Zapcats 

Zapcat Racing = Extreme One Design Offshore Powerboat Racing.

The Concept

Strict one design powerboat racing that is safe, affordable, fair and fun in challenging marine environments.

One Design

Due to the strict one design nature of Zapcat Racing and the way in which it is enforced, a level playing field is created across the sport. This means that unlike other expensive and often elitist classes of powerboat racing, with their need for countless numbers of propellers and engine modifications, are thrown out of the window due to Zapcat Racing allowing only one hull, one engine, two propellers and importantly one propeller guard.

Zapcat Racing is now in its 9th year in the UK and continues to dominate as the UK’s Largest Racing Class. This is predominately down to the strict one design ethics meaning Zapcat Racing is not cheque book racing, as well as it’s high standard of safety and exhilarating racing.

The Championship

2008 saw around 40 teams compete in the 2008 Zapcat National Championship. The championship comprised of 7  two day events, during which 224 heats were raced, with 28 finals.  Each Zapcat competes in 5 heats a day securing points with the top boats in each division going into the days finals.

At the beginning of the year the fleet is split into 2 divisions based on the previous years championship standings, with any new Rookie teams joining the lower finishing boats in Division 2.

Promotion between the divisions is not like football where you have to wait until the end of the season to progress, it occurs throughout the seasons  racing continually  promoting those doing well and scoring consistently  throughout the events.

The Titles

In addition to the Zapcat National Championship Title there are several other Prizes to be won.

Medals are awarded to the top 3 finishing boats in each division every round of racing.

In addition to this each events points are added together to give a Zapcat Grand Prix Winner.

Throughout the year new Zapcat teams compete for the Rookie Championship Title.

In a sport which offers a level playing field for both Male and Female competitors mixed teams battle  it out for the Mixed Championship.

4 rounds of the Championship are taken into account as the Surf championship  crowning one team as Zapcat Kings Of Surf.

Reinstated in 2008 was the team championship where the points from two Zapcat teams were combined to form the Zapcat Team championship.

To say their ownership is diverse does not do it justice, with competitors ranging in age from 16 to 55+ who are either male or female, friends, brothers and sisters, fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, husbands and wife s whom all come from different back grounds to enjoy Zapcats and Zapcat Racing.

Everything you need to join this incredible sport is outlined below:

All you need is:

• To be over 18 (People of 16+ can race when accompanied by an adult in the boat and with parental consent)
• A Zapcat R/R (you will be required to have the minimum of RYA Powerboat 2 certification to purchase a Zapcat)
• A pilot (pilots require minimum certification of RYA Powerboat Level 2 to race) and co-pilot!
• Safety Equipment (lifejacket, helmet, goggles)
• RYA Race Licence
• Insurance

To find out more visit the Zapcat racing website by following the link below www.zapcat-racing.com