More than 90 powerboats are expected to race off Clearwater Beach starting Sept. 25, in what organizers call the largest field the event has ever drawn.

The 17th Annual XINSURANCE Clearwater Offshore Nationals runs Sept. 25 through Sept. 27, at Sand Key Park, 1060 Gulf Blvd. Race World Offshore, the event organizer, announced the record entry in an Aug. 26 press release.

Watching is free.

The racecourse runs parallel to the shoreline, and fans can line up from Pier 60 north for 2 1/2 miles along the beach. A spectator boat fleet is also expected to anchor along the course perimeter in the Gulf.

Double-Championship Weekend Puts Four Titles at Stake

The Clearwater stop is the third race on both the American Power Boat Association (APBA) National Championship Series and the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) XINSURANCE World Championship Tour. That makes it a double-championship weekend, with national and world titles on the line in four sanctioned classes: Class 1, Class 2, Super Cat and Super Stock.

The UIM tour wraps up the first week of November in Key West, according to Speed on the Water, making Clearwater the penultimate stop on the world circuit.

Race World Offshore President Larry Bleil said the turnout reflects the venue's pull. "More than 90 raceboats tells you exactly what this beach means to offshore racing," Bleil said in the Aug. 26 announcement.

Saturday, Sunday Racing Times Set

Racing begins Sept. 26, with the first green flag at 11 a.m. and the final checkered flag at 4:15 p.m. On Sept. 27, racing runs from 10:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Friday's schedule covers pit setup and registration at Sand Key Park.

Because of the record entry list, the pit footprint has expanded to two additional locations nearby, according to Race World Offshore.

The organization also announced that a one-hour television special will air on the ESPN Network in the first quarter of 2027. It would mark offshore powerboat racing's return to ESPN after 23 years.

What Fans Should Know Before Attending

Live music runs each night during race week at Shephard's Beach Resort. Visit St. Pete Clearwater is the presenting sponsor. The City of Clearwater and the U.S. Coast Guard are listed as official event partners.

Races can also be streamed live on the Race World Offshore Facebook and YouTube pages.