Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club has confirmed there will be no on-water racing at Oulton Broad for the remainder of 2026, in a statement posted to Facebook on Friday, July 3, 2026.
The announcement comes nearly a year after the death of competitor Brett Duncan during a club championship round at the circuit in July 2025, following which the club had been unable to confirm whether the 2026 season would go ahead at all.
THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, LOBMBC
Following the tragic accident in July 2025, the Club took the decision, at the request of East Suffolk Council and the Broads Authority, not to undertake any racing activity while the Council completed its review.
The club said investigations by Suffolk Police, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, East Suffolk Council, the Broads Authority and the Circuit Powerboat Association have now concluded, with no objections raised by any of those bodies to racing resuming at Oulton Broad. East Suffolk Council and the Broads Authority have not yet granted permission for on-water activity to recommence.
THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, LOBMBC
Having now reached July, and following the latest information received this week from the Coroner’s Office, it has become clear that there is no realistic prospect of organising a meaningful racing season during 2026.
Although there will be no racing during the remainder of the 2026 season, this should not be interpreted as the end of powerboat racing at Oulton Broad. The Committee remains fully committed to securing a safe, responsible and sustainable return to on-water activity.
The club said it would continue working with East Suffolk Council, the Broads Authority, the CPA and other stakeholders toward a return to racing, and thanked members, volunteers and officials for their support through what it called an exceptionally difficult period.
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.
