News - 24/08/26

Cowes is set to thunder into life this August Bank Holiday weekend as the GoGPS Cowes International Powerboat Festival returns to the Island for its spectacular 65th anniversary.

Taking place from 28–30 August 2026, the three-day festival is hosted by the British Powerboat Racing Club, bringing some of the fastest and most exciting offshore powerboats to Cowes for a weekend of high-speed racing and maritime spectacle.

The event has a remarkable history, with the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes race having been established in 1961. It was the first powerboat race held outside the USA and has gone on to become one of the most iconic events in offshore powerboat racing.

The racing

The main racing action takes place on Sunday 30 August, with the fleet lining up for the legendary Cowes–Torquay–Cowes race before the Cowes–Poole–Cowes race follows shortly afterwards.

The Cowes–Torquay–Cowes is a gruelling offshore challenge covering around 210 miles, taking competitors from Cowes to Torquay and back. With the fastest boats capable of speeds in excess of 100mph, it promises an extraordinary spectacle from the Cowes waterfront.

The Cowes–Torquay–Cowes race is scheduled to start at approximately 10:00am, followed by the Cowes–Poole–Cowes race at around 10:15am, with timings subject to final confirmation and conditions on the day.

Get up close to the action

For those wanting to experience the excitement before the boats take to the water, the racing fleet will be assembled at Cowes Yacht Haven for scrutineering and safety inspections on Saturday 29 August, providing an opportunity to see the boats and teams up close.

On race morning, spectators can watch the fleet head out from Cowes and take in the unmistakable sight and sound of these powerful machines as they accelerate away from the start.

With its combination of speed, noise, history and spectacular Solent surroundings, the GoGPS Cowes International Powerboat Festival is set to be one of the highlights of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Don’t miss the roar of the engines as Cowes welcomes 65 years of powerboat racing!