powerboat racing size

An overview of F1 Powerboat

WHAT IS FORMULA 1 RACING?

Formula 1 Powerboat racing is the most spectacular watersport in the world. It has been described as driving the F1 race car at full speed over a ploughed field. Formula 1 Powerboats accelerate faster than even the most state-of-the-art F1 cars; they are capable of going from standstill to 160 kilometres per hour in only 4 seconds.

Impressive as this is by itself, they compete at these speeds without the use of brakes or gears. It is competitive, fascinating, challenging, daring, risky and entertaining. Formula 1 Powerboat racing is the ultimate extreme sport.

DEFYING THE LAWS OF GRAVITY

Formula 1 Powerboat racing has to be seen to believe. Spectators who are new to this most spectacular watersport are invariably left spellbound when they witness these lightweight catamarans defying the laws of gravity and virtually lifted in the air during high-speed manoeuvre with only a portion of the boat in contact with the water.

It is amazing that these boats can manage to maintain their balance in more than 225kph, taking hairpin turns at 150 kph without brakes and shifting gears, what's more with limited visibility, One tiny error of judgement would spell high-speed disaster.

Driving a powerboat is like piloting a fighter jet. F1 pilots need to have that split-second decision making capability and nerves of steel because once strapped into his fully enclosed safety capsule, he has only his skills, courage and a certain amount of luck to achieve success on the race circuit.

The rivalry between powerboat pilots often thrill the crowds with near-collision overtaking and daring acts as they blazed their boats across the water in high-octane velocity, considerable dexterity and finely tuned driving skills.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Inaugurated in 1981, this international competition is similar to F1 for cars and similar rules apply. Across the world, teams of different nationalities compete in the Grand Prix, which is regulated by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).

THE CHAMPIONSHIP RACES

Races are organised at selected locations around the world based on the water conditions, infrastructures, public access, local hotels amenities and telecommunication facilities. Starting 2009 season, during each F1 World Championship venue there are two Grand Prix races – one race on each day of the venue. Each race lasts for 30 minutes of racing time + 2 laps with up to 24 boats hurtle around the race circuit at thundering speed of 225kph (130mph). All races are broadcast worldwide on TV, on local channels and international networks.

THE CIRCUITS

Every race circuit is different in size, but are generally about 2000 meters in distance. Each circuit has at least one long straightaway and several tight turns, mostly left with one or two right turns. The turns produce a G-force of up to 4.5 on the driver, which means his weight is multiplied 4.5 times as he makes a tight U-turn at over 100 mph (F1 car drivers endure only 2.5).

WATER CONDITIONS

Water conditions play a major part in the outcome of each Grand Prix. With water current and wind conditions varying on every lap and spray being continually showered over the tiny console screen, pilots are quite often driving 'blind' at full speed, mere inches away from their rivals. In the event of a 'barrel-roll' (capsize), a mandatory air bag installed above the pilot's head will inflate upon contact with water. This enables the cockpit to remain above water until rescue arrives. All pilots have a self-contained air supply fitted inside the capsule as an added safety features.

EVENT STARTING POSITIONS

Pole position and starting line-ups are determined by a qualifying session preceding each Grand Prix race. State-of-the-art timing equipment records the performances of each boat to decide the final classification and starting positions.

Each team consists of a manager, one or two pilots, mechanics, radio coordinator, technical coordinator and equipped with infrastructure such as trailer workshop and welcome marquee. They should have one or two catamarans fitted with 2.5 litre engine and compete between 8 to 10 Grand Prix events that make up a full season.

Imagine this: up to 24 lightweight, 16-foot carbon fiber catamaran hurtle around a racing circuit at speeds topping 225kph (130mph); all boats are powered by highly tuned V6 outboard engines, each pumping out 425 horsepower at 10,000 rpm; they boast an awesome power to weight ratio, weighing in at around 500 kilos with a 425hp fully-tuned engine strapped on the transom; they have no brakes or gearboxes. Yes, These are F1 Powerboats.

THE CHAMPIONS

In the last four years there have been four different drivers who have become World Champion. The latest is the American Jay Price who drives for the Qatar Team.

There are a number of new pilots who are making the race more competitive than ever. At each event, about twenty to twenty four pilots represent at least 12 nations, not to mention the countless sponsors, managers, radiomen and women, team members, safety crews and boats, medical staff, doctors, and spectators. The atmosphere is buoyant as tension mounts amongst the competitors, all of whom have worked so hard to be worthy of competing in the F1 Powerboat World Championships.

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U.I.M. F1H2O Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
Thursday December 8
10:15 - 11:15
15:30 - 16:30	Qualifications
	-     -
Friday December 9
10:15 - 11:15
15:30 - 16:30

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UIM F1H2O World Championship
	SAU		Mar 30	C
	POR		May 19	C
	FRA		Jul 7	C
	CHN		Oct 19	C
	CHN		Oct 20	C
	UAE		Dec 21	C
	QAT	Doha	Mar 11	C
date and venue could be changed

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Nominees Profile

F1H2O Nations Cup Singapore 2011
Friday Nov 18
11:00 - 13:00
Saturday Nov 19
11:00 - 12:00
12:00 - 13:00
15:30 - 17:30
Sunday Nov 20
11:00 - 12:00
16:00 - 17:00

Grand Prix of China - Xiamen
01	Shaun Torrente
02	Philippe Chiappe	+ 0.91 secs
03	Jonas Andersson	+ 2.75 secs
Fastest Lap
Shaun Torrente		0:56.12
Pole Position
Shaun Torrente		0:50.87

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INSIDE F1H2O

• What is F1H2O?
• The Championship
• The Grand Prix
• Rescue&Safety

The UIM F1H2O World Championship is the 'flagship' international series of single-seater inshore circuit powerboat racing.

Highly competitive, intensely challenging, risky and entertaining, the F1H2O World Championship is the ultimate adrenalin rush and regarded as one of the most spectacular and exciting sports in the world.

The series attracts up to 20 of the world's leading drivers and is a sport that has to be seen to be believed as these diminutive tunnel-hull catamarans enter hairpin turns at over 90mph and top 140mph on the straights.

Picture the scene; 18 to 20 sleek, powerful and lightweight catamarans lining up on the start pontoon. Inside each cockpit sits a lone individual peering through a tiny windscreen. One hand grasps the steering wheel, the other poised over the start button. The tension inside the cockpit is intense as the drivers wait for the crucial start. Beyond the cockpit, an eerie silence descends over the entire arena, all attention fixed on the start.

No sooner does the wait end when 10,000hp of highly tuned brute power bursts into life sending the fleet screaming towards the first corner leaving nothing but a glorious fountain of white spray in its wake.

However, with the thrilling high-speed action comes the risk of ruin as drivers endure brain-numbing G-Forces - their rigs taking hairpin turns at over 90mph while they dice deck-to-deck in often zero-visibility.

Now in its 36th year the four decades of the World Championship have witnessed considerable change and evolution; the seventies and eighties saw multiple promoters and two giant corporations of the sport OMC and Mercury vying for supremacy to be the pinnacle of the sport.

OMC were touting their 3.5litre V8 package that became known as the OZ class, Mercury pushing their 2.0litre engine and called the ON class, the disparity in power would soon lead to bitter wrangling and infighting amongst competitors.

The split came in 1981, FONDA was formed running the ON class engine with the OMC backed PRO ONE run series running the OZ class engine, both rival championships claiming the right to use the title World Championship, a dispute settled by the sport's governing body the UIM later that year awarding the OZ class the accolade.

1984 saw the beginning of yet another twist as safety became a major concern with engine development and increasing power of the V8s taking its tragic toll and signaled the slow demise of the OZ class internationally, ending in 1986.

The door was now opening for the existing FONDA World Grand Prix series to reinvent itself. From 1987 to 1989 there was no official UIM World Championship, and with no challenger, the UIM reinstated the World Championship status and in 1990 the FONDA World Grand Prix Series became the UIM F1H2O World Championship, Mercury's 2.0litre engine the preferred power-plant of the time, the Mercury 2.5litre engine coming in in 2000 and used today.

In 1993 the UIM appointed Nicolo di San Germano as Promoter; his ongoing 30 year tenure has brought stability, a new direction, improved safety and an ever broadening geographic footprint encompassing Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia and with this expansion a growing commercial value.

Over the last 38 years the sport has played out 295 Grand Prix in 33 countries across five continents, 15 drivers have captured the World title, 48 becoming members of the illustrious Grand Prix winners club.

Of the 15 World Champions 8 are multiple title winners; Italy's Guido Cappellini is the most decorated winning 10, Italy's Alex Carella and American Scott Gillman with four, France's Philippe Chiappe, Italian Renato Molinari and American Shaun Torrente with three each, Finland's Sami Selio and Britain's Jonathan Jones with two apiece.

While today's F1H2O catamarans bear a striking resemblance to those in action throughout the 1980's there is a world of difference in terms of driver protection and general safety.

The early boats were constructed from thin plywood with drivers sitting in an open, exposed cockpit with the risk of injury a high probability in the case of an accident.

With safety at the forefront of boat development, British designer and racer Chris Hodges set about improving the situation and constructed a safety cell that was produced from an immensely strong composite material.

Instead of the cockpit being part of the main structure Hodges' capsule was separate and was fitted to the hulls and centre section.

For the first time drivers were actually strapped into their seats. The idea was that if a boat was involved in an accident, the timber hulls could break up and absorb the impact forces while the driver remained well protected inside his cell.

The new device proved itself on several occasions and the U.I.M. called for it to become compulsory, and in the early 1990's Burgess introduced canopies that made cockpits fully enclosed.

In the late 1990's further developments saw the introduction of an airbag in the cockpit that would inflate in a crash to ensure the capsule wouldn't sink before rescue crews could attend.

Over the years boat construction has been developed and today few if any are built of timber, now replaced by modern composites.

In 2023 ten teams and 20 drivers from 12 countries will compete at Grand Prix in Europe, Middle East and Asia for the coveted World title, the prestigious number 1 plate will be carried by the defending World Champion Shaun Torrente driving for Abu Dhabi team.

The Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) is the world governing body for all Powerboating activities. It is fully recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is a member of the Association of the IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF) and of SportAccord for whom the UIM President serves as President and Board member. The UIM has almost 60 affiliated National Federations. Circuit, Offshore, Pleasure Navigation and Aquabike are among the main disciplines. The UIM has signed a Cooperation Agreement with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to further its range of environmental initiatives and to share expertise.

President: Dr. Raffaele Chiulli General Secretary: Thomas Kurth

Idea Marketing is the sole and exclusive worldwide promoter of the UIM F1H2O World Championship, the UIM-ABP Aquabike World and Continental Championships and the UIM H2O Nations Cup World Series.

The company is the worldwide television and commercial rights holder for all Championships and responsible for all commercial, marketing, television, media and organisational activities.

Founder: Nicolo di San Germano Vice President: Lavinia Cavallero

h2oracing.net f1h2o.com aquabike.net

The F1H2O World Championship is the leading formula in single-seater inshore circuit powerboat racing and was sanctioned by the UIM in 1981.

It is a multiple Grand Prix series of eight events taking place in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Points allocated at each Grand Prix count towards the overall World Championship standings.

In addition to the World Championship, points are also allocated for the BRM Pole Position and Team Championships and the Fast Lap Trophy.

A three-tiered qualifying session is run over 60 minutes, the multiple lap Grand Prix run over a minimum 45 minutes, not to exceed 60 minutes.

In 2023 ten teams, 20 drivers from 12 countries plus technicians and support staff will compete for the coveted World title.

DAY 1 Documentation and registration Technical scrutineering Drivers' briefing (compulsory for all team managers, drivers and radiomen of each boat) Free practice Boats and racing equipment (including racing gear of the driver) must be in the pits 24 hours before starting the technical scrutineering

DAY 2 Drivers' briefing (compulsory for all team managers, drivers and radiomen of each boat) Free practice Official Qualifying Podium presentation

Pole position and starting line-ups are determined by a three-tiered qualifying session, Q1, Q2 and Q3 preceding each Grand Prix race. Stateof-the-art timing equipment records the performances of each boat to decide the final classification and starting positions.

Q1 : A twenty-minute session with all boats entitled to run multiple laps at any time during the session, with the 12 fastest progressing into Q2. The times set by those that didn't qualify for Q2 denote their starting positions.

Q2 : After a seven-minute break, the times will be reset and the remaining 12 boats will then run a fifteen-minute session - again they may complete as many laps as they want at any time during that period. At the end of the session the six fastest boats will progress into Q3. The times set by those that didn't qualify for Q3 denote their starting positions.

Q3 : The times are reset and the top six boats from Q2 will run all together for 10 minutes and the arrival order at the finish line will decide their start positions.

If a driver is deemed by the officials to have stopped unnecessarily on the circuit or impeded another driver during qualifying, his times may be cancelled

No refuelling allowed during timed trial.

Every race circuit is different in size, but are generally about 2000 meters in distance. Each circuit has at least one long straightaway and several tight turns, mostly left with one or two right turns.

The turns produce a G-force of up to 4.5 on the driver, which means his weight is multiplied 4.5 times as he makes a tight U-turn at over 100 mph.

Water is a constantly changing unstable unpredictable surface and conditions play a major part in the outcome of each Grand Prix.

With water current and wind conditions varying on every lap and spray being continually showered over the tiny console screen, drivers are quite often driving 'blind' at full speed, mere inches away from their rivals.

In the event of a 'barrel-roll' (capsize), a mandatory air bag installed above the pilot's head will inflate upon contact with water. This enables the cockpit to remain above water until rescue arrives.

All drivers have a self-contained air supply fitted inside the capsule as an added safety features.

LIGHT SIGNALS Each entry must have the electronic time-keeping device and lighting equipment. Compliance is required for scrutineering clearance. Lights signals are used in accordance with these rules to designate specific times or to give instructions to pilots.

Lights and their purposes are as follows:

YELLOW : Reduce speed to 3000 rpm maximum - extreme caution on race course - hold current position - no overtaking - follow pace boat

RED : Race stopped, slow down instantly and return to the start dock, identical to actual black flag.

WHITE AND BLUE caution FLAG : Rescue boats must be given the right of way. A complaint from rescue personnel will be penalised.

Boats that have broken down and pulled to the infield or off the racecourse will be towed to the trailer or the start dock only during a "race stop" condition and if pick-up boats are available.

During the time trials and the race, one crewmember should always remain at signalling area and maintain radio contact with his driver during free practice, timed trials and race.

Each team consists of a manager, two drivers, mechanics, radio coordinator, technical coordinator and equipped with infrastructure such as trailer workshop and welcome marquee.

They should have two catamarans fitted with a 2.5 litre engine and compete at 8 to 10 Grand Prix events in a season.

Imagine this: up to 20 lightweight, 17-foot carbon fibre catamarans hurtling around a racing circuit at speeds topping 220km/h (130mph); all boats are powered by highly tuned V6 outboard engines, each pumping out 400HP at close to 10.000 rpm; they boast an awesome power to weight ratio and weigh in at around 500 kilos.

HULL : Twin sponson, tunnel-hull catamaran

MANUFACTURERS : BABA, Blaze, DAC, GTR, Molgaard, Moore, Victory

HULL MATERIALS : Carbon fibre, Kevlar, synthetic fibre, airex & nomex

LENGTH : 5.10 metres (min)

WIDTH : 2.1 metres (min)

WEIGHT : 550 kg (including residual fuel and oil), the driver with personal equipment, but excluding loose water, circa 380 kilos (not including driver or engine)

FUEL TANK : Carbon constuction, built to accomodate circa 120 litres

ENGINE : Mercury or equivalent outboard engine 6 cylinders 2-stroke

ENGINE CAPACITY : 2.5 litre up to maximum 3 litre

STEERING : Cable with electronic power assist, ratio open to driver preference

GEARBOX : Fixed ratio direct drive

PROPELLERS : As gearbox is fixed ratio, various diameter and pitch from 10.5 by 16 inch upwards (dependant on length of circuit). Forged stainless steel alloy CNC machined

HORSE POWER : circa 400 HP @ 10,000 rpm

TOP SPEED : Over 220 km/h (136 mph)

ACCELERATION : 0-100 km/h (60mph) in circa 3 seconds

BOAT CONTROLS : Hydraulic ram systems controlling engine angle and height operated by a series of switches on steering wheel, dash and foot rest. Foot throttle controlling engine power delivery

SAFETY FEATURES : Cockpit built in composite materials, crash boxes built with energy absorbent foam. HANS head and neck support, airbag, polycarbonate nine millimeter screen and deformable frontal areas to stop penetration in event of accident. Life support system, air bottle and demand valve with helmet attachment used if boat capsizes and driver unable to exit cockpit prior to arrival of rescue boat and team. Inside cockpit the driver is strapped into a carbon hybrid moulded seat with 5 point harness and detachable steering wheel for easy entry and exit. Cockpit canpy latched into closed position for maximum protection against water pressure

The Osprey Powerboat Rescue Team provide rescue services for many powerboat racing events and has a fleet of 6 specialist drop front ambulance boats, 2 of these boats are permanently assigned to providing rescue services to the UIM F1H2O World Championship.

Each boat is manned by four fully trained individuals 2 qualified rescue divers in full kit; 1 qualified helmsman; 1 radio/communications operative; Every member of the crew holds a current Basic Life Support Certificate. Every member of the crew wears a wetsuit as maximum flexibility is required.

Carried on board each boat are the following 2 sets of self-contained breathing apparatus; 1 stabilisation frame in the event of a race boat being upside down; 1 Lift bag to prevent a race boat sinking in the event of extensive damage; 1 fire extinguisher; 1 spine board and stabilisation blocks; 1 oxygen set; 1 radio for communications with the shore based medical team and officials; 1 comprehensive medical kit that contains specialist resuscitation and trauma equipment, details below:

To control catastrophic haemorrhage - CAT tourniquet - ‘Quick Clot’ ACS sponge - 6” Haemorrhage control bandage

To control airway with c-spine control - Suction – hand held with spare spout - Nasopharyngeal airways - size 24 (child) & 28 (adult) -Gels size 4 adult (50-90Kg) size 3 (30-60Kg) - gel sachet on each

To control breathing - Non-rebreather oxygen mask x2 - Ambu-bag, connector & Facemask

To control circulation - Cannula x2, tape, IV giving set, IV fluids – Saline 1000, Gelofusin 500 - Protection and General Kit: gloves, field dressing packs x2, tuff-scissors, stethoscope, saline eyewash, foil blanket, triangular bandage, safety pins, light bandages x2

At each event the team brings A training rig to train and test drivers in escaping from an upturned cockpit. An air compressor to fill diving air cylinders and drivers’ emergency air cylinders carried on the race boats. Generators to provide power A Global Positioning System to ensure the course is laid correctly and to specification.

F1 powerboat racing - Boat racing explained in a simple manner

• Categories : Naval architecture & ship design for marine engineers
• Tags : Marine engineering

F1 Powerboat Racing

SIze does matter but sometimes speed matters more than size and nowhere is this truer than in water sports. So though we have been talking of giant ships till now of various types , we will take a look at relatively smaller sized power boats used in F1 circuits.

The F1 powerboat racing championship is analogous to the F1 car racing championship. It is supposed to be known as the most electrifying water sport. It is believed that an F1 powerboat runs at a speed that is tough to acquire even by the best of the F1 cars. Now just imagine: a powerboat can reach a speed of 180-220 Kilometers per hour in just 4 seconds (97 - 119 Nautical Miles per hour). Seriously, you have to see it to believe it.

In an F1 powerboat championship, 24 boats compete with each other for a duration of 45 minutes, without the usage of brakes or gearboxes. Why? Because they don’t have any brakes or gearboxes. Just imagine a vehicle racing on water at a speed of 220 kilometers per hour, maneuvering through the curvy tracks, balancing in air when lifted due to high speed and barely managing to preserve stability at hairpin turns. Its a tough roller coaster ride which requires great amount of courage and skills. The track is as long as 350 meters.

These light weight catamarans do spellbinding summersaults, doing “close shave” over taking with impeccable adroitness in maneuvering ability and unquenchable courage. To win the championship, a driver must have loads of skills, courage and of course luck.

The powerboats

The design of powerboats has remained almost the same since the start of this championship in 1981. The design of power boats is of tunnel hull catamarans, which due to its aerodynamic structure provides high velocity and maneuverability. This tunnel hulls produces an air cushion below them which facilitates the boat to lift up, creating least friction with water. The catamarans are made of carbon fiber or fiber glass. The overall weight is approximately 860 pounds which also include the weight of a V6 engine , giving 400 horse power output at around 10,500 rpm. The length is around 6 meter and width is 2.5 meter approximately. As mentioned earlier, there are no brakes and gear boxes.

The cockpit of the boat is an enclosed capsule which ensures the safety of the driver at the time of a crash or a collision. The new powerboats are all provided with safety belts and airbags. They are also provided with crash box which is similar to the black box that is fixed in aircraft. In case of a collision or an accident the crash box records and preserves the internal operations of the boat, which makes the crash-analysis extremely easy.

The future powerboats will come with collapsible hull and bows , so that in case of a collision or crash, they get deformed rather than penetrating the other boat’s hull.

Blame it on the weather

The weather and velocity of air, at the time of the race, play a vital role in the maneuvering and stability of the boat. If the water current and the wind condition is harsh, the water continuously splashes and sprays on the console screen, making visibility blurred and thus increase the chances of collision

High wind velocity is also a hindrance in the smooth sailing of the boats. The winds not only prevents attaining of high velocity but also leads to “turn around” of the boat, which may also lead to capsizing of the boat. In case of capsizing of the boat, the airbag installed in the cockpit inflates. The cockpits are also provided with oxygen supply from the cylinders .

https://www.f1boat.com/history/introf1.html

https://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sports/driving/FMB.htm

Image Credits

https://www.worldofpowerboats.com/archive/images/1226419169GP-QATAR-280308-S%20KOU33AC8.jpg

https://www.f1teamsweden.net/images/news/J _A_ChIna_4.jpg

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Formula One Powerboat Racing

The Formula One Powerboats for the last five decades, have been recognized as one of the world’s most spectacular racing experiences. With lightning speeds over 120 miles per hour and nimble handling, the Formula One boats and their world-class drivers thrill audiences with it’s up close and personal deck-to-deck, sponson-banging competition. This brand of racing typically produces the largest motorsports event of the year in the markets it visits. Through live attendance and media coverage, Formula One Powerboat Racing reaches hundreds of thousands of consumers each season.

The Formula One Powerboat Race is the centerpiece of the weekend’s festival that often are the biggest entertainment event of the year in their communities. These events increase tourism, boost awareness of the regional attractions and businesses along with generating millions of dollars in economic activity. Annual powerboat races often are woven into the fabric of a community and become an anticipated yearly focus of corporate hospitality activities.

Formula One Powerboat Racing enjoys a stellar 50+ year history of thrilling audiences with it’s up-close and personal nature of racing events facilitating consumer awareness and brand bonding. Imagine your unique branding on a 120 mph billboard streaking across the waterfront with hundreds of thousands of loyal consumers in plain site of the entire course. Motorsports have become recognized as one of the most cost effective marketing tools available today. Each race is more than a series of one day events, these races have evolved into the anchor for a weekend long multi-interest community festivals, providing individual events that appeal to all ages and lifestyles. The Formula One Boats are front and center throughout the race events. It’s hull has several large marketable surface areas, that are great for promotional branding.

Formula One Powerboats are 17′ long, 7’2″ wide, and weigh 1155 lbs. including the driver. The power to weight ratio is among the highest in all of Motorsports. As for the Performance, these powerboats accelerate from 0-100 mph in 3.5 seconds. Top speeds over 120 mph and has the capabilities of going around a 180 degree corner at over 100 mph, pulling 7.0 G’s in the process making them the hardest turning race vehicle in the world. Combination of half boat and half plane, Formula One Powerboat Drivers actually fly the boats across the straightaways.

Formula One Powerboat competition starts with a 15-20 boat field lined up on the starting pontoon with the engines off. A Lemans start springs to life as the engines roar and the rooster tails spray thousands of gallons of water as the boats head to the first turn. A 1.25 mile course made of a combination of right and left hand turns with a variety of straight aways provides for deck to deck competition within inches of each other. No two laps are ever the same with Formula One Powerboat racing due to the ever changing water and wind conditions making the Formula One Boats one of the most challenging racing vehicles in the world to drive. There are several races each day with 10 lap heat races, and 30-50 laps finals.

Boca Ciega Bay offers a variety of boaters’ destinations, special habitats, and  spectacular natural resources. The bay is located on the north side of the mouth of Tampa Bay and is bordered by the cities of St. Petersburg, Tierra Verde, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Gulfport, Seminole, and Madeira Beach. Waterways emptying into Boca Ciega Bay include Lake Seminole (through Long Bayou), Cross Bayou, Bear Creek, Clam Bayou, and Frenchman’s Creek.

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The Formula One Powerboat Championship

The Formula One Powerboat Championship is a 6-race series contested  across North America from May through September. Established in 2017, the series  features weekend long community events highlighted by 20+ Formula 1 boats reaching speeds of 120 mph. U.S. Powerboat racing first began in 1903. Formula One racing for the last five decades, has been recognized as one of the world’s most spectacular racing experiences. The F1 boats lightning quick speeds of 120 mph, razor sharp turns, create nonstop challenges for the world class drivers.  The up close and personal, deck to deck, sponson banging competition creates thrills rarely experienced by boat racing fans. Each race is more than a series of one-day events, these races have evolved into the marquee event for weekend long multi-interest community festivals. The races produce the largest entertainment event in the markets they visit, increase regional awareness while generating tourism dollars for the local economy. Beyond the live attendance, the events provide media exposure, both nationally and worldwide through international coverage including live streaming on our social media outlets as well as traditional outlets. Through live attendance and media coverage, the series reaches millions of loyal fans each season.

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The Excitement of Running a P1 Offshore Race Boat

• By Charles Plueddeman
• November 16, 2023

In this age of 70 mph pontoons , 90 mph center-consoles and 150 mph sport cats, it’s pretty easy to experience eye-popping velocity on the water. So, there you are, the wind flapping your cheeks as you hold that throttle to the stop, one watering eye on the speedo as you bump the trim hoping to squeeze out the last bit of speed it will take to be the first boat to the poker-run card pickup. Maybe you even imagine that’s Reggie Fountain , Steve Curtis or Shaun Torrente at the helm of the boat you are pursuing, and instead of a king of hearts, there’s a big trophy waiting at the finish line. Well, dream on, Speed Racer. You’re going fast, but you are not racing, and your production-built motorboat is no race boat.

Steve Curtis throttles a real race boat. The Victory catamaran Huski Chocolate carried Curtis and drivers Travis Pastrana and Brit Lilly to the 2022 UIM Class 1 championship in the Powerboat P1 Offshore series. Last summer, we met Curtis and this boat, now rechristened Huski Ice Spritz, at the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the fourth event on the five-race 2023 P1 schedule. The boat is owned by SVEA Racing Inc., based in Stuart, Florida, regarded as the benchmark in professionalism and experience in Class 1 and led by technical director Gary Stray, director of operations Scott Colton and crew chief Patrick Cleaveland.

Curtis, a 59-year-old Englishman and the son of Cougar Powerboats founder and racing catamaran innovator Clive Curtis, claimed his first Class 1 world championship in 1985 in Key West when he was 21 years old. In his career, Curtis has throttled more than 20 world champions. Who would be better to show us under the cowl of a Class 1 race boat than the acknowledged master of throttling racing cats?

Class 1 is the premier category of international offshore powerboat racing. A P1 Offshore event can include a number of classes, but only the Class 1 Championship is sanctioned by the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique), the world governing body for all ­powerboating activities. Basic rules for Class 1 dictate a minimum boat length overall of 12 meters (about 39 feet) and a minimum weight of 5,400 kilograms (just over 11,900 pounds). There have been seven boats in the Class 1 field in 2023, ranging in length from the 43-foot Skater Monster Energy/MCON to the 51-foot Mystic dfYoung. The Huski Ice Spritz/SVEA Victory is 47 feet length overall, with a running surface of 41.5 feet, according to Curtis, and a 12-foot beam. Curtis explains that the bigger boats often have an advantage in rough conditions, but the smaller boats can be nimbler in a current on flatter water in a tight, multiturn closed course—the 5-mile course at Sheboygan had 10 turns.

“Courses have become smaller to make the event more spectator-­friendly,” Curtis says. “We used to run 40-mile laps and 200-mile races.”

The age of the Class 1 fleet is also surprising. Huski Ice Spritz/SVEA was built in 2007 by the Victory team in Dubai to a ­Michael Peters design.

“The boat has been rebuilt and repowered a number of times,” Curtis says. “I believe it was originally powered by Lamborghini V-12 engines. The boat has been crashed and repaired. The entire deck has been replaced, and the running surface adjusted as the engine package has changed.”

Carbon, Of Course

The overall theme of a race boat is that every element is functional, and this is the key difference between Huski Ice Spritz and your go-fast rig. Speed and safety are all that matter. The hull and deck are laid up with a combination of carbon fiber and Kevlar composite, with foam coring of various density. Bulkheads are carbon fiber, molded in a combination of triangulation and U-channel shape, and bonded within the hull. Each sponson has a pair of steps that are about 1.5 inches deep and a single strake. The tunnel between the sponsons is designed to trap and compress air, which lifts the boat at speed. The tunnel is about 33 inches deep at the bow but only 22 inches deep at the transom.

A V-hull boat could run in Class 1, but the catamaran offers a significant advantage, according to Randy Scism, who helped establish the Victory team as a force in offshore racing before returning to the United States in 1998 to start performance boatbuilder Marine Technologies Inc.

“A comparable V-hull boat will be 20 to 30 mph slower at top speed,” says Scism, who designed the 48-foot MTI Class 1 cat ­XInsurance/Good Boy ­Vodka. “In some conditions, it might corner better, but it could never make up the difference in total lap time. The air cushion under a cat can carry 30 to 35 percent of the boat’s weight, so the bottom is not even touching small waves and chop.”

Builders seek to produce a boat that is significantly below the class minimum-weight specification. This allows each team to make weight using lead ballast—water ballast is not allowed—that can be positioned right on the stringers to keep the center of gravity as low as possible to enhance handling and help trim the boat. Weight, either lead bars or bags of lead shot, can be placed aft to lift the bow in calm conditions or forward to hold the bow down in rough water. Fuel tanks are located directly on the boat’s center of balance so that balance does not change as fuel is consumed. At race venues, a crane fitted with a scale lifts the Class 1 boats from the trailer to the water; this way, each boat is weighed every time it goes in and comes out of the water to prevent cheating.

At Class 1 speeds, aerodynamics becomes critical. The boats literally fly over the water, and the deck is flush with the top of each sponson. The enclosed cockpit is a teardrop blister, hatch latches and cleats are carefully recessed and faired, and air intake is accomplished with low-drag NACA ducts. When conditions are ideal, these huge boats appear to levitate with a grace that belies the brutal thrust required to reach speeds that can exceed 160 mph on the open ocean.

Prescribed Power

There are no surprises below the engine hatches of a Class 1 boat. Since P1 led a revival of the class in 2019, the Mercury Racing 1100 Competition engine has been standard power, a spec engine for the class. The 9.0-liter V-8 engine features Mercury Racing QC4 quad-valve cylinder heads and is boosted by twin turbochargers. Power output is 1,100 hp and 1,100 lb.-ft. of torque per engine on 93-octane pump gasoline. Each big V-8 turns 6,000 to 6,500 rpm. The transmission is the stout model designed for the Mercury Racing 1750 engine with a stronger input shaft and ­internal components.

“Before the switch to the Merc 1100, we were running engines making 1,850 to 2,000 hp at 7,500 rpm,” Curtis says, “and top speeds pushed 190 mph. Those engines needed a rebuild after each race.”

The point of a specified engine for the class is to reduce cost and ensure power parity among teams with unequal resources. With that in mind, the engines are tightly controlled. Teams are not allowed to make any adjustments or modifications to the engines. With the exception of the valve covers, the engines are sealed with special fasteners. At the beginning of each race weekend, the Mercury Racing support team delivers propulsion control modules (PCM) to each team. The PCM units are painted bright ­yellow so they are easy to identify. ­Mercury ­Racing also installs a data logger on each engine.

“After every practice and ­every race, we download the data to make sure it makes sense and that nobody has tweaked on the engines and turned the power up,” says Steve Wynveen, Mercury Racing manager of development engineering. “The idea of Class 1 now is that winning is dependent on driving and boat setup, not on who has the most money to throw at an engine.”

The expectation is that if teams don’t abuse these engines by constantly banging into the rev limiter, each can last the season with just basic maintenance. Teams will put between two and three hours of run time on the engines at each race weekend. Teams are free to install their own PCM for testing between races.

The Huski Ice Spritz/SVEA team engineered a number of quick-disconnect fittings that allow it to remove an engine in about 20 minutes, according to Curtis. This team pulls its engines after each race for maintenance and inspects the bilge and engine mounts below the engines. Typical maintenance includes an oil and filter change, checking the valve lash and adjusting with shims, a compression and leak-down test, checking the turbocharger ­waste-gate adjustment, and ­torquing all fasteners and clamps.

Six of the boats in this Class 1 fleet use surface drives based on a BPM model to put power to the water. The Italian drive only articulates in the vertical plane, which provides a limited range of trim, generally less than 15 degrees or, according to Curtis, about 1.5 inches at the propeller. The prop is located about 58 inches abaft the transom. A drop box located on the exterior of the transom allows teams to quickly change gear ratios to best match engine torque to the prevailing conditions. Curtis explains that on today’s short courses, ­acceleration out of turns is often more important than top speed. Teams using a surface drive are limited to three prop sets but have unlimited gear ratios. Steering is accomplished by a center-mounted rudder—a knife-sharp polished stainless Italian Flexitab model on Huski Ice Spritz—and teams can change rudders based on water conditions.

A sterndrive is also permitted in Class 1, but if the sterndrive can steer, the boat is not allowed to use a rudder. The MTI XInsurance/Good Boy Vodka boat is rigged with modified Mercury Racing M6 sterndrives. Trim is retained, but the skegs are cut off and steering is locked. The boat is equipped with a rudder. Teams running sterndrives are allowed an unlimited number of propellers.

“The problem with trying to steer these boats with the sterndrives is that when you turn the drive, one prop is pushed into water and the other into the air coming through the tunnel,” Scism says. “The prop in the air loses thrust. You want to keep both props centered behind the sponsons. I prefer to use the M6 drives for the added trim authority. That drive is plenty rugged for these engines.”

Read Next: How to Boat Safely at Any Speed

Curtis throttles with his right hand gripping a pair of Mercury Zero Effort controls topped with red plastic knobs molded to the shape of his hand. To his left is a fixed, molded grip with radio/intercom control buttons, trim control, and a button to change the screen display. Curtis can communicate with his team using VHF and UHF radios, and a cellular connection. Below is a pair of Mercury ignition keys, which we were surprised to see.

“When we went to the standard Merc 1100 engines, we wanted to retain the entire stock wiring harness to prevent any sort of tampering,” Curtis says. “So, there are the keys, just like on your fishing boat. It was the ­easiest solution.”

Facing Curtis are a pair of Livorsi turbocharger boost gauges, a Livorsi trim indicator, and a multifunction display usually showing tachometers. In the center of the dash is a Garmin MFD split between navigation and a rearview camera. The driver sits before a quick-release steering wheel with a lap counter on top of the dash, which will also display a yellow-and-red flag signal from race control.

I wish I could describe the ­sensation of driving Huski Ice Spritz at speed while looking through the slit of a windscreen. But as it turns out, there is not enough liability coverage or legal cover to ever make that happen. Scism says MTI will build you a new 48 Race model to Class 1 specs, with a price tag of $2.2 million to $2.4 million with power. A $500,000 budget will cover a bare-bones Class 1 team for a season, Curtis says, with a well-financed team spending more than $1.5 million. SVEA Racing Inc. brings a crew of 10 to each race with a 70-foot race trailer, a tilting boat trailer and its Kenworth hauler, and a world-champion throttleman. They are not going to a poker run.

Safety First

When Steve Curtis won his first Class 1 championship, he was standing in an open cockpit. “There was very little concern for safety in those boats,” Curtis says. “If you stuffed the boat, it was very likely you’d be killed.”

Today the driver and throttle work in an enclosed cockpit that is all business. This is not your pleasure boat—there is no Alcantara upholstery, no bass-pumping audio system, and no LED-illuminated drink holders. Cockpit entry is through a hatch secured with four sliding bolts like a bank vault. In Huski Ice Spritz, Curtis throttles from the port seat, and the driver is at the wheel to starboard. Deep bucket seats have 2 inches of suspension travel, and the crew is strapped securely in place. “During a race, it can actually get rather violent in here,” Curtis says. “It’s not very noisy, but there is a lot of vibration, even in smooth water, because the boat is so rigid. We can feel pretty beat up after a race.”

A cage of carbon channels surrounds the cockpit, which Curtis says is backed by a very thick bulkhead. Crush zones around the cockpit are designed to absorb energy on impact. The interior is raw and black, with no thought of cosmetics. The forward portion of the cockpit structure is formed by a ¾-inch-thick polycarbonate shield modeled after a fighter-jet canopy. The clear portion is minimized for further crew protection. There’s an emergency escape hatch in the floor for egress if the boat flips. The driver and throttle have a 10-minute emergency air supply.

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