Matas Kvizikevičius, head of the Lithuanian motorboat academy, has successfully delivered the first international Formula Future training camp with a week-long programme at Fujairah International Marine Club in the United Arab Emirates.
The inaugural camp brought together 13 young drivers and their families for intensive training combined with a taste of Emirati culture.
In total, 30 people travelled to Fujairah for the groundbreaking initiative that brings Kvizikevičius’s vision into operational reality.
From concept to delivery
Kvizikevičius originated the international training camp concept in November 2023, initially approaching Major Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed Darak Al Blooshi, CEO of Fujairah International Marine Club, to develop the programme. Karolis Ramoska, President of both the Lithuanian Motorboat Federation and the Lithuanian Technical Sports Federation Association, later joined the initiative to provide federation-level support.
Major Ahmed provided the venue that pioneered exactly what Kvizikevičius envisioned. The club opened the world’s first UIM Youth Training Academy in 2016, establishing the model that UIM President Raffaele Chiulli described as “a state-of-the-art training centre for future powerboaters, which serves as an example for all UIM Member Federations.”
The club, founded in 1999 under the patronage of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, hosts more than 20 international powerboat events annually including F1H2O, XCAT, Formula 2, and ThunderCat championship rounds. In 2024, Fujairah celebrated its 25th anniversary and renewed its XCAT World Championship hosting agreement through 2027.
Programme implementation
Kvizikevičius designed and coordinated the entire week’s activities, developing a comprehensive training curriculum for the participants.
Coaching was led by UIM programme trainers, Kvizikevičius and Nida Kilinskaitė.
Kilinskaitė went through the youth training programme in her home town of Kaunas and currently races in the UIM F4 World Championship.
They were supported by official trainers Gerdas Prakapavičius and Rokas Frejeris, who focused on practical boat handling skills.
A key element of the programme was giving all participants the opportunity to experience starter boats, regardless of whether they currently race in the class. The hands-on approach allowed younger drivers to familiarise themselves with the equipment ahead of their competitive debuts.
Host Support and Cultural Programme
Major Ahmed organised an extensive cultural programme alongside the on-water training. Activities included visits to Fujairah’s historic fortress, the city’s museum, and the Great Mosque of Fujairah. The group also participated in a football match with local children from the marina club, fostering international connections among the young participants.
One highlight was attending a traditional rowing competition in Sharjah’s Kalba district, celebrating the region’s 100-year heritage of competitive rowing. The event showcased traditional boats, canoes, and local watercraft, with the Formula Future group witnessing the finals of the competition.
Dubai Excursion
The programme included a day trip to Dubai, where participants visited the Atlantis aquarium at the Palm Jumeirah resort, explored Dubai Mall, and viewed the Burj Khalifa tower and its choreographed fountain displays.
The camp received both financial and organisational backing from the UIM, the sport’s international governing body.
The partnership emerged from meetings between Kvizikevičius, Ramoska, UIM President Chiulli, and Major Ahmed during the Formula Future World Championship in Hungary. The February 2026 camp demonstrates the successful execution of high-level international cooperation between academy leadership, federation support, and operational expertise.
Expansion Plans
The Lithuanian motorboat academy confirmed its intention to make the training camp an annual tradition, with potential expansion to include participants from multiple countries.
Kvizikevičius is organising the first international summer camp in Kaunas this July, scheduled before the Formula Future World Championship.
Possible future locations mentioned include returning to UAE venues such as Fujairah or Sharjah, or potentially expanding to Asia with Nepal identified as a candidate host.
Impact Assessment
Speaking immediately after the camp concluded, Ramoska emphasised the value of the programme beyond pure racing skills.
This camp gives a lot to the children and a lot to our sport overall. It’s very good that all the children, even those who might not yet be old enough to race competitively, had the opportunity to try a boat. Everyone is very happy.
He noted the motivational impact on young drivers and their families.
It motivates the children to continue, to train, to stay in our sport. Parents see their motivated children and want to invest their time so the children stay in this sport they really enjoy. These kinds of camps encourage even greater involvement.
Ramoska expressed optimism about attracting new participants to Formula Future.
After this camp, I’m hopeful we’ll attract even more new children who would want to start in such an amazing sport with such impressive camps.
The Lithuanian motorboat academy’s track record in producing international events has been a huge attribute to the sport.
With UIM backing and Major Ahmed’s operational expertise, international youth development may well have a future.
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.
