The 2026 UIM Pleasure Navigation World Championship was decided at Cervia, Italy on September 4, with Maltese crews taking three of the five class titles on offer. The season ran to just two rounds, Sliema, Malta in April and Cervia in September, with points carried forward as a straight total across both.
Malta’s Cutting Edge, driven by Stephen Bezzina, won the HOCR Super Sport title without winning a single round outright. El Diablo’s Clive Butler took Round 1 at Malta on 400 points to Cutting Edge’s 300. Apex Racing’s Brandon Bonavia took Round 2 at Cervia, also on 400 to Cutting Edge’s 300. Neither rival scored in both rounds. Cutting Edge did, and a total of 600 points beat both of them, tied on 400 apiece.
Poseidon Racing and Interceptor Complete Malta’s Clean Sweep
Poseidon Racing’s Owen Cassar took the HOCR Sport title for Malta with a maximum score, 800 points at Malta and 400 at Cervia for 1200 total, ahead of fellow Maltese crew Infinity Powerboats on 600.
Interceptor’s Kurt Mifsud completed Malta’s sweep of the smaller classes, winning Boat Production 300 with a maximum 800 points across both rounds, ahead of Belgium Offshore Racing’s Kenneth Himpe on 300.
Italy and Belgium Take the Remaining Two Titles
The two titles Malta didn’t win went to Italy and Belgium. Cinzano Sorbino’s Claudio Gullo took HOCR F1 for Italy on 1000 points, ahead of the British/Irish entry If Only, driven by Robert McCarthy, on 869. Silver Racing’s Alain Coppens took Sport 450 for Belgium with a maximum 1200 points, ahead of Malta’s Apex Racing, in its second class of the weekend, on 300.
Full Results
HOCR Super Sport
| Position | Team | Nationality | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cutting Edge – Stephen Bezzina | MLT | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| 2 | Apex Racing – Brandon Bonavia | MLT | — | 400 | 400 |
| 3 | El Diablo – Clive Butler | MLT | 400 | — | 400 |
HOCR F1
| Position | Team | Nationality | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cinzano Sorbino – Claudio Gullo | ITA | 700 | 300 | 1000 |
| 2 | If Only – Robert McCarthy | GBR | 469 | 400 | 869 |
| 3 | Vanta Racing – Dexter Bianco | MLT | 625 | — | 625 |
| 4 | Secret Service – Miguel Farrugia | MLT | 225 | — | 225 |
| — | Boosted – Gabriel Camilleri | MLT | 0 | — | 0 |
| — | Herby Racing – Matthew Scicluna | MLT | 0 | — | 0 |
HOCR Sport
| Position | Team | Nationality | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poseidon Racing – Owen Cassar | MLT | 800 | 400 | 1200 |
| 2 | Infinity Powerboats – Nigel Camenzuli | MLT | 600 | — | 600 |
| 3 | Yacht Club Como – Carlo Vaccani | ITA | — | 300 | 300 |
| 4 | Infinity Powerboats – Danizio Buttigieg | MLT | 225 | — | 225 |
| — | Dark Secret – Connor Field | MLT | 0 | — | 0 |
| — | Splendid Racing – Miguel Mamo | MLT | 0 | — | 0 |
| — | Squadra Corse Venezia ASD – Denis Scarpi | ITA | — | 0 | 0 |
| — | Xkubett Racing – Ramon Galea | MLT | 0 | — | 0 |
Boat Production 300 (B)
| Position | Team | Nationality | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interceptor – Kurt Mifsud | MLT | 400 | 400 | 800 |
| 2 | Belgium Offshore Racing – Kenneth Himpe | BEL | 0 | 300 | 300 |
Sport 450 (S)
| Position | Team | Nationality | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Racing – Alain Coppens | BEL | 800 | 400 | 1200 |
| 2 | Apex Racing – Brandon Bonavia | MLT | 300 | — | 300 |
Round 1 was held at Sliema Promenade, Malta on April 17, 2026. Round 2 was held at Cervia, Italy on September 4, 2026. Results as published by the UIM.
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.
