Editing Offshore powerboat racing (section)

==History of the sport==

In 1903, the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, and its offshoot, the Marine Motor Association organised a race of auto-boats. The winner was awarded the Harmsworth Trophy.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.classicoffshore.com/history_began.php| publisher=Classic Offshore Powerboat Club| title=Where it all Began| access-date=10 September 2015}}</ref> Offshore powerboat racing was first recognised as a sport when, in 1904, a race took place from the south-eastern coast England to Calais, France. In the United States, the APBA (American Power Boat Association) was formed soon thereafter and the first U.S. recorded race was in 1911, in California.

The sport increased in popularity over the next few years in the United States, with 10 races being scheduled during the 1917 season. The sport's growth was disrupted in Europe during World War I.

Over the period of 1927–35 there was a huge interest in power boat racing in Europe both on sea water and on freshwater rivers and lakes. These boats which were described as hydroplanes were powered by Evinrude, Elto, Johnson, Lockwood, and Watermota outboard engines.<ref>'The Motor Yacht Club of Ireland' by Vincent Delany</ref>
The sport entered the modern era in the 1960s, with notable names like Jim Wynn, Don Aronow, and Dick Bertram competing in events such as the Bahamas {{convert|500|mi|adj=on}} race. During that time, the 'navigator' position in the raceboat was extremely important (unlike in today's small, track-like circuits), as finding small checkpoints over a hundred-mile open ocean run was a difficult endeavour.

The list of modern world champions extended into the 1980s, when the sport entered the catamaran, and then the 'superboat' era – the 1000 cubic inch total engine displacement restrictions were lifted for boats over {{convert|45|ft}} in length, and soon three- and four-engine boats sporting F16 fighter canopies replaced the venerable {{convert|35|to|40|ft|m|adj=mid|}} deep-vee hulls that had been the sport's top category for twenty years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicraceboats.com/worldchampions.htm#other |title=Historic Offshore Race Boat Association – World Champions |publisher=Historicraceboats.com |access-date=2012-07-01}}</ref>

Modern races are short, track style events with much improved viewing for the spectators, and the different categories of boats have multiplied far beyond the 4 classes that were common through much of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s.

In recent years the biggest number of entries in Offshore races have been for the Cowes – Torquay – Cowes and Cowes – Poole – Cowes races held by the British Offshore Powerboat Race Club.