Round the Island offshore powerboat race set for this weekend

Round the Island’ Offshore Powerboat will take place this coming weekend Saturday 3rd May 2025, which will see teams competing for the opening round of the 2025 UKOPRA Offshore Championship.

This year the teams will be based here on the Isle of Wight’s River Medina at Boatfolk’s East Cowes Marina.

Up to Sixteen teams from across the UK and Sweden will compete for Classes 1/1L/2/ 3 titles around the 60 mile Isle of Wight coastline.

Class 1L Piston' Broke powerboat racing across the water in the Solent — Class 1L Piston’ Broke © Anthony Hadaway

Last year Rob Lockyer in his 50ft Outerlimits hull ‘Good Boy Vodka’ set an new record for the circumnavigation of the Island at a staggering 118.04 mph, completing the course in just 30 minutes and 18 seconds, will this be broken in 2025.

Class 1 Sture Gold powerboat racing across the water in the Solent — Class 1 Sture Gold © Snap Photography

Hot favourite for this year’s title
The Island will be led by the Class 3E team ‘Mango Crazy’ with the crew of Seaview publican Peter Hall and good friend Terry Parsons, who will be looking to go one better in this year’s Championship in their famous red Hunton powerboat after being runners-up in every race last season.

Class 3E Mango Crazy powerboat racing across the water in the Solent — Class 3E Mango Crazy © Malc Attrill

Class 3E Champions from 2024 “Thunderstreak”, have now retired from racing, and it is almost certain that Mango Crazy could be one of the hot favourites for this year’s title.

Class 1 Laa Laa powerboat racing across the water in the Solent — Class 1 Laa Laa © Snap Photography

With the Start line and Muster area off East Lepe Bouy (opposite Gurnard), the teams will take the green flag at around 2pm and head off in an anti-clockwise direction.

Class 1 Double Trouble powerboat racing across the water in the Solent — Class 1 Double Trouble © Tracey Beer

Class 3E Renegade powerboat racing across the water in the Solent — Class 3E Renegade © Snap Photography

Timetable for Spectators
Friday 2nd May 2025

12pm – 6pm – Scrutineering – East Cowes Marina

Saturday 3rd May 2025

1pm – Boats leave East Cowes Marina for the Muster Area, Solent.
2pm – Race start (East Lepe Buoy)
6pm – Podium presentations East Cowes Marina..

Best Race Viewing Vantage Points :

The Lifeboat Pub
Yarmouth Pier
Fort Victoria (or Hurst Castle)
The Needles
St Catherine’s Lighthouse
Ryde Pier and
Egypt Point.

All Spectator boats in the vicinity of the rolling start, are advised to keep NORTH in an imaginary line from East Lepe to West Lepe Buoy. This is advisable for your own safety and a nice clean start for the racers.