In his red Flat Powertrain Technologies (FTP) boat, Fabio Buzzi made a triumphant return to competitive powerboating, leading from start to finish as 10-foot waves added to the drama during the first heat of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) Marathon World Cup races in Cowes, England.

Alongside fellow Italian Emilio Riganti and Britain's Simon Powell, Buzzi took a tactical approach in the uncertain waters of the 100-mile course—averaging 60 knots, well below the speed afforded to the 2400-hp machine—to preserve the boat, engines and crew for Sunday’s second Marathon World Cup race, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes.

"It's very satisfying to be back racing and winning," Buzzi said after Friday's race. "The Italian Federation says I am too old to race. I may have been 67 when the race started, now I am 44!

"It was very difficult, sometimes flat where we could accelerate but then suddenly choppy which was a dangerous mix," he added. "The boat and its FPT engines ran perfectly, it was important not to overstretch them, Sunday’s race is too important."

Powerboat Asia, piloted by Martin Lai, Sarah Donohue and Tom Williams-Hawkes, came in second, followed by Londoner Andy Macateer in Venturer, a Buzzi-designed RIB

"We couldn't catch Fabio … our boat is lighter and with only half the power, but this is an excellent result,” said Martin Lai, owner and throttleman of Powerboat Asia, a Pantera powered by Mercury Racing HP525EFI engines. “The boat and crew are a bit battered but we’ll be looking good by Sunday.”

Austrian Hannes Bohinc and Wettpunkt.com crossed the line in sixth place. "Today the seas did not favour our boat, but Sunday is another day," Bohinc said.

The British Powerboat Festival at the RB12.com Race Village in Cowes Yacht Haven continues across the Bank Holiday weekend with Sunday’s 50th running of the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes starting at 10 a.m.

For more info on the British Powerboat Festival, log on to www.britishpowerboatfestival.com, www.cowes2010.co.uk or www.rb12.com.