The Bermuda Power Boat Association has paid tribute to Rickai “Pugi” Raynor, who died following a crash in Hamilton Harbour on Sunday, June 28. He was competing in a BPBA race series event when his boat struck a stationary, unoccupied vessel near the Lower Ferry site in Paget.
The tribute, published by Bernews and written by Elizabeth Waldron, sets out a racing career that began in 2016 as co-pilot aboard D420 alongside driver Kentwoin Jones. He went on to race B100 with Rodrae Butterfield in 2017, then co-piloted for Howard Ascento’s boat in 2018 with Donny Raynor.
Several years ago Raynor bought his own boat, B71, a 23ft Bat Boat, and spent years restoring and refining it. He first raced it alongside his father, Ricky, before returning to the water as driver this season with Shannon Caisey as his co-pilot.
The tribute described him as a natural joker known for his love of speed, on the bike as much as behind the wheel of a race boat. On race day, he would proudly declare:
“It’s ready!”
Ricky Raynor has vowed to continue racing B71 once police release the boat, telling the Royal Gazette he intends to fix it up and race it in his son’s memory.
“It hurts and I’m mad because I lost my son.”
Raynor’s death was also marked in Bermuda’s Senate, where tributes noted he was the younger brother of the Minister of Public Works and Environment. The BPBA says plans are underway for a memorial race in his honour.
The BPBA’s next scheduled race, postponed following the crash, has not yet been rescheduled.
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.
