Inshore powerboat racing is a form of water-based

motorsport Motorsport or motor sport are sporting events, competitions and related activities that primarily involve the use of Car, automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats and Aircraft, powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific term ...

using

powerboat A motorboat or powerboat is a boat that is exclusively powered by an engine; faster examples may be called "speedboats". Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the inter ...

s in sheltered or inland stretches of water, including lakes, rivers, docks and sheltered bays. It is often referred to as circuit powerboat racing because of the frequency of inshore races to use the format of a circuit loop, around which boats race for a number of predetermined laps. International races and championships are administered by the

Union Internationale Motonautique The Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) is the international governing body of powerboating, based in the Principality of Monaco. It was founded in 1922, in Belgium, as the Union Internationale du Yachting Automobile. History Member nation ...

(UIM) while national events are organised by the relevant country's own powerboat association.

Categories

There are numerous categories that define the levels of competition for inshore powerboat racing. Much like circuit car racing, the highest levels are designated "Formula" followed by a number, and the principal of these is the

Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship The Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship (also F1) is an international motorboat racing competition for powerboats organised by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) and promoted by H2O Racing, hence it often being referred to as F1H2O. ...

. Each "Formula" level follows a different set of regulations that specify the design of the boat and engine, as well as the rules of competition. The most common form of inshore powerboat racing involves a race around a two pin (buoy) or multi-pin circuit of approximately 1.5 – 2 km in length. Each pin marks a turn in the course. Races will vary in duration, normally no more than 45 minutes, but endurance category races can last much longer, such as the "24 Hours of Rouen". Historically, powerboat racing has been defined by 'classes' and this is still the case in

offshore powerboat racing Offshore powerboat racing is a type of racing by ocean-going powerboats, typically point-to-point racing. In most of the world, offshore powerboat racing is led by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) regulated Class 1 and Powerboat P1 ...

where Class 1 is the premier category. For inshore racing, up until the creation of Formula 1, the OZ, ON, and OE classes were regarded as the most prestigious categories. The following Formula categories are currently sanctioned by the UIM: * Formula 3 is one of many defunct "Formula" categories; it was cancelled after 2004. Brodenbachstart

The following non-Formula categories are also sanctioned by the UIM: *GT15 *GT30 *SST45 *SST200 *O125 *O250 *O350 *O500 *O700 *JT250 *OSY400 *S550 *P750 *HR850 *FR1000 *OB2000 *OB3000 *Endurance S1 *Endurance S2 *Endurance S3

National competitions

As well as global and continental championships, individual nations have thriving domestic scenes too. In particular the

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, but also many countries in

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, as well as

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

and

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. In recent years, the sport has become very popular in the

Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a Mediterranean seas, mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.Un ...

region, particularly the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...

and also

Qatar Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Geography of Qatar, Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares Qatar–Saudi Arabia border, its sole land b ...

Boat designs

Many inshore championships utilise variations on the catamaran style boat design, particularly the higher levels of the sport. In lower categories however, different designs are utilised which are determined by the class regulations. In these instances, traditional V hulls and inflatables are common and are the accepted way for younger pilots to gain experience and progress through to the more powerful catamarans.

References

External links

UIM Official WebsiteFormula 1 (F1H2O) Official WebsiteFormula 2 Official WebsitePowerboat Racing World WebsiteThe Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum
{{Racing Motorboat racing Racing motorboats

Categories

National competitions

Boat designs

See also

References

External links