The Pavia Motonautica Association has confirmed the 73rd Raid Pavia-Venezia will start on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Registration for the world’s longest inland powerboat marathon opens on January 3.
The announcement continues a remarkable revival for the classic Italian river race. After a nine-year hiatus from 2012 to 2020 due to low water levels in the Po River, the event has returned stronger than ever.
Cappellini’s Record-Breaking Performance
Ten-time F1H2O World Champion Guido Cappellini underlined the race’s enduring appeal by shattering a 20-year-old record in June of this year. Racing a DAC-Mercury powered by the new Mercury 360 APX four-stroke engine, Cappellini completed the 414-kilometre course in one hour, 41 minutes and 54 seconds at an average speed of 207.26 km/h.
The performance broke Dino Zantelli’s 2005 benchmark of 203.34 km/h. Cappellini also claimed the Coppa Montelera for the fastest time on the 55-kilometre Revere-Pontelagoscuro section and the Paolo Masiero Trophy for overall victory.
Diego Lacchini and Fabio Maccabruni finished second overall in the Diporto category with an average of 151.71 km/h, while Giovanni Micheli took third in the Touring Cup class.
A 96-Year Legacy
Engineer Vincenzo Balsamo founded the Raid Pavia-Venezia in 1929. The Neapolitan engineer, who chaired the Motorboat Section of Milan’s Naval League, was inspired by a 1908 Piacenza-Venezia race and proposed an even longer challenge.
The first edition on June 6, 1929, was won by Ettore Negri and mechanic Luigi Calvi. They completed the course in 11 hours and 36 minutes aboard a craft powered by a small 350cc Elto outboard motor.
Those modest beginnings contrast sharply with modern times. What once required nearly half a day now takes the fastest boats less than two hours.
The Course
Competitors start from the Associazione Motonautica Pavia headquarters on the Ticino River. After nine kilometres, they reach Ponte della Becca where the Ticino meets the Po, Italy’s longest river.
The route covers 414 kilometres total, with 315 timed in three sections. A neutralised transfer section includes passage through the Isola Serafini lock at Piacenza and official refuelling at the 146-kilometre mark.
The race finishes in the Venice lagoon at Brondolo-Chioggia. The top finishers then parade to the Arsenal of Venice for the awards ceremony.
Three Trophies
The Coppa Teo Rossi di Montelera awards the fastest average speed on the timed Revere-Pontelagoscuro section. The 55-kilometre stretch honours the count who pioneered high speeds with his idroscivolanti.
The Trofeo Vincenzo Balsamo, established by the Italian Motorboat Federation, goes to any driver who exceeds the previous best average for their category and class since the 30th edition. The perpetual trophy resides at FIM headquarters, with winners receiving a replica.
The Trofeo Raid Classic recognises historic racing boats built before 1990. The best finisher in each category receives the heritage award.
Looking Ahead
Rules for the 73rd race will be published in December 2025. Registration opens January 3, 2026, with scrutineering and race briefing scheduled for May 29-30 at the Associazione Motonautica Pavia.
John Moore’s 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 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
