About 90 powerboats will race across the Gulf off Clearwater Beach starting Friday, Sept. 25, in the largest fleet the XINSURANCE Clearwater Offshore Nationals has ever assembled.

The 17th annual event runs through Sunday, Sept. 27, with vessels reaching speeds up to 130 mph on a five-mile course that parallels the shoreline. The first turn happens roughly 100 yards off Pier 60.

Admission is free.

Race World Offshore racing director Rodrick Cox told St. Pete Catalyst the 14 classes "range in size from 60 mile per hour bracket classes to 130 mile per hour Super Cat or Class 1 boats." About 65 raceboats will hit the water each day. Every entry carries a two-person crew: a driver and a throttleman who controls engine power. There is no prize purse. Winners take home a trophy and what Cox called a "flag on the water."

A helicopter sweeps the course an hour before racing to check for manatees and other wildlife, Cox said. He described typical Clearwater conditions as "pretty flat on the water with a light chop of one to two feet."

In a Sept. 1 press release, Race World Offshore President Larry Bleil called the turnout historic. "More than 90 raceboats tells you exactly what this beach means to offshore racing," Bleil said.

The weekend doubles as a championship stop on both the American Power Boat Association (APBA) National Championship Series and the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) XINSURANCE World Championship Tour. Pinellas County commissioners approved up to $125,000 in elite event funding for the race, which is projected to draw 14,375 attendees, WUSF reported.

Organizers will also film a one-hour TV special at the event. It will air on ESPN in the first quarter of 2027, marking offshore powerboat racing's return to the network after 23 years.

How to watch

Spectators can line the beach from Pier 60 north for about two and a half miles. Vendor booths will be set up there. Spectator vessels are welcome along the course perimeter, and Starlite Cruises will offer a race-day cruise Sunday, Sept. 27, aboard its Infinity Dining Yacht.

The Jolley Trolley runs between Pier 60 and the entrance to Sand Key Park, where the dry pits are located. The pit footprint has expanded for 2026 to two additional staging areas to handle the larger entry list. The trolley accepts tap-to-pay, the Flamingo Fares app or exact change. All races will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.

Friday, Sept. 25, is an offshore testing day, with crews running from noon to 3:30 p.m. Racing runs Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. Shephard's Beach Resort hosts live music each night during race week.

After the races

An awards ceremony takes place Sunday evening at Marina Cantina, 25 Causeway Blvd. The series moves next to the Key West World Championships, Nov. 1 through Nov. 8.