MDL Marinas powers UKOPRA’s South Coast racing season

MDL Marinas is hosting three rounds of the 2026 UK Offshore Powerboat Racing Association Championship across its South Coast network, with the opening MDL Marinas Round the Island race already completed at Shamrock Quay in Southampton.

The championship will continue at Ocean Village Marina and Mercury Yacht Harbour later this season, placing MDL at the centre of three major offshore powerboat racing events.

UKOPRA is a long-running offshore powerboat racing championship that has been staged for more than 40 years. It brings together some of the UK’s fastest offshore racing boats, with teams competing across a range of classes on demanding coastal courses.

At Shamrock Quay, 31 teams entered from a registered fleet of 50 race boats. Despite difficult weather, 28 boats started and 17 completed the course. Good Boy Vodka won Class 1 in 49 minutes and 5 seconds, averaging 72mph, while Lightning Strikes won Class 2 in 49 minutes and 30 seconds. Other class winners included The Famous Dry Martini, Team JB-R, Frode Racing, Carpe Diem and Eastlands Offshore.

Shamrock Quay supported the event with race berthing, scrutineering areas, operational facilities, hospitality and spectator areas.

The championship returns to MDL on 4 July for the inaugural MDL Marinas Ocean Village Cup at Ocean Village Marina, supported by Approved Boats. A further round follows at Mercury Yacht Harbour in Hamble on 25 July.

Image by Snap Photography.