The 11th Annual Grand Prix of Portugal on the fourth and fifth of April marks an historic “first” on the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating Tour as over 20 drivers from 14 different countries take to the opening round of the 2009 campaign on the Arade River along the lovely Algarve South coast. The weekend will introduce for the first time in the history of the sport two races featuring a Grand Prix on both Saturday as well as Sunday with 20 points up for the taking for the winner of each race.

“We are really excited about this opportunity to run two Grand Prix events in one weekend,” said series Promoter Nicolo di San Germano. “The race fans at each event this season will get ‘double the excitement’ more than a year ago and the drivers will get two chances to prove how talented they are in front of an international television audience and the tens of thousands of race fans that attend each of our events throughout the season.”

Last year’s gripping finale to the Edox Pole Position Championship proved beyond measure that just hundredths of a second do make a big difference - and that precision is all important.

2009 sees the independent Swiss Watchmaker, Edox - the official timekeeper to the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship - celebrating its 125th anniversary.

As homage to its first marine sport watches from the 1960’s, Edox is proud to present its Grand Ocean collection, consisting exclusively of mechanical watches with a maritime theme.

Leading boat manufacturer Cougar Powerboats will be holding a ‘Cougar Run’ on May 30th to celebrate their 40th anniversary in the marine industry.

The event will be held at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy and will attract a fleet of Cougar boats dating as far back as the late 60’s to present day.

The company originally founded by Clive Curtis and James Beard in 1969 was aptly named after the cougar cat because of the catamaran designed hulls they produced. Cougar’s reputation for cutting edge technology and winning mono and multihull powerboat designs for commercial, military, racing and leisure purposes is still strongly recognized today in the work that they produce.

The Finnish city of Lahti proved the perfect host as VIP’s, promoters, media and drivers enjoyed a three day feast of events as Idea Marketing staged their annual pre-season gathering.

The programme opening with a drinks party at the top of Lahti’s highest ski-jump and guests were treated to spectacular views over the snow clad city. It was then onto a restaurant that boasted a menu made up of locally produced products including the beer. The following morning was ‘activity day’ as the group boarded a coach and headed for the snowy wastes of a nearby forest where a row of snowmobiles were lined up.

Stars from the World Superbike Championship took time out as they prepared for last weekends Qatar Grand Prix at Losail Circuit, swapping tarmac for water for a spin around Doha Bay.

Double race winner, Ben Spies, along with Noriyuki Haga and Max Biaggi were amongst a group of riders taken around Class 1s Doha Bay course by Qatar Team Principal and driver of Qatar 96, HE Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani in the Championships two Nor-Tech 3600 Supercat pace boats.