Speed up: Check out some powerboat racing this weekend

Just turn up at Marine Drive between 2 and 5 pm this weekend to watch a first-of-its-kind face-off.

This weekend at Marine Drive, you won’t see an empty horizon. You won’t just hear waves crashing against the shore but sounds of engines revving and propellers starting up.

Six teams from four countries will be competing at the powerboat racing event.

Get ready to witness a powerboat racing event called The Indian Grand Prix of the Seas, on Saturday and Sunday. Competing will be six teams from four countries, each made up of two powerboats managed by a pilot and a navigator, competing along a 5.2-km defined race track.

Representing India are Gaurav Gill and CS Santosh. Gill is a cross country rally driver, Santosh is a supercross and rally-raid champion.

I have challenged myself in the toughest race on land and have now been training hard to test the challenges of the open seas,” Santosh says. Eager to see how he would react to having someone else navigate for him, given the independent races he runs, and wins, he adds, “I am excited to demonstrate my abilities in speed in this new competitive powerboat racing series and look forward to the prospect of racing with highly experienced pilots.”

Gill says, “Rallying and powerboat racing are both high-octane and highly skilled sports and I believe my experience with navigating in pressure situations will make me a strong contender on the weekend.”

CS Santosh and Gaurav Gill will represent India in the championship.

The event has been organised by maritime motor sports brand P1 Global, in partnership with sports management company Procam International, and the event is being conducted in association with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Yachting Association of India (YAI).

“We want to create a global movement on water,” says managing director for Procam International, Anil Singh. “We tend to underutilise this city’s great coastline. This weekend, sports fans can experience the joy of watching some of the fastest competitive action in the sea, for the first time in the city.”

You will be able to view it as you stand anywhere between Nariman Point and Girgaum Chowpatty and all you need to do is turn up.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your binoculars and shades and head out!

WHAT: Powerboat race

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday (semi-finals and finals), 2 pm to 5 pm

WHERE: Marine Drive promenade

Entry is free and open to all