PUNTA GORDA/ENGLEWOOD BEACH, Fla.—The American Power Boat Association Offshore World Championship will return to Englewood Beach Waterfest Oct. 8-11, bringing the final race of the APBA’s three-event championship series to Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The event marks the 12th year of offshore powerboat racing at Englewood Beach and is expected to draw thousands of spectators. Organizers report that Waterfest attracts an average of 32,000 attendees during race weekend.
Hosted by Englewood Beach Waterfest Inc., a nonprofit organization operated entirely by volunteers, the event serves as the championship finale where APBA world titles will be decided. The race attracts competitors and spectators from across the United States and abroad, generating national and international exposure for the destination.
Waterfest recently received the Florida Sports Foundation’s 2025-26 Best Hosted Event of the Year for a Small Market award. The event was also named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Festivals in 2023, the third time it has earned that recognition. More than 400 volunteers help organize and operate the annual event.
Race teams are scheduled to arrive Oct. 8 and 9 for safety inspections, driver meetings, and qualifying activities. The event’s annual Block Party on historic Dearborn Street is set for Oct. 9, offering fans an opportunity to interact with teams and celebrate the start of race weekend.
Competition begins Oct. 10 and continues through Oct. 11, culminating in an awards ceremony recognizing the top three finishers and crowning the APBA world champions.
Organizers cite the area’s variable water conditions as one of the factors that make the venue attractive for offshore racing. The event also incorporates extensive safety measures, including aerial monitoring, marine-life protection efforts, and emergency response resources provided by local agencies.
The championship race is one of the premier sporting events on the Gulf Coast each fall, combining elite offshore racing with community engagement and tourism throughout the Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach region.
Englewood Beach Waterfest is supported by local volunteers, businesses, and public safety partners, and continues to serve as a major sports tourism event for the destination.
