Stewartby-based circuit powerboat club SWSC has launched its own three-element British Masters Championship, with four rounds confirmed between April and October.
The move follows the CPA’s advice to scrap the national and sprint championship rounds that SWSC had committed to hosting following the drivers forum. The club says it has been experiencing a 50 per cent reduction in its allocated water time at Stewartby and, faced with both issues simultaneously, its power committee chose to redesign its competitive calendar from scratch.
Background: SWSC had agreed to host rounds of the national and sprint championship as confirmed at the drivers forum. The CPA subsequently advised against proceeding, prompting the club to reassess its entire programme.
Three Championships in One Format
The British Masters Championship is structured around three separate competitive elements, each with its own winner declared at every event. The format is designed to allow competitors who cannot commit to a full season to still compete meaningfully for points.
The core racing element runs one qualifying session and four heats per day. Heats 1 and 2 run back to back, as do Heats 3 and 4, with reverse grids applied for Heats 2 and 4.
The second element is the British Masters Match Race Championship, a head-to-head elimination competition run over two laps on both short and long course configurations.
The third element is the British Masters Lap Record Championship, which awards points for the fastest laps achieved by each competitor in racing conditions throughout the season.
Points System: Overall final championship standings will be determined by a best-percentage calculation based on each competitor’s highest points totals across the season. 2026 CPA rules apply, with exceptions specific to the British Masters format to be published shortly.
All Classes Welcome
SWSC has confirmed all classes are welcome and the club will work to combine and accommodate entries as necessary. The announcement states the power committee has worked to maximise available water time given the constraints the club is currently operating under.
2026 Season Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 4 April 2026 | Testing / Training |
| 5 April 2026 | Round 1 – British Masters Championship |
| 1 August 2026 | Testing / Training |
| 2 August 2026 | Round 2 – British Masters Championship |
| 26-27 September 2026 | Round 3 – British Masters Championship |
| 17-18 October 2026 | Round 4 – British Masters Championship (Finals) |
Each event will include a social gathering on the Saturday evening, with details to be confirmed closer to the time.
Season Opener: Round 1 at Stewartby takes place on 5 April 2026, with a testing and training day the day before on 4 April.
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.
