powerboat racing miami

Lake Hopatcong Grand Prix

OFFSHORE  RETURNS  TO  MIAMI

Nearing the 40th anniversary of the iconic television show Miami Vice, OPA Racing is bringing offshore powerboat racing to Miami! Mark your calendars for September 12th-15th, 2024, as you will have the opportunity to indulge in one of the greatest events Miami has to offer. With a perfect combination of high-speed action and nightlife entertainment, this event will feature the top competitors, fastest boats, and even a few celebrities. Located at the Miami Marine Stadium, events are scheduled all weekend with VIP packages available. Stay tuned for more details as we will also be offering Sponsorship and Branding opportunities for this incredibly unique event. Hotel and registration information coming soon!

Stay tuned f or more information to come on the event.

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Powerboat racing in florida: racing on thunderboat row, experience off-shore powerboat racing in florida in the performance boat capital of the world  .

By Terry Tomalin

Miami   - Flying across the water at 100 mph, the white stucco buildings on South Beach looked like a picket fence.

“Just don't make any sudden movements with the wheel,” warned my throttleman, Johnny Tomlinson. “Just keep it steady.”

Our 40-foot, twin-engine catamaran was capable of speeds faster than 130 mph. But Tomlinson, a Miami native considered by many to be one of the best “stick men” in offshore powerboat racing history, was barely leaning on the controls.

 The veteran had invited me to go for a test drive so I could get a feel for what it's like inside an offshore race boat. In offshore racing, the throttleman is like the quarterback on a football team, controlling not only the speed but the "trim" of the boat, or its position in the water.

On this test run, my job is to just keep the boat on course. But a driver’s skill really comes into play when you introduce other boats, such as on a crowded race course.

After a few minutes at three-quarters speed, I motion for Tomlinson to back off. I am now fully convinced that driving a race boat at 100 mph is a two-man job and that I would much rather watch that action from a chaise lounge on the beach.

Thunderboat Row Florida

Some might say that Florida could call itself the Performance Boat Capital of the World. There is more powerboat racing in Florida and poker runs than any other state or country for that matter.

Performance, muscle or “go fast” boats originated in Miami, and the state is still home of many of the top builders of performance boats in Florida and the world.

Blue-water or open-ocean powerboat racing began in South Florida in the early 1950s with the legendary, there-and-back-again, races to Bimini and other islands in the Bahamas.

In the 1960s and 1970s, North Miami’s 188 Street was home to several of the industry’s top manufacturers including Cigarette, Donzi and Apache.

In 1980s, movie stars such as Chuck Norris, Kurt Russell and Don Johnson were active on the racing circuit, bringing Florida boating and this growing motor sport international acclaim.

In cities such as Sarasota and Key West , it was not unusual to see crowds that number in the tens of thousands to turn out for these battles of man and machine.

Deck-to-deck powerboat racing in Florida

For decades, offshore powerboat racing was the realm of weekend warriors. But then in the late 1990s, the American Power Boat Association Offshore took what had formerly been a club sport, and introduced rule changes to bring it in line with professional motor sports such as NASCAR.

The streamlined classes and tight specifications made the sport more competitive. The close, “deck-to-deck,” racing proved a tremendous hit with die-hard race fans who often welcomed a new champion, week-to-week.

Spectators lined the beaches in Fort Lauderdale , Daytona, Fort Myers and Destin to the “super” cats and vee-bottoms maneuver around multi-turn courses that often saw a new leader lap to lap.

The boats, now grouped by size and horsepower, often finish just seconds apart in a race that could be nearly 200 miles long.

The introduction of new, turbine-powered boats capable of speeds that were not even dreamed of 20 years ago has upped the stakes. Miss Geico, powered by twin, Army-surplus helicopter engines, is rumored to be capable of a top speed of 200 mph. Word around the “wet pits” is that the Florida-based world-champion will be looking to set a new record before the season is over.

PLACES TO REMEMBER

Cocoa Beach

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNERS

A new era of electric racing on water

E1 is the first electric raceboat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the world governing body of powerboating. E1 holds an exclusive license with the UIM to promote a racing series on the water powered solely by electric. The championship was established to create a new, competitive on water racing proposition based on clean technologies to protect our waters and coastal areas.

TRANSFORMING MARINE MOBILITY

E1’s philosophy has been inspired by the success of other forms of electric racing and how they act as a platform to accelerate sustainable technologies. Series co-founders Alejandro Agag and Rodi Basso aim to apply that same ethos to racing on the water and help decarbonise future leisure boats. Along with being a proving ground for electric technologies, E1 is also committed to making a positive impact beyond racing.

E1 is committed to protecting our waters for future generations.

OUR OPERATIONAL TEAM

Victory Team is an offshore powerboat racing team and boat builder from the United Arab Emirates. Owned by Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Victory are considered to be one of them most successful teams in powerboat racing.

Having launched in 1992, the team have enjoyed many successes since then which include 14 C1 World Championships, 8 European Championships, 7 Middle East Championships, 5 Pole Position Titles and 4 C2 World Championships.

Is the world’s first all-electric raceboat, combining a sleek and futuristic design with innovative hydrofoil technology.

Electric outboard motor

The RaceBird features a fully-electric outboard motor that is produced by marine propulsion experts at Mercury Racing.

Immersion cooling battery

Behind the pilot sits the battery, which is built by Kreisel Electric and incorporates immersion cooling technologies.

Hydrofoil technology

With instant torque the RaceBird will lift onto its foil above the water to reduce drag and maximise energy efficiency.

Single-pilot vessel

The cockpit resembles that of a single-seater race car with a steering wheel, pedals and only enough space for one pilot.

Enclosed safety canopy

The pilots are protected by an enclosed safety canopy which is opened when entering and exiting the boat and the boat is capable of reaching speeds of 50 knots (93 kpm or 58 mph).

RACE CALENDAR

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Venice, Italy

Puerto Banús, Spain

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Lake Como, Italy

Hong Kong, Republic of China

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P1 Offshore;

Powerboat P1 is the fastest growing marine motorsport series in the world and has a long term commitment to growing and developing the sport of power boating at all levels. The Powerboat P1 team works closely with the sport’s governing bodies, the UIM, APBA and the IJSBA. P1 has delivered more than 85 world championship events in over twelve different countries for more than a decade.

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Contact info.

• Address: 2320 Clark Street, Suite A1 Apopka, FL 32703 United States
• Phone: +1 407 985 1938
• Email: [email protected]

Cocoa Beach

Fri 17 - Sun 19, May

Lake of the Ozarks

Thu 30, May - 01, Jun

Fri 09 - Sun 11, Aug

Fri 23 - Sun 25, Aug

Fri 13 - Sun 15, Sep

St. Petersburg

Fri 18 - Sun 20, Oct

About Class 1

Uim class 1 offshore racing.

Class 1 is the premier class of offshore powerboat racing in the world and is considered to be one of the most spectacular marine motorsports. A Class 1 race boat has twin inboard 1100hp engines and can reach speeds in excess of 160mph. All boats are limited by a minimum weight of 4,950kg. History The sport of powerboat racing dates back to the late 19th century with the earliest recorded race being in Nice in the south of France, but the first officially recognized international offshore race was a 22-mile event from Calais to Dover. The modern era of offshore racing began in 1956 with the famous Miami-Nassau race which ultimately lead to a UIM-sanctioned World Championship in 1964. As of 2019, APBA-sanctioned Class 1 racing is promoted by Powerboat P1, with catamarans competing with strictly regulated sterndrive Mercury Racing 9.0L 1100hp twin-turbocharged V8 engines. The current Class 1 champions are the Victory team from Dubai. Offshore racing has undergone enormous changes since its earliest days, with the quest for speed producing boats, engines and transmission systems that are highly sophisticated and the use of advanced composites significantly improving safety levels. The Boats Weighing in at around 5 tonnes, each boat in the Class 1 fleet is around 12-14 metres in length and 3.5 metres wide. Safety is a priority and the cockpit is reinforced to withstand enormous impacts. Inside the cockpit, there are satellite GPS systems, trim indicators, engine date dashboards and instrument panels. While a Class 1 race boat is highly technical and state-of-the-art, the skill of the crew and the relationship between the driver and throttleman who navigate and control the power is ultimately the defining factor and crucial to performance. The Crews Each boat has a two-man crew: the driver and throttleman. They work closely with their pit crews to decide the race set-up: the type of propeller required for the conditions, gear ration settings, the amount of fuel needed and race tactics. Propeller choice is critical. Class 1 Rights In October 2020, the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) assigned the international rights to stage Class 1 offshore powerboat racing to Powerboat P1. The agreement is for ten years and includes organizational and promotion rights to the UIM Class 1 World Championship. P1’s relationship with the UIM spans almost two decades and its aim is to take Class 1 back to where it belongs at the pinnacle of offshore racing. The agreement gives P1 the opportunity to grow the Class 1 championship in the United States and at the same time develop plans to globalize the series over the coming years.

Powerboat P1 is the fastest growing marine motorsport series in the world and has a long term commitment to growing and developing the sport of powerboating at all levels.

Cookie Policy

Contact info.

• Address: Queen Anne Mansions 86/87 Wimpole Street London W1G 9RL United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 (0) 20 7935 4977
• Email: [email protected]

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The Miami Marine Stadium was built in 1963 but damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992

Date: tue 06 feb 2018, powerboat racing returns to the miami marine stadium, april will see the miami marine stadium open its doors to powerboat racing action for the first time since its closure in 1992..

It was the first stadium built for powerboat racing

Built in 1963 and located at Virginia Key, an island to the south of Downtown Miami, it was the first purpose built powerboat stadium in the United States. The land was donated for water sports by the City of Miami and was designed by Cuban architect Hilario Candela. Named the Ralph Munroe Marine Stadium after the American yacht designer who resided in Dade County, construction cost $2 million - the equivalent of $16 million in today's world. Whilst the stadium has played host to the likes of the Miami Rowing Club since 1979 and the Miami Boat Show in more recent years, it was built with powerboat racing in mind and staged many world class races in the three decades before its closure. On the opening day James Tapp, a speed boat racer, was killed but that didn't stop the crowds from flooding to the 6,566-seater stadium with events attracting the likes of Mitch Miller, Sammy Davis Jr. and US President Richard Nixon. It has also been used for boxing matches and concerts, with Jimmy Buffet's raucous 1985 concert perhaps the most memorable, whilst Queen, The Beach Boys, Steppenwolf, Dave Brubeck, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, Miami Philharmonic and Ray Charles also played at the venue. The stadium hasn't seen racing since 1992 when it was battered by Hurricane Andrew, a category five hurricane that caused $27.3 billion of damage across the region and killed 65 people, and then deemed unsafe by the Miami-Dade County. Friends of Miami Marine Stadium was set up in 2008 with the aim of restoring the stadium to its former glory. Whilst the stadium grandstand is yet to be reopened, P1 has agreed a deal with the City of Miami to bring powerboat and jet ski racing back to the stadium for the first time in over 25 years, with USA powerboat racing series P1 SuperStock and the P1 AquaX jet ski championship both set to open their 2018 seasons at the iconic venue on April 21/22 . Reaching speeds in excess of 70mph, the return of powerboat and jet ski racing to the Miami Marine Stadium is sure to bring back warm memories for many Miami residents whilst also capturing the imagination of a whole new audience who have never seen such a spectacle on Miami waters before.

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Miami Grand Prix Announces All-New 2025 Ticket Options

Chris ladd | 2 hours ago.

South Florida Motorsports, the organization behind the Miami Grand Prix, has unveiled a range of unique ticket offerings for the upcoming event, just as the F1 world prepares for the Italian Grand Prix. These new options include a grandstand membership program, two hospitality club choices, and the introduction of a McLaren grandstand, along with a variety of single-day grandstand tickets.

Fans who purchase a three-day grandstand pass will be automatically enrolled in the grandstand membership program, providing them with exclusive access to special events during the race weekend and invitations to other Miami GP-related activities throughout the year.

The two hospitality options, LuxePass and Club Pass, are also drawing attention. LuxePass is priced at $3,333, while the cost of the Club Pass is yet to be announced. These options are likely to offer premium experiences, catering to fans seeking a more luxurious race weekend experience.

For fans opting for the LuxePass, each day of the Miami Grand Prix weekend offers access to one of three exclusive hospitality centers: the 72 Club, Paddock Club, and Casa Tua Club. These locations are known for their premium amenities, offering a top-tier experience throughout the event.

Club Pass holders, on the other hand, will have access to different, yet still upscale, hospitality areas including Vista, Turn 18 Club, and the Boathouse, providing a variety of viewpoints and experiences during the race.

In a special collaboration with McLaren, the Miami GP is also introducing a dedicated grandstand for McLaren fans. Those seated in this McLaren-specific area will enjoy exclusive team giveaways and have the opportunity to participate in events designed to bring McLaren fans together.

The Formula 1 race marketplace in the United States has indeed become increasingly competitive in recent years. The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, has been a crucial fixture for the sport since hosting its first Grand Prix in 2013.

In response to the growing American fanbase, F1 has introduced additional races in the country, including the Miami Grand Prix and the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. These new venues are part of a broader strategy to capitalize on the sport's booming popularity in the U.S., offering unique experiences and tapping into different regional markets.

This expansion has not only increased the number of races but also created a more diverse and competitive environment for F1 events in America, as each venue aims to deliver a distinct experience to fans.

Las Vegas is making strategic moves to attract a broader range of Formula 1 fans by reducing its previously sky-high ticket prices and introducing General Admission options. Additionally, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to debut a free-to-enter fan zone in 2024, where fans can meet drivers and participate in various F1-related activities.

In light of Las Vegas' efforts, Miami needed to differentiate itself with a unique selling feature to maintain its appeal in the increasingly competitive U.S. F1 market. By offering exclusive hospitality options like LuxePass and Club Pass, a dedicated McLaren grandstand, and a grandstand membership program, Miami is positioning itself as a premier destination for both casual fans and those seeking a luxury race weekend experience.