Thunder on Cocoa Beach returns to the shores of Cocoa Beach, Florida, on May 15 to 17, 2026, for Round 3 of the IHRA Offshore National Championship. Competition takes place off the Atlantic coast with spectator facilities centred on Lori Wilson Park and the Race Village on Flounder Drive.
The 2026 IHRA Offshore season carries a total prize purse of $2 million for powerboat teams, with an additional $650,000 in tow money across the year. Thunder on Cocoa Beach is one of five rounds on the 2026 national calendar.
Full 2026 IHRA Offshore Championship standings are updated after every round at powerboat.news/2026-ihra-offshore-championship-standings/.
What You Will See
Offshore powerboat racing is contested in purpose-built V-hull and catamaran powerboats capable of exceeding 100mph in the senior classes. Competitors race in parallel around a marked offshore course, with the fastest Pro Class machinery producing enough noise and spray to make an impression from several hundred metres away. The IHRA fields multiple classes at each event, from entry-level single-engine boats through to twin-supercharged Pro Class 1 competition.
The spectator areas at Lori Wilson Park place the crowd directly alongside the course with open views of the start, finish, and turning marks. The Race Village on Flounder Drive gives access to the dry pit area, where boats and crews are on display between sessions.
Event Schedule
Based on the 2025 event. The 2026 schedule will be updated when confirmed by organisers.
| Session | Local time (EDT, UTC-4) | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, May 16 | ||
| VIP Experience – Start/Finish Line, Lori Wilson Park (beach side) | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | 14:00 |
| Power Boats in Dry Pits – Race Village, Flounder Drive | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 14:00 |
| Sunday, May 17 | ||
| Launching – Scorpion Marine | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | 13:00 |
| Power Boats in Dry Pits – Race Village, Flounder Drive | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | 14:00 |
| VIP Experience – Start/Finish Line, Lori Wilson Park (beach side) | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | 14:00 |
| Race 1 – Start | 10:00 AM | 14:00 |
| Awards Presentation | 6:00 PM | 22:00 |
All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4). Your time converts automatically to your local time.
Note: The above schedule is based on the 2025 Thunder on Cocoa Beach event and is subject to change. Check back for the confirmed 2026 programme as the event approaches.
Venue
The main spectator area is Lori Wilson Park, 1500 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931. The VIP Experience is staged at the start/finish line on the beach side of the park. The Race Village and dry pit area is located on Flounder Drive, where spectators can view the competing boats between races.
Launching takes place at Scorpion Marine on the Banana River side of the barrier island.
2026 IHRA Offshore Championship
Thunder on Cocoa Beach is Round 3 of the five-round 2026 IHRA Offshore National Championship. Points from all five rounds count towards the season title. Current standings after each completed round are maintained at the link below.
2026 IHRA Offshore Championship Standings
Updated after every round of the national championship.
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.
