MDL Marinas is hosting three major rounds of the 2026 UK Offshore Powerboat Racing Association (UKOPRA) Championship across its South Coast marina network.
The inaugural MDL Marinas Ocean Village Cup will take place on 4 July. That’s supported by Approved Boats. Then, on 25 July, the championship heads to Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble. The opening round already has already taken place – hosted by Shamrock Quay in Southampton.
The UKOPRA Championship (dates and venues are online) brings together some of the fastest offshore racing boats in the country, with competitors racing in a variety of classes around demanding coastal courses. The championship has been running for more than 40 years and attracts teams, crews and spectators from across the UK and Europe.
For the Round the Island race (out of Shamrock Quay) earlier in May, 31 teams signed up from a registered fleet of 50 race boats. 17 teams successfully completed the course (28 started).
“Hosting UKOPRA championship rounds across the MDL network is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the facilities and experience our marinas can offer for major marine events,” says Debbie Burns, marina manager at Mercury Yacht Harbour. Shamrock Quay played a central role in supporting race operations throughout the weekend, providing race berthing, scrutineering areas and operational support for teams, officials and safety crews, alongside hospitality and marina spectator facilities.
“We’re delighted to be working with MDL Marinas across multiple rounds of the 2026 championship,” says Danielle Strawford, events operations manager at UKOPRA / World Powerboat Events. “Each venue brings something different to the season, from the race-day atmosphere at Shamrock Quay to the vibrant waterfront setting at Ocean Village and the welcoming environment at Mercury Yacht Harbour.
“The opening round at Shamrock Quay was a fantastic way to start the championship, with record team entries and strong spectator support despite difficult conditions on the water.”
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