GT15 and GT30 boats would have to carry either a halo or an aeroscreen to protect the driver’s head from January 1, 2027, under a proposal going before the UIM Council on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The minimum weight of both classes would rise by 5 kg to allow for the extra structure.
The proposal was entered by COMINTECH, with Pascal Reide of France named as author. It amends Rule 550.05, which sets the minimum dimensions for the two classes. It is one of 44 Circuit rules proposals for this year’s Council vote, held the day before the 99th UIM General Assembly in Sintra.
What the Rule Says Now
Rule 550.05 already requires GT15 and GT30 cockpits to have structural means of protecting the driver’s head and helmet, giving a roll bar framework or a halo design as examples. Whatever is fitted must not stop the driver getting out of the boat.
Where a halo is used, a polycarbonate screen at least 6 mm thick must be installed outside the structure, glued or bolted with nylon, Delrin or aluminium bobbins on stainless steel bolts of at least 6 mm, with nylock nuts, washers and a maximum spacing of 5 cm. The top cover of the hull behind the driver and the roll bar must have a structural strength of 15,000 N.
What Would Change
The proposal deletes the examples and the current halo paragraph, leaving the head protection requirement and the rule on driver egress in place. In their place, it makes one of two solutions compulsory. The new text reads:
The “Halo”-type solution (like F1 car) or “aeroscreen”-type solution (like Indy car) must be mandatory for the GT15 and GT30 boats.
A halo would be glued or bolted using the same bobbins, bolts, nuts, washers and 5 cm spacing as the current rule, and would itself have to withstand 15,000 N.
An aeroscreen would be a polycarbonate screen at least 6 mm thick, installed outside the structure with the same fixings, also rated to 15,000 N.
The proposal closes by raising the minimum weight of both GT15 and GT30 boats by 5 kg. It does not set out a transition period for boats already racing, so if adopted the requirement would apply from the January 1, 2027 implementation date.
Justification and Advice
Reide’s justification is a single line, giving safety for all drivers, protection in lateral accidents and the avoidance of serious injuries as the reasons for the change.
COMINSPORT and COMINSAFE are listed as the commissions advising on the proposal. The published document records no position from either.
Reide is also the author of the COMINSAFE proposal that would make integral load-bearing canopies mandatory in F1H2O and F2 from the same date.
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.
