More than 100 offshore powerboats are expected in Key West Nov. 1-8 for the 45th annual Key West World Championship presented by XINSURANCE.
Key West’s race week is the season finale for offshore powerboat racing, and the stakes are high this year.
For the first time, four classes will decide their world championship during the Key West races: Class 1, Class 2, Super Cat and Super Stock. Those championship titles are settled at the end of Friday’s race, and the champions are crowned at 8 that night on Duval Street.
“Key West is where this sport comes to settle things. For 45 years the best teams in the world have built their seasons around one week on this island, and this year four world titles will be decided in our harbor,” said Larry Bleil, president of Race World Offshore, which produces the annual races and associated events.
Racing starts at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on a course of 4.5 miles through Key West Harbor. Champions in all 14 classes will be recognized at the awards ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater. “This course runs right through the
harbor. Class 1 boats come past the pier at 140 miles an hour — close enough that you feel it.
With more than 100 boats expected, every class has a real fight in it, and nobody leaves Key West with a title they did not earn.,” said race director Rodrick Cox.
Miami throttleman Johnny Tomlinson, in his 41st season with more than 160 wins, will run the Class 1 GC Racing / MTI catamaran with owner and driver Willy Cabeza. “Key West is the ultimate goal. It’s the culmination of a long season, and everybody wants to win Key West,” he said.
Race week opens Sunday, Nov. 1, at 4 p.m. with the World’s Fastest Boat Parade on Duval Street. Organizers expect teams from at least five countries, a field larger than the 98 boats registered in 2025 and more than 50,000 people over the week.
The best viewing is from the Outer Mole at Truman Waterfront Park, with tickets sold on site and at raceworldoffshore.com. Fans can also watch from Mallory Square. Every race streams live on the Race World Offshore and XINSURANCE Sports YouTube channels.
Powerboat schedule
Sunday, Nov. 1 @ 4 p.m.: World’s Fastest Boat Parade, on Duval Street. Free to watch.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 @ 8 a.m.: Opening ceremonies with Mayor Sam Kaufman, Navy and Coast Guard.
RACE DAYS: Wednesday, Friday & Sunday, Nov. 4, 6 & 8 @ 10 a.m. in Key West Harbor.
Friday, Nov. 6 @ 8 p.m.: World champions crowned on Duval Street.
Sunday, Nov. 8 @ 6 p.m.: Awards banquet at Coffee Butler Amphitheater.
