Class 1 World Powerboat Championship

The UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship (also known as Class 1) is an international offshore powerboat racing category organized by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM). The series features catamarans competing in multi-event seasons sanctioned by the UIM.

The championship was established in 1964, following the development of modern offshore powerboat racing in the mid-20th century.^[1] It has operated under both single-event and multi-event formats, and now runs as a season-long points competition. Class 1 boats are composite catamarans powered by standardized high-output engines and crewed by a driver and throttle man. World Championship titles are awarded based on cumulative race results across each season.

The earliest recorded race was held in 1887 in Nice, France, and was organized by the Paris Sailing Club.

Two further races were recorded in 1903 in France: a 62-mile race in Meulan on the River Seine, organized by the Poissy Sailing Club, and a second race covering 230 miles from Paris to Trouville.^[2]

Offshore powerboat racing expanded following the Miami–Nassau race in 1956, which led to the introduction of the Sam Griffith Memorial Trophy, and in 1964, the establishment of a UIM-sanctioned offshore World Championship for Class 1 boats.^[3][4][5]

From 1964 to 1976, the championship used a multi-race points system. From 1977 to 1991, it was decided at a single end-of-season event consisting of multiple races. In 1992, the championship returned to a multi-event format.^[3]

As of the 2019 season, a Class One USA category was introduced within the APBA Offshore Championship Series, featuring catamarans powered by twin 9.0-litre Mercury Racing 1100 Competition V8 stern-drive engines as a spec power unit.^[6][7][8]

In the inaugural 2019 Class One USA season, the Dubai-based Victory Team (Victory 3, crewed by Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali) secured the overall title at the Roar Offshore Fort Myers event, winning the APBA Offshore Championship Series crown.^[9][10]

Class 1 offshore race boats are catamarans measuring between 12 and 14 meters (39.4–45.9 ft) in length, with a beam of approximately 3.5 meters (11.5 ft). They are constructed from composite materials such as carbon fiber and Kevlar, which are commonly used in marine applications for their structural strength and weight characteristics.^[11]

Under current regulations, Class 1 catamarans must meet a minimum weight of 4,950 kg (4.95 metric tons).^[12] All competing boats use twin Mercury Racing 9.0-litre 1100 Competition V8 stern-drive engines as the mandatory spec power unit, producing a combined output of 2,200 horsepower.^[13] These engines allow Class 1 boats to exceed speeds of approximately 257 km/h (160 mph) under favorable conditions.^[12]

The cockpit incorporates reinforced crash structures designed to protect the crew during high-speed impacts, and includes safety features such as canopies, impact-resistant seating, and an escape hatch in the hull. Onboard instrumentation typically includes GPS navigation, trim indicators, and engine management displays, which the crew uses to monitor performance during competition.^[11]

Two crew members operate a Class 1 race boat: a driver and a throttle man. The driver is responsible for steering the boat and selecting the racing line, while the throttleman manages engine power, trim settings, and balance to optimize performance in varying sea conditions.

Both crew members wear specialized safety equipment, including impact-resistant helmets, flotation devices, and harness systems compliant with offshore racing regulations. Safety protocols require the crew to complete approved training and demonstrate familiarity with emergency procedures before competition.

A Class 1 season consists of a series Grands Prix, made up of three official practice sessions, one official qualifying session (known as the pole position session), and two races. The results of each race are combined to determine the winner of the World Championship. The European Championship and the Middle East Championship are defined by specific events in those geographic regions. The results in official qualifying determine the winner of the Pole Position Championship.

Eight races at four venues make up the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, with races run over approximately 55 or 75 nautical miles (Nm) consisting of multiple laps of approximately 5 Nm (including one or two mandatory long laps).

The World Championship title is awarded based on a cumulative points system. Points are distributed for each race as follows:

• 1st Place: 20 points
• 2nd Place: 15 points
• 3rd Place: 12 points
• 4th Place: 9 points
• 5th Place: 7 points

A Grand Prix weekend takes place over three days, with registration, technical scrutineering, the first practice session and driver briefings held on day one.^[14]

On day two, a practice session is run in the morning, followed immediately by the pole position session (which also counts as a separate championship), and Race 1 in the afternoon.^[15]

The pole position session, like the practice sessions, is held on the Grand Prix course. It allows teams to assess circuit conditions and make technical adjustments to their boat setup. It acts as the qualifier for the line-up for Race 1, with the pole-sitter (fastest time) lining up closest to the official start boat. The session lasts for 45 minutes; teams must complete a minimum of one timed lap and are allowed to return to the wet pits to make setup adjustments, but are limited to a total of 10 minutes of crane time.^[16]

On day three, a final practice session in the morning is followed in the afternoon by Race 2. Each race is started by an official pace boat that runs at a controlled speed and leads the boats from the wet pits into a line-abreast formation under a yellow flag or amber flashing light. A green flag denotes the start of the race. The finishing order from the pole position session determines the line-up for Race 1, and the finishing order of Race 1 determining the start order for Race 2.^[17]

Each race consists of approximately 11–15 laps and is 55–75 Nm in length, including one or two mandatory long laps.^[18]

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