The UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Championship is the premier offshore powerboat racing series in the United Kingdom, governed by the United Kingdom Offshore Powerboat Racing Association. Boats race on open coastal water around the British Isles, with multiple classes competing across a five-round season. The series has been the foundation of British offshore powerboat racing for decades, producing drivers and crews who have gone on to compete at world championship level.
Racing takes place in two-person boats, with a driver and a throttleman working as a team. Both crew members are equally important: the driver navigates the course and the wave conditions, while the throttleman manages engine power through the turns and the chop. This two-person format distinguishes offshore from circuit powerboat racing and demands a particularly close working relationship between driver and crew.
How Racing Works
UKOPRA events are typically round-the-island or coastal circuit races. The course is defined by marker buoys, and boats must pass each buoy on the correct side; penalties apply for course violations. Events are decided on elapsed time, with the boat completing the course in the shortest time winning the race.
Points are awarded per round on the scale: 1st 400, 2nd 300, 3rd 225, 4th 169, 5th 127, 6th 95, 7th 71, 8th 53, 9th 40, 10th 30. The championship is decided on accumulated points across all five rounds of the season.
The Classes
Class 1 is the top class, running the largest and most powerful boats in the series. After two rounds, Smokin’ Aces (James and Chris Dodge) and Good Boy Vodka (Rob Lockyer and Adrian de Ferrenti) are tied on 400 points each — Smokin’ Aces scored at Poole, Good Boy Vodka at Southampton. Three rounds remain.
Class 1L runs slightly smaller hulls at Class 1 power levels. Sixty9 (Alex Welham and Neil Raven) leads the 2026 standings on 700 points after scoring in both rounds, ahead of Double 2 Shirts on 450 and Dry Martini on 400.
Class 2 is a closely contested mid-class category. Lightning Strikes (Dean Stoneman and Harry Thomas) leads with a maximum 800 points after winning both rounds. Stoneman is a former Formula 2 single-seater racing driver.
Class 3E, 3D, 3C and 3B are the entry-level offshore categories, forming the largest part of the UKOPRA grid and providing the route into competitive British offshore racing.
2026 Championship Standings
Full standings for all classes: 2026 UKOPRA Offshore Championship standings.
2026 Calendar
Follow the 2026 UKOPRA Season
All UKOPRA Coverage
Race reports, results, and championship analysis throughout 2026.
UKOPRA on Powerboat NewsFrequently Asked Questions
What is UKOPRA?
UKOPRA stands for United Kingdom Offshore Powerboat Racing Association. It governs the premier offshore powerboat racing championship in the United Kingdom, with racing on open coastal water around the British Isles.
How many people are in an offshore powerboat?
UKOPRA boats race with two crew: a driver and a throttleman. Both roles are essential; the driver navigates the course and conditions while the throttleman manages engine power through turns and waves.
How fast do UKOPRA boats go?
Top-class UKOPRA boats are capable of speeds well above 100mph in calm conditions. Offshore racing takes place on open coastal water, so actual race speeds depend significantly on sea state and wind conditions.
Where are UKOPRA races held?
Races take place on coastal water around the United Kingdom. The 2026 season has visited Southampton and Poole, with further venues around the British coast still to come.
How are UKOPRA points awarded?
Points are awarded per round on a scale of 400 for first place down to 30 for tenth. The crew with the most accumulated points at the end of the five-round season wins their class championship.
Who leads the 2026 UKOPRA Championship?
After two rounds: Class 1 — Smokin’ Aces and Good Boy Vodka are tied on 400 points each; Class 1L — Sixty9 leads on 700 points; Class 2 — Lightning Strikes leads with a maximum 800 points from two wins.
When is the next UKOPRA round?
Three rounds remain in the 2026 season. Full calendar details are at the 2026 race calendar.
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.
