The Terengganu state government has received a formal proposal to host an international F3000 powerboat championship at Seberang Takir Bay in Kuala Terengganu in December 2026, targeting 100,000 visitors and positioning the waterfront city as a destination for water sports tourism.
The presentation was made to the state executive council by Kelab Sukan Powerboat F3000 Malaysia, the Malaysian sports body that has organised F3000 events across the country since 2011. The proposal was received by Datuk Razali Idris, the Terengganu EXCO member responsible for tourism, culture, environment and climate change, who shared details of the meeting on his personal Facebook page on June 15, 2026.
The planned event would run over five days and feature 12 F3000 pilots, with a T750 support race and additional side events. Organisers have submitted a fully worked-up circuit layout for Seberang Takir Bay, proposing a 1.55km clockwise water circuit with three left-hand turns, run over 10 laps for a race distance of approximately 15.5km. The circuit sits in the bay adjacent to Kuala Terengganu’s main waterfront, with the Langit Duyong Marina Resort marked on the western boundary of the layout.
Datuk Razali said the state government sees the December timing as deliberate, with the Northeast Monsoon season traditionally a quiet period for tourism on the East Coast. The championship is intended to generate economic activity for local traders, accommodation operators and the wider community during that window.
F3000 is a Malaysian-originated single-seater catamaran class that runs on a closed circuit in calm water, with boats reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h. The class is not currently governed by the Union Internationale Motonautique; the “world championship” designation in the proposal reflects the organiser’s own branding, drawing on international participation from multiple countries that has featured at previous F3000 events in Malaysia, including pilots from Brazil, New Zealand, the United States, Brunei, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Kelab Sukan Powerboat F3000 Malaysia has a prior history in Terengganu, having run events in the state as far back as 2008 and staging an international championship round at Pulau Warisan in Kuala Terengganu in 2017. The most recent F3000 events under the club’s direction are the Royal Pahang F3000 Powerboat Championship, held annually in Kuantan in 2024 and 2025.
No formal approval has been confirmed by the state government. Datuk Razali’s post, framed as a preliminary presentation received, described the outcome as “Insya-Allah” — the event is planned, subject to all preparations proceeding as expected.
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.
