Powerboat Sport
POWERBOATS
SuperBoat racing is extreme, and the men and women who race these boats are extraordinary.
Powerboat racing is a sport in which ocean-going powerboats races with each other. Powerboat racing came into existence as a sport in 1904, when a race started from southeastern coast of England to Calais, France.
A combination of private funding and some commercial sponsors sponsor this amazing adventure sport. In this sport, several powerboats takes part in it from all around the world.
There are various formats of this modern era sport.
Offshore Powerboat
Offshore powerboat racing is an extreme motor boat racing sport which involves the racing of powerboats on oceans. The sport originated in Great Britain in the early 20th century and is currently popular in the United States, Australia and Europe.
Offshore powerboats are divided into several classes based on engine capacity. The most powerful boats are classified as Class 1, which are about 12-14m long, 3.5m wide, with V12 engines, that can reach speeds of 160mph. Races are conducted on specially designed courses and involves completing a fixed number of laps. The number of laps for races will vary based on the class of the boats raced.
The three major competitions held for the sport are.
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UIM Class One World Powerboat Championship: A series of eight races for Class 1 boats, conducted in four different locations around the world. This series is the most popular racing event for the sport.
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P1 SuperStock Championship - A series of races conducted annually on the weekends, from May to October. Races are for boats that of 250+ hp class that can reach speeds of 70mph.
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UIM Powerboat GPS World Championship - A series of races for evolution and supersport class boats.
Inshore Powerboat
Another form of powerboat racing is inshore racing. In thise version, the powerboats are raced in sheltered or inland stretches of water, including sheltered bays, lakes and rivers. It is often referred to as circuit powerboat racing because the races often use the format of a circuit loop, where the boats race around a circuit for a number of pre-determined laps.
Jetsprint (Sprint Boat Racing)
A high-speed boat racing sport in which a team of two riders, race through a course by themselves in a time-trial format. Jetsprint, also known as sprint boat racing, is a high-speed boat racing sport in which a team of two riders, race through a course, by themselves in a time - trial format. The sport originated in New Zealand and later became popular when artificial courses were used in Australia. Only artificial tracks are currently used for all jetsprint competitions.
Typical jetsprint race courses consist of about 25 to 30 turns in both directions, in depths not more than 1 meter. The jetboats used usually have capacity way higher than 500 hp, and one round around the course takes about 45 to 60 seconds. One member of the team steers the boat while other acts as a navigator to guide through the course.
Jet Ski Racing
A water sport similar to powerboat racing, in which riders use jet skis to compete.
Is the fastest growing and most exciting personal watercraft (pwc) championship in the world. Its rapid growth is owed to a simple, yet challenging race format that appeals to today’s personal watercraft users. The format is simple: competitors are divided into two categories - ENDURO or SPRINT depending on what type personal watercraft they ride and the style of riding they enjoy. Then, depending on the quality of the field, the category is divided by ability into Pro or Amateur. If not, then the class will run under Pro/Am rules.
Drag Boat Racing
Drag racing which is held on water with boats.
Drag boat racing combines short bursts of high speed with the splish-splash of water and the glow of the summer sunshine. If the number of people entering competitions across North America means anything, this sport is growing almost as fast as the boats are traveling. Drag boats race in classes based on what type of fuel is powering the boat. The fastest boats are top-fuel vessels that run on alcohol or jet fuel. They're so fast that hitting even the slightest wave or wake can make a boat crash.
Generally, you can't go out and buy a winning power boat. You'll have to soup up your boat to keep up with the competition. People who enjoy boat racing often learn to build and repair racing boats. Many concentrate on boat parts, such as the engine or the fiberglass boat body. This experience can lead to careers in boat design and repair.
Mechanical know-how is important for keeping costs down, going as fast as possible, and knowing how to tune your boat for a safe ride.