30 offshore powerboat teams will thunder around the Isle of Wight coastline later this month in the opening round of the 2026 UKOPRA Championships.
The United Kingdom Offshore Powerboat Racing Association (UKOPRA) ‘Round the Island’ race is set to take place on Saturday 16th May, with competitors from across the UK and Europe battling it out over a gruelling 60-mile course.
Teams competing in Classes 1, 1L, 2 and 3 will circumnavigate the Island in an anti-clockwise direction, with boats expected to hit speeds in excess of 100mph in suitable conditions.
The race will begin from the East Lepe buoy, opposite Gurnard, with rolling starts scheduled for 12:00 and 12:10.
The fastest Class 1 boats are expected to complete the course in around 40 minutes if sea conditions remain calm.
A total of 48 teams have already registered for the 2026 Offshore Championships, with UKOPRA saying interest in the sport continues to grow year-on-year.
Scrutineering will take place at Shamrock Quay in Southampton between 12:00 and 18:00 on Friday 15th May, before boats head out into the Solent for Saturday’s main event.
Recommended viewing points for spectators include Yarmouth Pier, Fort Victoria, The Needles, St Catherine’s Lighthouse, Ryde Pier and Egypt Point.
Organisers are also reminding spectator boats near the start area to remain north of an imaginary line between East Lepe and West Lepe buoy for safety reasons and to allow competitors a clean start.
Further information, including competing teams and race details, can be found via UKOPRA and World Powerboat Events UK online.
