# Powerboat News > Independent digital publication covering international powerboat racing and the global marine industry. Founded September 2025. Recognised by Google News. Editor and publisher: John Moore, 40+ years in the sport including co-founder of UKOPRA and Event Director for the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes races 2010-2013. Contributing photographer and writer: Chris Davies, 40+ years covering offshore and circuit racing worldwide. Coverage includes UIM F1H2O, UIM F2, F4, Hydro GP, XCAT, UKOPRA offshore, IHRA, Race World Offshore, H1 Unlimited, and the global marine industry. ## Key pages - [About Powerboat News](https://powerboat.news/about/): About Powerboat News, its editorial standards, and editor John Moore. Founded September 2025. Google News recognised. - [2026 Championship Calendars](https://powerboat.news/2026-uim-world-championship-calendars/): Complete calendar of UIM world championships, UKOPRA, IHRA, Race World Offshore and industry events. 140+ events. Downloadable for Apple and Google Calendar. - [Powerboat Racing Coverage Directory](https://powerboat.news/powerboat-racing-coverage-directory/): Index of all series and championships covered by Powerboat News. - [Points Scoring Systems](https://powerboat.news/points-scoring-systems/): Championship points allocation across all racing classes covered by Powerboat News. - [2026 UIM F1H2O World Championship Standings](https://powerboat.news/2026-uim-f1h2o-world-championship/): Current driver standings for the 2026 UIM F1H2O World Championship. - [2026 UIM F2 World Championship Standings](https://powerboat.news/2026-uim-f2-world-championship/): Current driver standings for the 2026 UIM F2 World Championship. - [2026 UIM F4 World Championship Standings](https://powerboat.news/2026-uim-f4-world-championship/): Current driver standings for the 2026 UIM F4 World Championship. - [2026 UIM Hydro GP World Championship Standings](https://powerboat.news/2026-uim-hydro-gp-world-championship/): Current driver standings for the 2026 UIM Hydro GP World Championship. - [Powerboat News Digital Edition](https://powerboat.news/digital-edition/): Monthly digital magazine edition of Powerboat News. Issue 1 launched May 2026. - [Contact](https://powerboat.news/contact/): Editorial contact, press enquiries and WhatsApp. - [China's Outboard Motor Power Rankings: A Running Tracker](https://powerboat.news/chinese-outboard-manufacturers-power-rankings/): Running comparison of Chinese outboard manufacturer flagship power output, tracking Parsun, Hidea, Calon Gloria and other emerging brands as new models are released. ## Flagship investigations - [British Boat Builders in Crisis as Global Market Splits](https://powerboat.news/british-boat-builders-in-crisis-as-global-market-splits/): Sunseeker, Princess Yachts, and Fairline announce over 500 redundancies and combined losses exceeding £300 million. Investigation into the structural collapse of UK luxury boat manufacturing. - [Mercury Marine: 2,000 Layoffs, the $1.16 Billion Reckoning and Recovery](https://powerboat.news/mercury-marine-2000-layoffs-the-1-16-billion-reckoning-and-recovery/): Deep investigation into Brunswick Corporation's $1.16 billion revenue decline, 2,000 Mercury Marine job losses, and the path to recovery. - [American Offshore Racing Erupts](https://powerboat.news/american-offshore-racing-erupts/): The split between IHRA and APBA reshapes American offshore racing, with IHRA's $2 million purse drawing series and venues away from the UIM's recognised US authority. - [Sunseeker Acquisition Completed](https://powerboat.news/sunseeker-acquisition-completed-as-staff-notice-reveals-kcp-holdings-plans/): KPC Holdings completes purchase of Sunseeker International. Internal staff notice reveals ownership structure and investment plans. - [Sunseeker Faces Fresh Crisis as US Export Market Collapses](https://powerboat.news/sunseeker-faces-fresh-crisis-as-us-export-market-collapses/): Emergency capital injection from Cheyne Capital and Cross Ocean Partners as Trump tariffs devastate Sunseeker's largest market. ## Notable stories - [Warby to Pilot Campbell's Bluebird K7 at Coniston in May](https://powerboat.news/warby-to-pilot-campbells-bluebird-k7-at-coniston-in-may/): Dave Warby, son of world water speed record holder Ken Warby, pilots Donald Campbell's restored Bluebird K7 on Coniston Water for the first time since Campbell's fatal crash in 1967. - [Malcolm Campbell's Blue Bird K3 Confirmed for Coniston Festival](https://powerboat.news/malcolm-campbells-blue-bird-k3-confirmed-for-coniston-festival/): The 1937 record hydroplane joins K7 at Coniston in May 2026, the first time father and son Campbell's boats have appeared together on the lake. - [World's Fastest RIB Enters 2026 UKOPRA Class 1 Championship](https://powerboat.news/worlds-fastest-rib-enters-2026-ukopra-class-1-championship/): Dean Stoneman enters the Bernico 52R HYBRID at 104.2 knots, a new RIB world record, powered by twin 1,550hp Mercury Racing engines. - [Mercury's 808hp V12 Concept Signals Power Evolution](https://powerboat.news/mercurys-808hp-v12-concept-signals-power-evolution/): Mercury Marine unveiled an 808hp supercharged V12 outboard concept at CES 2026, pointing to the next generation of its V12 Verado platform. - [Andrew Tate Takes First F1 Victory at Bradenton Opener](https://powerboat.news/andrew-tate-takes-first-f1-victory-at-bradenton-opener/): Andrew Tate wins the inaugural IHRA F1 Powerboat Series race at the Bradenton Area River Regatta, the first sanctioned powerboat event in IHRA history. - [UKOPRA 2026: Already a 45-Boat Season Entry](https://powerboat.news/ukopra-2026-already-a-45-boat-season-entry/): The 2026 UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Championship opens at Southampton in May with 45 boats across seven classes from the UK, Sweden, Ireland, Malta, and South Africa. - [Peter Bonham Christie Takes Custodianship of Apache 555](https://powerboat.news/peter-bonham-christie-takes-custodianship-of-apache-555/): Hampshire entrepreneur takes over the Don Shead-designed Apache 555, winner of the 1972 London to Monte Carlo race and the 1979 World Class II Championship. ## Championship categories - [UIM F1H2O](https://powerboat.news/category/uim-f1h2o/): UIM F1H2O World Championship. Single-pilot closed-cockpit tunnel boats powered by Mercury Racing engines. Top speed 250+ km/h. 0-100 km/h in under 2 seconds. The highest category in international circuit powerboat racing. - [UIM F2](https://powerboat.news/category/uim-f2/): UIM F2 World Championship. Open-cockpit circuit powerboats. Training ground for F1H2O. International calendar including rounds in Italy and France. - [UIM F4](https://powerboat.news/category/uim-f4/): UIM F4 World Championship. Entry-level UIM circuit class. Feeder series to F2 and F1H2O. - [UIM Hydro GP](https://powerboat.news/category/uim-hydros/): UIM Hydro GP World Championship. Propeller-driven hydroplane racing on the international circuit. - [XCAT](https://powerboat.news/category/uim-xcat/): XCAT World Series. Twin-engine offshore catamaran racing at speeds exceeding 200 km/h. Rounds in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. - [IHRA](https://powerboat.news/category/ihra/): International Hydroplane Racing Association. US-based powerboat racing series. IHRA F1 Powerboat Series and offshore championships. 2026 season includes an $2 million prize fund. - [UKOPRA](https://powerboat.news/category/ukopra/): UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Championship. UK national offshore powerboat racing series. Classes include Class 1, Supersport, and National. Races around the British coastline. - [H1 Unlimited](https://powerboat.news/category/h1-unlimited/): H1 Unlimited hydroplane racing. The premier US hydroplane series. Turbine-powered boats racing on rivers and lakes across North America. - [Race World Offshore](https://powerboat.news/category/race-world-offshore/): Race World Offshore. US-based offshore powerboat racing. Races on the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico. - [Boating Industry](https://powerboat.news/category/boating-industry/): Global marine industry news. Boat builders, engine manufacturers, industry trends, mergers, and market analysis. Covers Sunseeker, Princess Yachts, Mercury Marine, Brunswick Corporation, and the wider industry. - [General News](https://powerboat.news/category/general-news/): General powerboat racing and marine industry news not covered by a specific series category. ## Optional - [XML Sitemap](https://powerboat.news/wp-sitemap.xml): Full XML sitemap for all Powerboat News content. - [Google News Sitemap](https://powerboat.news/news-sitemap.xml): Google News sitemap for recent articles. - [Extended context (llms-full.txt)](https://powerboat.news/llms-full.txt/): Extended editorial context, coverage methodology, and key personnel. --- > Powerboat News is an independent publication. All content is original reporting by John Moore and Chris Davies. No sponsored content. No press-release republication without editorial context. British English throughout. > For press releases, race results, and media enquiries: info@powerboat.news --- > Generated by FastAI LLMs.txt v1.1.0. Last updated: 2026-08-11