Dozens of high-performance powerboats took to the waters off Key West Harbor this morning for the opening day of racing in the 2025 Race World Offshore World Championships, marking the start of three scheduled race days that conclude the annual event.
The competition, organized by Race World Offshore, runs from November 2 through November 9 and serves as the season finale for the American Power Boat Association national series. Races began at 10 a.m. today with the Truman Waterfront Cup, featuring multiple classes of catamarans and V-bottom boats powered by engines up to 3,000 horsepower.
Additional race days are set for Friday, November 7, and Sunday, November 9, with starts again at 10 a.m. Sunday's finals will determine world champions across bracket, stock, and manufacturer production classes. The 4-plus-mile course loops through Key West Harbor and surrounding waters, allowing speeds in excess of 140 mph in calm sections.
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West has established and is enforcing a regulated safety zone around the race course for the duration of the event. Spectator vessels must remain outside designated boundaries, and mariners are advised to monitor VHF Channel 16 for updates. Boaters seeking details on the zone or event operations may contact Coast Guard Sector Key West directly. Viewing areas include the Race Village at Truman Waterfront Park, where general admission costs $25 per day or $55 for a three-day pass. Entry is free for children under 12 and active-duty military personnel. Additional vantage points line the harbor front, including Mallory Square, Sunset Pier, and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
The week began November 2 with the First State Bank World's Fastest Boat Parade down Duval Street, followed by driver meet-and-greets and parties at venues such as Hank's Saloon. Organizers report entries from teams across North America, with live streams available on YouTube and Facebook for remote viewers.
Race officials described today's conditions as favorable, with moderate seas and winds under 10 knots. No incidents were reported during the morning heats. Friday's schedule includes bracket-class races, while Sunday crowns national and world titles. The championships, in their 44th year, draw competitors vying for points in the Race World Offshore series, which included prior stops in Toronto, Michigan City, Chicago, Clearwater, and Fort Myers Beach.