The 73rd Raid Pavia-Venezia takes place from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May 2026, covering 361 timed kilometres of Italian inland waterway. The race starts on Sunday morning and finishes in the Venice Lagoon, with the prize-giving at the Arsenale as part of the 7th Salone Nautico di Venezia.
This year’s start has been transferred from its traditional Pavia pontoon to San Nazzaro d’Ongina, a frazione of Monticelli d’Ongina in the province of Piacenza. A winter with virtually no Alpine snowfall left the Ticino basin 91% below its historical April snow-water equivalent, making the first sector (Pavia to the Conca di Isola Serafini) impossible to run. The first boat leaves at 07:00 on Sunday 31 May.
The field carries 91 entries across 20 classes. International crews line up from Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Tunisia and Guernsey.
Cappellini Not Defending
Ten-time F1 World Champion Guido Cappellini will not defend his title. He set a new course record at the 2025 edition but is committed with Team Abu Dhabi at the F1H2O Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy. His absence leaves the outright victory open.
Borelli Trophy
A new award makes its debut in 2026: the Borelli Trophy, named after Ruggero Borelli, a long-serving Raid organiser and former competitor who died last year. Borelli Trophy Association President Enrico Beltramelli announced the prize at the official press launch. The Organising Committee will confirm the criteria before race day.
Event Programme
| Session | Local time (CEST, UTC+2) | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 29 May 2026: Pavia | ||
| Administrative checks | 10:00-12:30 | 10:00 |
| Administrative checks resume | 14:30 | 14:30 |
| Parade through Pavia (approx. 25 boats) | 17:00 | 17:00 |
| Saturday 30 May 2026: Pavia | ||
| Technical and administrative checks | 09:00-15:00 | 09:00 |
| Pilots’ briefing (staggered departure timetable issued) | 17:30 | 17:30 |
| Sunday 31 May 2026: Race Day | ||
| Race start, San Nazzaro d’Ongina | 07:00 | 07:00 |
| Results published, Club Nautico Marina del Sole, Chioggia | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| Prize-giving, Arsenale di Venezia, 7th Salone Nautico | 18:30 | 18:30 |
Times shown in Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). Your local time is calculated automatically.
The Race Route
The 361 timed kilometres divide into two sectors. The first covers 146 km from San Nazzaro d’Ongina to the Conca di Isola Serafini. An optional refuelling stop follows at Torricella di Sissa. The second sector runs 215 km to Voltagrimana, including the Revere-Pontelagoscuro stretch that counts towards the Coppa Montelera.
Competitors must adhere to set times during the road transfer between stages. Missing an allocated departure slot from the AMP base carries a time penalty in the final classification. Staggered departure times will be communicated at the Saturday 17:30 briefing.
All finishers arrive at Brondolo in the municipality of Chioggia, at the landing stage of the Club Nautico Marina del Sole. The top five overall and the top three in each class then travel in convoy into the Venice Lagoon for the awards at the Arsenale.
Entry List
The full entry list (91 boats across 20 classes) is on Powerboat News: 73rd Raid Pavia-Venezia 2026: Official Entry List.
Entries include an all-female crew in DIPORTO 7:1: Daniela Covati, Laura Varesi and Giulia Nordio in boat 13, alongside international competitors from Belgium, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Guernsey.
Raid Pavia-Venezia Coverage
Follow Powerboat News for results and reports from the 73rd edition.
All Raid Pavia-Venezia articles
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.
