UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli sat down with Powerboat News at the Jupiter Lisboa Hotel during the 2026 UIM Mid-Term Meetings to discuss the future of the federation, the sport’s new disciplines, and the challenges facing international competition.
The UIM is 104 years old – one of the oldest international sport federations in existence. Chiulli, re-elected as president at the General Assembly in Shanghai in October 2025, is clear about the direction of travel.
“We would like to modernise our union. Our sport has seen many different evolutions, many innovations, many new technologies coming in.” – Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM President
E1 and the sustainability audience
Chiulli is enthusiastic about the E1 Series, the first fully electric UIM World Championship, pointing to an audience that extends well beyond traditional powerboat fans.
“We are targeting not anymore just the fans of powerboating, of motorsport. We are engaging the fan of sustainability. We have good examples, good practices, new technologies that can really make a change in the overall marine industry – whether it is powerboating, whether it is the nautical industry, whether it is the future of marine transportation.” – Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM President
The celebrities involved in E1 are, in his view, part of that broader reach – ambassadors for values the sport is working to project.
MotoSurf and the World Games
MotoSurf made history last year when it became the first motorised sport to participate in the World Games, held in Chengdu alongside already-established Olympic federations. The average age of competitors is just over 20. The discipline ran on certified biofuels in China, making it fully carbon neutral.
“MotoSurf is engaging the new generations. They love the sport, they love to be environmentally friendly. We used biofuels in China – completely carbon neutral, certified biofuels. We have also the electric in MotoSurf.” – Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM President
Class One: back in the US
The Class One offshore category has had a difficult few years, but Chiulli confirmed the federation is close to concluding a long-term agreement with a new American promoter. With around 80% of Powerboat News readership based in the United States, the revival of the pinnacle offshore class on American waters is the development our audience will follow most closely.
“We’ve suffered for a few years, and now it’s back. It’s back in the US. We are right in the process of signing a new long-term agreement with the new US promoter. We’ve seen a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of motivation to work together – and certainly to bring back this offshore pinnacle class within the UIM activities.” – Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM President
The ambition is not limited to the US. Chiulli is clear that a successful American base is the starting point for a wider geographical expansion of the class.
New countries: Kyrgyzstan and beyond
Chiulli recently visited Kyrgyzstan, where he met the president of the Republic. Several countries in the region have expressed interest in hosting UIM F1H2O World Championship rounds on their lakes.
“They are very keen to showcase that country. Nearby countries express the same wish – they want to have the UIM F1H2O World Championship on one of their lakes. We are working on that.” – Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM President
Youth development and the Lithuanian model
A recurring theme throughout the interview is the connection between youth development, education, and the long-term health of the sport. Chiulli cited the Lithuanian Motorboat Academy as an example of how the model pioneered in Fujairah – through PropStars and the work of Major Ahmed Ablochi – is now being transferred to new centres around the world.
“Learn and share, share and learn. This is the key.” – Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM President
The federation is also building relationships with universities, with the aim of bringing academic knowledge into the officiating and organisational structures of the sport alongside the next generation of racers.
The global situation
At the close of the interview, the conversation turned to the current global situation and its impact on international sport. Chiulli confirmed the UIM had already felt the effect, with travel restrictions preventing a number of people from attending the federation’s recent awards ceremony in Monaco.
“I hope that in the very near future, this situation will evolve for the positive. Sport is a wonderful means to break any barriers, irrespectively of your religion, of your ability, of your nationality, of your gender. Sport has to have a key role in bridging any kind of challenging situation that governments themselves cannot address and solve.” – Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM President
It was a sentiment that framed everything that had come before it – and a reminder that the decisions being taken in Lisbon this week sit within a wider world that the UIM cannot ignore.
“Change or be changed. We would like to change rather than be changed.” – Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM President
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.
