Bob Wartinger’s 36 years as president of COMINSAFE, the UIM’s International Medical and Safety Commission, have come to an end after Fabrizio Boffi of the Italian Powerboat Federation was elected to the post at the 99th UIM General Assembly in Sintra, Portugal, on Sunday 25 October.
A second sitting president was also voted out, with Luis Miguel Ribeiro of the Portuguese Powerboat Federation taking the COMINTECH presidency from Mikael Lundblad of Sweden. Jean-Marie Van Lancker of Belgium was re-elected president of COMINOFF after his challenger, Denis Dillon of the Powerboat Association of Northern Ireland, withdrew his application.
The results complete the four contested presidencies, after Pelle Larsson won the COMINSPORT presidency earlier in the day. All four presidents are elected for 2026-2030.
COMINSAFE: Fabrizio Boffi
He set the world outboard speed record at Parker, Arizona, in 1989, won UIM Class 5 rigid-inflatable endurance world titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and is the author of two books on racing safety.
Boffi is a COMINSAFE member and a former Italian paratrooper and paratrooper instructor, with more than 35 years of diving experience.
He leads Bergamo Scuba Angels, the helicopter rescue diving team that provides rescue cover for the Italian Powerboat Federation, UIM XCAT, Class 1 and UIM F2.
The team received the UIM Safety Award in Monaco in 2013.
COMINTECH: Luis Miguel Ribeiro
Lundblad had been COMINTECH president since the 89th General Assembly in Fujairah in 2016 and was re-elected in 2022.
Ribeiro is race director of the UIM F1H2O World Championship and of the UIM F2 World Championship, and chairman of the UIM Formula 1 Committee, a post he has held since October 2018. He has also been a COMINSPORT member.
COMINOFF: Jean-Marie Van Lancker
Van Lancker, a UIM Vice-President and president of the Belgian powerboat federation, was first elected COMINOFF president in Fujairah in 2016 and re-elected in 2022.
PBN will publish the results of the commission member and Administrator elections when the UIM releases them.
99th UIM General Assembly, Sintra, 25 October 2026
Commission presidents 2026-2030:
COMINSPORT: Pelle Larsson (Sweden)
COMINTECH: Luis Miguel Ribeiro (Portugal)
COMINOFF: Jean-Marie Van Lancker (Belgium)
COMINSAFE: Fabrizio Boffi (Italy)
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.
