The demise of Powerboat P1’s European offshore racing series earlier this year left a big question mark about the future of the organization, which actually is a promoter rather than a sanctioning body. The Union Internationale Motonautique sanctioned all Powerboat P1 races during its seven-year run, and Powerboat P1’s Evolution and Super Sport class rules and power-to-weight ratio structure for V-bottoms were adopted in the UIM rulebook.

Before the season was cancelled for Powerboat P1 in Europe, the organization announced the formation of Powerboat P1 USA. The goal of the new outfit was to bring Powerboat P1 structure, in terms of class formula and event promotion and execution, to the United States. That goal, according to Martin Sanborn, the director of North American operations for Powerboat P1 USA, has not changed.

To that end, Powerboat P1 is offering a $90,000 purse for the nine-race Super Vee Light (SVL) series, which was formed by more than a dozen SVL teams. Because SVL rules are relatively consistent in the rulebooks of all the major sanctioning bodies, the racers in the class were able to create their own circuit within the series of several sanctioning bodies, and they agreed to race at events that run the gamut of OPA, OSS and SBI.

The SVL formula also uses a power-to-weight ratio structure that is similar to the structure that was employed by Powerboat P1, and that captured Sanborn’s attention. So SVL has become the “test class,” so to speak, for Powerboat P1 USA.

To be eligible for the Powerboat P1 USA prize money, which is $10,000 per race, SVL racers must be APBA members (APBA is the sanctioning body for UIM) and wear racing suits with APBA/UIM and Powerboat P1 logos. A minimum SVL fleet, eight to 10 boats depending on the venue, must be present at each race for the purse to be in effect.

“We are an element of the UIM and as such are subject to the sanctioning of APBA, since they are the national federation for the UIM in the USA,” said Sanborn. “We are a sponsor of the SVL series and a promoter, not a sanctioning body.”

Editor's note: For a complete interview with Sanborn, see “Powerboat P1 USA: What’s the Plan?”

Website: www.powerboatp1.com

2010 Super Vee Light Schedule

*Schedule subject to change. Check Powerboat P1 website to confirm.