H1 Unlimited has announced a new race format that will debut at the 76th Madison Regatta on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana, July 3-5, 2026. The change replaces draw-based positioning with a cumulative scoring system that connects every session from Time Trials through to the Final.
H1 describes the objective as straightforward: make every session count, reward consistency, and create a clearer path from Time Trials to the Final.
Total Weekend Points
Under the new structure, every boat begins accumulating points in Time Trials and continues through the preliminary heats. The running total, called Total Weekend Points, governs three things: which heat section a boat is placed in, the order in which lane selection is made, and who advances to the Final.
Time Trials now carry genuine strategic weight. Rather than serving only as a speed benchmark for bragging rights and national championship points, qualifying results directly shape how a boat’s entire weekend plays out.
Heat Structure
Preliminary heats are organised using an inverted odd/even system intended to distribute competition evenly across sections. This prevents the fastest boats from being stacked into a single early heat and keeps the racing competitive throughout the preliminary programme.
In the opening round, lane choice is determined by Time Trial ranking. From Round 2 onwards, lane choice shifts entirely to Total Weekend Points, with the higher-ranked boat in the standings selecting first.
The Final
The boats carrying the highest Total Weekend Points from Time Trials and preliminary heats qualify for the Final. Lane selection order follows the same principle – the boat with the most accumulated points selects first, with each subsequent qualifier choosing in points order.
There is an additional seasonal rule: the boat holding the most weekend points across the season may select Lane 1 once and Lane 2 once per season in a Final. This rewards sustained performance across multiple events rather than single-race results.
Madison and Beyond
The 2026 Madison Regatta already carries added significance as the host of the returning APBA Gold Cup, first awarded in 1904 and recognised as the oldest active trophy in motorsports. The new format adds another layer of consequence to a weekend that will also feature the 76th running of the Regatta on one of the sport’s most storied racecourses.
“The structure reflects the league’s ongoing commitment to competitive integrity and clarity on the water. We are confident it will create an exciting and fair progression for teams, and we look forward to fans experiencing the weekend as it unfolds under this new format.” – H1 Unlimited
H1 Unlimited has indicated the format will continue throughout the 2026 season beyond Madison.
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.
