Race World Offshore is North America’s premier promoter of professional offshore powerboat racing. Since March 2026 it has been the official promoter of the UIM Offshore World Championship Series in North America under a landmark 10-year partnership with the Union Internationale Motonautique, bringing UIM world title status to Class 1 and Class 2 competition in the United States for the first time.
- President and founder: Larry Bleil
- Headquarters: Key West, Florida
- Sanction: APBA (American Power Boat Association)
- UIM partnership: Official UIM Offshore World Championship Series promoter in North America (March 2026, 10-year agreement)
- Premier event: Key West World Championship (annual, November)
- Official website: raceworldoffshore.com
What Is Race World Offshore?
Race World Offshore (RWO) organises professional offshore powerboat racing events in the United States under full APBA sanction. Founded and led by Larry Bleil, RWO produces the Key West World Championship, the most prestigious offshore powerboat event in North America, alongside a national championship series spanning Atlantic City, Michigan City and Clearwater.
On 9 March 2026, RWO and the UIM announced a 10-year partnership making RWO the official promoter of the UIM Offshore World Championship Series in North America. From 2026, RWO events award official UIM Class 1 and Class 2 Offshore World Championship titles alongside APBA Super Cat World Championship honours, connecting North American offshore racing directly to the global UIM world championship framework for the first time.
For Powerboat News coverage of the UIM/RWO partnership announcement, see: Race World Offshore coverage.
The UIM Partnership
The 10-year agreement announced in March 2026 is a significant structural change for offshore powerboat racing in North America. Prior to 2026, RWO events awarded APBA national titles. The UIM partnership elevates the series to world championship status, with RWO events now counting toward the official UIM Offshore World Championship Series standings in Class 1 and Class 2.
The agreement was confirmed by UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli and provides for long-term stability, venue expansion, enhanced media coverage including digital streaming, and unified rules aligned between APBA and UIM standards. It is part of the UIM’s broader strategy to strengthen the North American presence of the offshore world championship alongside its European and Middle Eastern events.
Racing Classes
| Class | Description | Top speed |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 (UIM/USA) | Elite twin-inboard catamaran class with UIM world title eligibility | Up to 160 mph |
| Class 2 (UIM / Class 500) | Twin-inboard class with UIM world title eligibility | High performance |
| Super Cat | Twin-hull catamarans, 38-44 ft, twin engines approximately 850 hp each | ~140 mph |
| Super Stock | 32 ft twin-sponson outboard catamarans, twin Mercury 300XS engines | ~110 mph |
| Bracket Classes (2-4, 5-7) | Performance formula classes with breakout speed limits for equitable racing | Variable |
| Super Vee / Modified Vee | V-hull performance classes under APBA rules | Variable |
2026 Season Calendar
| Event | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City Grand Prix | Atlantic City, NJ | June 26-28 |
| XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix | Michigan City, IN | July 31-August 2 |
| Clearwater Offshore Nationals | Clearwater, FL | September 25-27 |
| Key West World Championship | Key West, FL | November 1-8 |
The Key West World Championship is the series finale and the most prestigious event in North American offshore racing, featuring multiple days of championship racing across all classes. Live broadcast is available on YouTube, Facebook and local radio.
Race Format
RWO events follow standard APBA offshore format. Courses are marked ocean or lake circuits with a minimum width of 100 yards. Race distances typically range from 40 to 90 statute miles depending on class, with Class 1 and Super Cat events covering longer distances. Each event weekend covers practice, qualifying and race days. Each boat carries one driver and one throttleman. Technical inspection under APBA and UIM rules is mandatory before competition.
2026 Championship Structure
Three separate championships run across the 2026 RWO calendar, each with distinct eligibility rules and points structures.
| Category | APBA National Championship | UIM World Championship | RWO Key West World Championships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Events | 4 Race Weekends | 4 Cities / 8 Races | 3 Race Days |
| Locations | Atlantic City, Michigan City, Clearwater, Englewood | Atlantic City (Sat & Sun), Michigan City (Sat & Sun), Clearwater (Sat & Sun), Key West (Wed & Fri) | Key West, FL only |
| 1st Place Points | 1,200 pts per race day | 1,200 pts per race day | Wed & Fri: 1,200 pts; Sunday: 2,400 pts |
| Bonus Points | +1 pt per boat beaten (Sunday night, each event) | None | None |
| Key West | Not included | Race 7 (Wed) = 2,400 pts; Race 8 (Fri) = 2,400 pts | Wed + Fri + Sun; up to 4,800 total pts |
Live points standings by class, updated after every round, are available on the 2026 Race World Offshore Standings page.
Championship Qualification Requirements
| APBA National Championship | UIM World Championship | RWO Key West World Championships |
|---|---|---|
| Competitors must complete at least 75% of all 2026 APBA National races (3 out of 4 events) to qualify for the championship. | No minimum requirement. The title is awarded purely on cumulative points. Whoever scores the highest total across all championship rounds wins. | Competitors must compete in at least two 2026 RWO/APBA series events to qualify for the Key West World Championships. |
Points Scoring System
Two points scales apply across the 2026 season depending on race day. The standard scale is used at all national and UIM championship race days. The Key West Sunday scale applies to the highest-value race day of the season.
| Position | Points per Race Day (standard) | Key West Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1,200 | 2,400 |
| 2nd | 900 | 1,800 |
| 3rd | 675 | 1,350 |
| 4th | 506 | 1,012 |
| 5th | 380 | 760 |
| 6th | 285 | 570 |
| 7th | 214 | 428 |
| 8th | 160 | 320 |
| 9th | 120 | 240 |
| 10th | 90 | 180 |
APBA National Championship bonus points of +1 per boat beaten are awarded on Sunday night at each national series event. No bonus points apply in the UIM World Championship or Key West World Championships.
Cates Cup and Conch Republic Cup – Recent Winners
| Year | Cates Cup (overall series) | Key West Conch Republic Cup |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | XINSURANCE | SV Offshore / Austin Homes |
| 2023 | T/S Motorsports MTI | Statement / XINSURANCE |
| 2022 | Pro Floors | – |
| 2021 | M-CON Racing | – |
Key West World Championship
The Key West World Championship, held each November in Key West, Florida, is the flagship event of the RWO calendar and one of the most iconic events in offshore powerboat racing globally. The 2026 edition runs from 1 to 8 November and carries UIM world championship status in Class 1 and Class 2 for the first time under the new UIM partnership.
Racing takes place across three days: Wednesday and Friday each carry 1,200 points for first place under both the UIM World Championship and Key West World Championships points structures. Sunday is the highest-value race day of the entire season at 2,400 points for first place, and counts exclusively toward the Key West World Championships. A competitor who wins all three days collects up to 4,800 points. Key West is not part of the APBA National Championship series.
For Powerboat News coverage of Key West, see: Key West World Championship coverage.
All Race World Offshore Coverage on Powerboat News
Entry lists, race reports and results from the RWO National Championship Series and Key West World Championship.
All Race World Offshore Coverage