Lady Spain set for XCAT debut in Napoli / UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

9 April 2014, Dubai, UAE – With powerboating action set to resume next month, the World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA) – organisers and promoters of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series – have announced that a new team will join the highly competitive circuit in Italy.

Lady Spain will compete in the third round of the Series, which is scheduled to take place in Napoli, Italy from 23-25 May.

Owned by Carlos Gimenez Vega and based in Cambados, Spain, the new team are relishing the prospect of joining the Series that pilot Marco Fabrizi described as “the top nautical sport at the moment”. Fabrizi has plenty of experience in offshore racing, including Class 3, Superboat P1, and Class 3 4 litres.

Victory Team To Race Stock Class In U.S. /Speed on the Water

XCAT world champions Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi will run the Victory's team's Fazza cat in SBI's Superboat Stock class this season.

Long dominant in Union Internationale Motonautique Class I and Class III offshore racing—now called XCAT—the Dubai-based Victory team will campaign its Fazza XCAT raceboat in Super Boat International's Superboat Stock class this season. According to renowned Stock- and XCAT-class throttleman Gary Ballough, who leaves this evening on a flight to the Middle East, the Victory-built, 28-foot-long catamaran powered by twin Mercury 2.5-litre outboard engines currently is on a cargo ship headed for the United States.  More; Victory Team To Race Stock Class In U.S.

Daytona XCAT event cancelled / UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

The World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA) regret to announce the cancellation of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series race that was scheduled to take place in Daytona, USA from April 11-13.

“Due to logistical factors beyond our control, it is a great pity for us to have to cancel the Daytona race, which would have been round three of the Series. We were greatly looking forward to taking the Series to the United States as we are well aware there is a great following there, but this will unfortunately have to wait a little longer,” said Dr Khalid Al Zahed, Vice President of the WPPA.

“We are working towards setting up another date for an XCAT race in the United States and will announce details as soon as these have been finalised. One thing is for sure – we will definitely be in the US by 2015 ,” added Al Zahed.

The third round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series is now scheduled to take place in Napoli, Italy from May 23-25.

More honours for faultless Fazza in Fujairah « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

14 February 2014 XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing – Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi extended their lead at the top of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series standings with a second consecutive win in Fujairah this afternoon.

The Fazza duo led from start to finish in a race that certainly wasn’t without drama, with three boats failing to finish.

Team Westerlund (Joakim Kumlin and Daniel Svenson) who started the race in fourth position flipped their boat on a turn in the 10th lap, but emerged unscathed, thanks to a speedy response from Dubai Police Rescue and the WPPA Rescue team.

The Complete Schedule for all of the 2014 Offshore Powerboat Racing Season

It looks like 2014 is adding up to a busy U.S. offshore powerboat racing season with races from organizers such as Super Boat International (SBI), Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) and even UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series with a first ever stop in Daytona, Florida.  Also, we cannot forget the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, where you can you see a boat like My Way run 224 mph.  We thought we would consolidate a list of these events for you and hope to see you on the water this year.

Have an race event you want listed, send it to us and we will add it to the list!

	April
Apr 11-13	SBI - Charlotte Harbor Super Boat Grand Prix	Charlotte Harbor, FL
Apr 11-13	UIM - UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series – Daytona	Daytona, FL
	May
May 2-4	OPA - Lake Hopatcong Grand Prix	Lake Hopatcong, NJ
May 16-18	SBI - 5th Annual Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix	Cocoa Beach, FL
	June
June 20-22	OPA - Atlantic City Offshore Grand Prix	Atlantic City, NJ
	July
July 4-6	SBI - 30th Annual Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival	Sarasota, FL
July 25-27	OPA - St Clair River Classic Offshore Powerboat Race	St Clair, MI
	August
Aug 1-3	SBI - 6th Annual Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix	Michigan City, IN
Aug 8-10	OPA - International Offshore Powerboat Race	Port Huron, MI
Aug 15-24	Lake of the Ozarks Shootout	Lake of the Ozarks
Aug 20-24	SBI - 11th Annual Thunder on the Gulf	Orange Beach, AL
Aug 20-24	SBI - 1st Annual Pensacola Grand Prix	Pensacola, FL
Aug 22-24	OPA - Great Race on the Sea	TBA Long Island, NY​​
	September
Sept 5-7	24th Annual New York Grand Prix – Tribute to 911	New York, NY
Sept 12-14	OPA Nationals  - Solomons Offshore Grand Prix	Solomons, MD
Sept 26-28	6th Annual Clearwater Super Boat National Championship	Clearwater, FL
	October
October 3-5	OPA World Championships	Ocean City, MD
	November
Nov 2-9	34th Annual Key West World Championship	Key West, FL

XCAT Racing Coming Stateside / Speed on the Water

In 2014, XCAT catamarans will race in U.S. waters for the first time since the series was started six years ago. Photo courtesy/copyright Emanuele Ferraris di Celle

While the Union Internationale Motonautique/World Professional Powerboat Association 2014 XCAT Series kicked off last weekend in Dubai—with the Dubai-based Victory team taking first, second and third place in the season-opener—the big news coming out the weekend was that XCAT racing is coming to the United States. Known for competitive offshore racing, the twin-outboard-engine canopied catamarans will take to the waters off Daytona Beach, Fla., April 11-13 during the annual Daytona Beach Speed Week.  More; XCAT Racing Coming Stateside

Perfect Series Start for Fazza in XCAT Opener / UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

25 January 2014, Dubai – Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi cruised to a comfortable victory in the opening round of the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series at DIMC – Mina Seyahi today.

 

The Fazza team were entirely untroubled as they started in pole position and maintained their lead throughout the 15-lap race.

The more intriguing battle was, however, taking place in their wake, as Salem Al Adidi and Talib Al Sayed in Victory Team started in second but were eventually overtaken by the Skydive Dubai duo of Sultan Al Dhaheri and Jay Price.

Fazza dominate again, while Dubai Duty Free claim first ever XCAT podium finish / UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

24 January 2014, Dubai – The Dubai Duty Free team of Pål Virik Nilsen and Tom Barry Cotter ventured onto the XCAT podium for the first time at the opening round of the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series this afternoon.

 

That’s after the Norwegian-Australian combination, who joined the Series in August last year, claimed third spot in the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run.

It was once again Fazza (Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi) who showed their speed and class in taking top honours, beating Skydive Dubai’s Sultan Al Dhaheri and Jay Price in the final. They had already dispatched of Spirit of Dubai, Victory Team and the new addition to the Series, Yachts, in the earlier rounds.

Skydive Dubai had booked their spot in the final by defeating Team Gibraltar, Qatar Team and eventually Dubai Duty Free.

Skydive Dubai claim second XCAT win at Chinese Grand Prix - UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

10 November 2013, Ningbo, China – Wiping the windscreen with their feet was probably not quite what Sultan Al Dhaheri and Jay Price were expecting when they took to the water for the Chinese Grand Prix this afternoon.

But, so tightly strapped into the boat, that was the only option available when soggy conditions caused the inside of the boat to fog up and cloud their vision.

Whatever they did, it seemed to do the trick as the Skydive Dubai duo managed to stay out in front, powering their way to their second victory of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series at the Chinese Grand Prix. That’s after claiming victory in round 4 of the Series in Stresa, Italy in September.

XCAT World Series Heats Up | OffshoreOnly.com – Powerboating Online

While a majority of the performance boat enthusiasts will be fixated on Key West, Fla., for the remainder of this week and through the weekend as the Super Boat International World Championships and Florida Powerboat Club’s Key West Poker Run converge, I’d like to steer a little attention toward some exciting racing that is about to take place in the Far East.

Two months after the team flipped its boat at the race in Arona, Italy, the Victory Team will enter a new boat in the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.

With 13 teams expected to participate in the sixth leg of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) XCAT World Series in China this weekend (Nov. 8-10), there’s plenty of news coming out of the competitive international circuit featuring outboard-powered cats. Taking place on Meishan Bay in Ningbo, the event marks the first time the series has raced in Chinese waters. The Chinese Grand Prix follows a pair of September races in Italy, which marked the first ventures outside of the United Arab Emirates for the up-and-coming series.  More; XCAT World Series Heats Up | OffshoreOnly.com – Powerboating Online

Victory Team claim maiden Speed Cat Run victory in Arona « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

The relatively new pairing of Salem Al Adidi and Talib Al Sayed enjoyed the view from the top spot of the podium for the first time ever at the fifth round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series today.

The relatively new pairing of Salem Al Adidi and Talib Al Sayed produced a succession of impressive performances to claim the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run. The team defeated the Italian combination of Matteo Nicolini and Tomaso Polli in Six in the first round before getting the better of Consul Brokers in the semifinal.

They were then faced with the daunting task of taking on Series leaders and firm favourites, Fazza in the final. Al Adidi and Al Sayed held their nerve to stave off the toughest of challenges from their teammates to claim their inaugural win.

Fazza back on top in Official Practice at XCAT European Grand Prix « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

Current leaders in the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series, Fazza, proved their eyes are firmly set on the top of the podium as the fifth round of action got underway in Arona this morning.

Taking to the water for Official Practice, the duo of Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri recorded the fastest lap of the morning, completing the 3.5 nautical mile lap in 2.29,62.

The Victory Team stable once again produced the top three quickest times, as they aim to reproduce their clean sweep of the podium from Stresa last weekend.

Fierce fightback from Fazza, but Skydive Dubai hold on to top podium at Italian Grand Prix « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing – Official Site

Skydive Dubai staved off a fantastic fightback from current UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series leaders Fazza to claim the inaugural Italian Grand Prix title on Lake Maggiore today.

Fazza started bottom of the pile after an underweight boat saw them disqualified after the Pole Position race, but some careful planning and years of experience meant they didn’t stay there for long.

A sensational start from the Fazza duo of Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri saw them speeding from last place to second by the first corner – a position they then held on to for the remainder of the race.

Victory Team look speedy in morning’s Official Practice « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing – Official Site

The Victory Team boat will go into this afternoon’s Italian Grand Prix with a much-needed confidence boost after recording the fastest lap in Official Practice at the fourth round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series at Lake Maggiore this morning.

The team of Salem Al Adidi and Talib Al Sayed completed the course in a speedy 2:39.92. The boat that will start today’s race in Pole Position, Skydive Dubai, were second quickest in Official Practice, recording a time of 2:41.81 on their first lap, while the Consul Brokers combination of Alfredo Amato and Marco Pennesi were third in 2:47.89.

Meanwhile, current Series leaders Fazza, who were disqualified for failing to pass post-race scrutineering after recording the fastest time in Pole Position yesterday, took the opportunity to rehearse their race start from bottom position.

The Italian Grand Prix gets underway at 3.30pm (Italian time) today with Skydive Dubai (Rashid Al Tayer and Jay Price) in Pole Position, Six (Matteo Nicolini and Tomaso Polli) in second, Mouawad (Omar Daniel and Gary Ballough) third and Qatar Team (Mohammed Al Nasr and Abdulrahman Al Nasser), who won yesterday’s Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run, in fourth spot.

Like Fazza, the Victory Team will face a tough task this afternoon, starting in 11^th position.

Qatar Team top the Speed Cat podium « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

The Qatar Team held their nerve to once again emerge as the speed kings of the UIM Skydive Dubai World Series on Lake Maggiore today.

Taking on the rest of the field in the thrilling, head-to-head Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run which is contested on a straight 1km course, the team of Mohammed Al Nasr and Abdulrahman Al Nasr staved off some tough opposition, defeating Fazza in the penultimate round before getting the better of Team Westerlund in the final.

This was the Qatar Team’s second successive Speed Cat victory, having topped the podium in the last round of the Series in Dubai in March. Speaking after the final, Al Nasr said: “I am very happy to come first again and especially here in Italy because this is the first time we are racing here in Europe.

Skydive Dubai tops the table in Official Practice « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

Skydive Dubai powered their way to the fastest time of the morning in Official Practice at the fourth round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series on Lake Maggiore today.

Despite being in a boat together for the first time this morning, the pairing of Rashid Al Tayer and Jay Price’s time of 2:39.25 for the 3.55 nautical mile lap proved the quickest of the morning, boosting confidence levels going into this afternoon’s Emaar Pole Position and the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run.

The Victory Team boat was second quickest with Salem Al Adidi and Talib Al Sayed recording a time of 2:42.35 while Series leaders Fazza (Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri) were third in 2:44.67, completing a top three for the Victory Team outfit.

Pressure mounts for Dubai winners ahead of XCAT showdown in Stresa « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

Team Westerlund Racing are feeling the heat ahead of the fourth round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series this weekend in Italy.

Team preparation is underway in Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore ahead of the

fourth round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series.

Despite claiming their first ever XCAT victory at the last race in Dubai in March, the Swedish team are well aware it will be tough to repeat that performance on the flat water in Stresa.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s official practice, Daniel Svenson throttle man for Team Westerlund said: “We have a lot of confidence after winning the last race but a lot of pressure as well. The outcome of the last race was fantastic and now we just hope for a successful run again.”

All systems go as XCAT action resumes in stunning Stresa this weekend « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing – Official Site

The boats have arrived. The spectacular scene is set. And the teams are raring to get out on the water as the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Powerboat Series resumes after the summer break.

A total of 13 teams will take to the beautiful Lake Maggiore for the fourth round of the Series. A
nd with four more races still to come after this one, there’s still everything to play for.

Still topping the table after the first three rounds is the Dubai-based Fazza boat, part of the super-successful Victory Team set-up. Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri will be hoping they’ll experience none of the technical difficulties that hit them in the last race in Dubai. That’s where the Westerlund Racing Team of Joakim Kumlin and Daniel Svenson took advantage of Fazza’s gear box problem to claim their first ever XCAT win.

Italy’s Nicolini Offshore team aim to spice up the fight for top XCAT honours / UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing

There could soon be a new team challenging for the top podium spot in the UIM XCAT World Series. That’s after the Nicolini Offshore team purchased a new boat from the Dubai-based Victory Team.

Currently languishing in 12^th place in the overall standings after boat trouble kept them out of the last heat in Dubai in March, Matteo Nicolini explained that in order to compete with the best, you have to be on a level playing field.

XCAT World Series and Marinepool join forces in three-year deal « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing – Official Site

15 May 2013, Dubai – The WPPA’s management team rounded off a successful European tour by signing a three-year agreement with German-based clothing supplier Marinepool at their Munich headquarters last week.

More; XCAT World Series and Marinepool join forces in three-year deal « UIM XCAT World Series Powerboat Racing – Official Site