Race World Offshore has confirmed its return to Michigan City, Indiana, for July 31 to August 2, 2026, marking year two of a planned five-year commitment to the venue. In a separate development, SSR Safety and Rescue Services has issued a statement reaffirming its partnership with RWO and revealing that the SFI Foundation has confirmed no offshore rescue diver certification programme exists.
The Michigan City announcement follows last year’s record-setting XINSURANCE.com Great Lakes Grand Prix, which attracted 70 race teams. SSR’s statement, released by president Shawn Steinert, carries direct implications for the ongoing dispute over safety provision in American offshore racing.
IHRA posted job listings in February requiring “SFI Foundation rescue diver certification” for positions on its new offshore safety team. SSR says it contacted SFI directly, and the foundation confirmed no such certification has ever existed.
Michigan City Builds on Record Year
The confirmation of the 2026 event reinforces Michigan City’s position on the Race World Offshore schedule. The venue is now in the second year of a multi-year agreement with RWO, and the 17th year of the Michigan City Offshore Event overall.
“We are excited to come off a record-setting year with 70 boats and an incredible team spirit throughout the entire event. Michigan City embraced this race at every level, from the fans and volunteers to the leadership that helped bring it to life. Having July 31 through August 2, 2026, on the calendar as part of this five-year vision allows us to continue building something truly special and deliver an even bigger and better experience for the teams, sponsors, and community.”
Larry Bleil, President, Race World Offshore
Jack Arnett, CEO of the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, credited RWO with delivering the venue’s strongest year to date.
“The Michigan City Offshore Event, now in our 17th year, is excited to be going into year two of our multi-year contract with RWO. RWO understands the business model we require here and they deliver on that. Last year’s event was the best year yet and we credit RWO for much of that success. Michigan City Offshore and RWO will continue our tradition of hospitality by making sure Michigan City stays the most Racer Friendly site in all of Offshore, where all Race Teams are welcome.”
Jack Arnett, CEO, LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Race week runs from July 27 to August 2, with competition scheduled for the final three days along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Organisers plan to expand fan engagement and on-site experiences from the inaugural RWO year.
SSR Confirms RWO Partnership, Addresses SFI Controversy
Steinert’s statement went beyond confirming the RWO relationship. He addressed the SFI certification dispute that has divided the offshore racing community since IHRA’s rescue diver recruitment drive in February.
“The discussion about a proposed requirement for ‘SFI certification’ for rescue divers was particularly concerning to us. Based on SSR’s longstanding involvement in offshore racing safety and training standards, we were not aware of any legitimate offshore racing rescue diver certification being offered by SFI.”
Shawn Steinert, SSR Safety & Rescue Services
According to Steinert, SSR contacted the SFI Foundation directly to verify the programme. SFI confirmed that no offshore rescue diver certification exists and took action to address what Steinert described as the misuse of its name by another safety organisation.
The statement positioned SSR’s concerns not as opposition to standards but as a demand for proper governance. Steinert said SSR has “never opposed safety standards, insurance requirements, or professional training” and noted that he and co-leader JR Andersen “have been instrumental in developing safety standards used in offshore racing today.”
“What we have consistently asked for is clear operational structure, defined command authority, cohesive staffing, and alignment between responsibility and control. Offshore rescue is a specialized discipline that depends on consistent unified teams and real-world experience.”
Shawn Steinert, SSR Safety & Rescue Services
Steinert confirmed that SSR’s relationship with Race World Offshore “continues uninterrupted for the 2026 season and beyond,” adding that the team’s focus “remains where it has always been, protecting racers, crews, and families with professionalism, preparation, and teamwork.”
Powerboat News reported in detail on IHRA’s rescue diver job postings and the centralised command structure that appears to sit at the heart of the breakdown between IHRA and SSR. The job specifications required SFI certification and placed all rescue personnel under the direction of IHRA’s Safety Director.
2026 Race World Offshore Schedule
Michigan City is the second of four Race World Offshore events on the 2026 calendar. All RWO events are sanctioned by APBA.
2026 Race World Offshore Calendar
June 26-28 – Atlantic City Grand Prix, Atlantic City, NJ
July 31 – August 2 – XINSURANCE.com Great Lakes Grand Prix, Michigan City, IN
September 25-27 – Clearwater Offshore Nationals, Clearwater, FL
November 1-8 – Key West World Championships, Key West, FL
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.
