The 2026 UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Championship got underway around the Isle of Wight on Saturday (16th May) with crews battling through the opening round of the season.
Competitors launched from Shamrock Quay in Southampton for the MDL Marinas Shamrock Round the Island race, the first of 5 rounds in this year’s championship.
Good Boy Vodka emerged as the early leader in the premier Class 1 category after Rob Lockyer and Adrian de Ferranti secured maximum 400 points with victory around the Island in 49 minutes and 5 seconds.
Smokin’ Aces failed to finish, while Silverline did not start the race.
In Class 1L, Dry Martini claimed top honours thanks to the efforts of Tristan Ormiston and Adam Leal, finishing ahead of Sixty9 Offshore Racing.
Double 2 Shirts completed the podium places despite receiving a 20-minute penalty for passing the wrong side of Prince Consort buoy.
Dean Stoneman and Harry Thomas powered Lightning Strikes to victory in Class 2, with Apache and Great White taking second and third respectively.
Unipart finished fourth after also being handed a 20-minute penalty for the same buoy infringement.
Class 3E proved one of the most competitive categories of the day, with Eastlands Offshore Racing taking maximum points through Richard Watson and Elliott Holman.
Licence to Thrill and Rush Racing completed the top 3, while Island-linked Mermaid / Wight Offshore, crewed by Baylan Blanks and Bertie Cripps, secured fifth place and 127 championship points.
Elsewhere, Carpe Diem won Class 3D, Frode Racing topped Class 3C and Team JB-R claimed victory in Class 3B.
Under UKOPRA’s points structure, class winners receive 400 points, with 300 awarded for second and 225 for third place.
The championship now moves on to Round 2 later this season as teams continue their bid for national honours.
