UKOPRA ‘Round the Island’ Offshore Powerboat race will take place the weekend Saturday May 16th, which will see teams competing for the opening round of the 2026 Offshore Championships.
Thirty teams from across the UK and Europe will compete in Classes 1/1L/2/3 titles around a 60 mile circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight coastline in an anti-clockwise direction.
Start line opposite Gurnard
With the Start line and Muster area off East Lepe Buoy (opposite Gurnard), the teams will then start to two green flags at around 12pm and 12.10pm.
The Finish line will also be East Lepe Bouy with the fastest Class 1 boats, if the conditions are calm, are expected to complete the circuit in around 40 minutes.
Timetable for Spectators:
Friday 15th May
- 12:00 – 18:00 – Scrutineering – Shamrock Quay, Southampton.
Saturday 16th May
- 10:45-11:00 – Boats leave Shamrock Quay for the Muster Area, Solent. Tbc
- 12:00 – Race start 1 (East Lepe Bouy)
- 12:10 – Race start 2 (East Lepe Bouy)
- 18:00 – Podium presentations The Bistro Shamrock Quay, Southampton.
Best Race Viewing Vantage Points
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 Bouy. This is advisable for your own safety and for a nice clean start for the racers.
All the race details including teams competing can be found at the UKOPRA Official Race Website or on both Facebook pages of ‘UKOPRA’ and ‘World Powerboat Events UK’.
Visit the Official Website for more information.
News shared by Steve on behalf of UKOPRA ‘Round the Island’ Offshore Powerboat race. Ed
