 120 | 🇮🇹 Achille Mazzucotelli | 2 | Linetti | Mercruiser |
| 307 | 🇮🇹 Alessandro Andreotti | 2 | Mostes | Mercury |
| 911 | 🇧🇪 Nico De Stoop | 2 | Bernico | Evinrude |
DIPORTO 3:1
The entry-level DIPORTO ratio class. Robert Lockyer from Great Britain crews with Christian McCauley of the United States aboard a Skater / Mercury; Gordon Mcmath from Great Britain (Revenger / Mercury) is the other overseas entry. Diego Lacchini stands out on an Ilmor-engined Carrera – an unusual engine choice in the class.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 🇮🇹 Giovanni Micheli | 1 | Focchi | Mercury |
| 25 | 🇬🇧 Robert Lockyer | 2 | Skater | Mercury |
| 68 | 🇮🇹 Mattia Assanelli | 2 | Mostes | Mercruiser |
| 83 | 🇮🇹 Elia Pellegatti | 2 | Tullio Abbate | Mercury |
| 117 | 🇮🇹 Antonio Cambieri | 2 | Nitra Boats | Mercury |
| 717 | 🇬🇧 Gordon Mcmath | 2 | Revenger | Mercury |
| 969 | 🇮🇹 Diego Lacchini | 2 | Carrera | Ilmor |
DIPORTO PERFORMANCE
High-performance inboard-engined leisure craft. Three entries in 2026, all running Mercury power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 🇮🇹 Nicholas Parati | 2 | Albatro | Mercury |
| 67 | 🇮🇹 Gianluca Roda | 2 | Albatro | Mercury |
| 92 | 🇮🇹 Simone Cesati | 2 | Albatro | Mercury |
DIPORTO T40
Outboard engines limited to 40hp. A single entry in 2026: Belgian competitor Oceane Papillon on a Comparato hull with Hidea power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 🇧🇪 Oceane Papillon | 1 | Comparato | Hidea |
RACER under 2000cc
Closed-deck racing boats with engines under 2000cc displacement. The 2026 class is dominated by Alfa Romeo-engined Lucini and Molinari hulls – a distinctly Italian racing formula with a long history at the Raid.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 🇮🇹 Gianfranco Crespi | 1 | Molinari | Alfa Romeo |
| 57 | 🇮🇹 Alberto Huober | 1 | Lucini | Alfa Romeo |
| 77 | 🇮🇹 Paolo Romagnoli | 1 | Lucini | Alfa Romeo |
| 96 | 🇮🇹 Angelo Cocozza | 1 | Racer | Alfa Romeo |
| 996 | 🇮🇹 Marcello Guillerno | 1 | Lucini | Alfa Romeo |
RACER under 2500cc
A single entry in this class: Luigi Re in a Timossi hull with BMW power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98 | 🇮🇹 Luigi Re | 1 | Timossi | BMW |
MOTO D’ACQUA DIPORTO
Personal watercraft in the standard leisure class. All three entries run Rotax engines from BRP, Bombardier and Sea-Doo platforms.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 🇮🇹 Pier Paolo Onidi | 2 | Bombardier | Rotax |
| 55 | 🇮🇹 Ermano Biancardi | 1 | BRP | Rotax |
| 151 | 🇮🇹 Luca Capisani | 1 | Sea-Doo | Rotax |
MOTO D’ACQUA ENDURANCE
Personal watercraft configured for endurance racing over the full Raid distance. One entry in 2026: Vittorio Baioni on a Yamaha platform.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 🇮🇹 Vittorio Baioni | 1 | Yamaha | Yamaha |
OFFSHORE CLASSE 3
A proper offshore racing class contested over the full Raid distance. One entry: Giampaolo Montavoci and Fabio Magnani on a Crosera hull with Mercury power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 🇮🇹 Giampaolo Montavoci | 2 | Crosera | Mercury |
CIRCUITO FORMULA 2
A single circuit Formula 2 boat tackling the full Raid distance. Tomas Cermak of Slovakia enters on a DAC hull with Mercury power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 511 | 🇸🇰 Tomas Cermak | 1 | DAC | Mercury |
HONDA OFFSHORE
Three entries in this manufacturer-supported class, all running Focchi hulls with Honda power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 887 | 🇮🇹 Andrea Carosso | 1 | Focchi | Honda |
| 888 | 🇮🇹 Tommaso Soncin | 1 | Focchi | Honda |
| 889 | 🇮🇹 Tommaso Pia | 1 | Focchi | Honda |
SKIER F1 – over 300hp
Ski boats with engines over 300hp. Austrian competitor Bernard Nash enters with a three-person crew aboard a Raf Shore hull; Massimiliano Odierna runs a three-up Abbate with Marine Power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | 🇦🇹 Bernard Nash | 3 | Raf Shore | Mercury |
| 344 | 🇮🇹 Massimiliano Odierna | 3 | Abbate | Marine Power |
SKIER F2 – up to 300hp
Mid-range ski boat class with engine power limited to 300hp. Two entries: Austrian Martin Praschinger on a Bernico / Yamaha, and Piero Gregorio on a four-up Mostes / Mercury.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 | 🇦🇹 Martin Praschinger | 3 | Bernico | Yamaha |
| 197 | 🇮🇹 Piero Gregorio | 4 | Mostes | Mercury |
SKIER F3 – up to 150hp
Entry-level ski boat class, engine limited to 150hp. One entry: Austrian Wolfram Kittl aboard a Cyclone hull with Mercury power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 666 | 🇦🇹 Wolfram Kittl | 3 | Cyclone | Mercury |
CAT D
Catamaran class D. Two tunnel-hull entries: Austrian Guenter Schmutz on a Skater hull (Mercury), and Marco Rasia Dal Polo on an Angelo Molinari hull with Evinrude power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 178 | 🇦🇹 Guenter Schmutz | 2 | Skater | Mercury |
| 999 | 🇮🇹 Marco Rasia Dal Polo | 2 | Angelo Molinari | Evinrude |
AIRBOAT ELICA AEREA
Airboats propelled by an aerial propeller rather than a water propeller or jet. Flat-bottomed craft that can navigate very shallow water. One entry: Cristian Caponnetto on a Diamond Back hull with GM power.
| No. | Driver | Crew | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 🇮🇹 Cristian Caponnetto | 2 | Diamond Back | GM |
Full Raid Pavia-Venezia Coverage
All our reporting from the 73rd edition, from entry list through to final results.
Raid Pavia-Venezia on PBN
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
