Thousands of watersport lovers are expected in Portimão this month as the town will be hosting two major events – the Aquabike World Championship (May 10-12) and the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship (May 17-19).
The first is the Grand Prix of Portugal of the Aquabike World Championship, which will be held at the Arade River in Portimão between Friday and Sunday.
The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is the “premier class” of jetski racing and is described as “one of the fastest, most spectacular, demanding and entertaining sports on water.”
The Grand Prix of Portugal will be the first event of the season which also includes stops in Italy, China, India and the United Arab Emirates.
As the championship’s website points out, “the world’s best jet ski racers will once again lock horns and launch their quests to claim the prestigious UIM-ABP world titles in Ski Ladies GP1, Ski Division GP1, Freestyle, and the blue ribbon event, Runabout GP1”.
It adds: “Over the last quarter of a century, the UIM-ABP tour has provided some of the most enthralling marine motorsport action in the world and there are few sports that can match the colour, the paddock camaraderie, the excitement and the spectacular action where every rider is tested to their limits of endurance, concentration, fitness, and skill.”
The races will be held at the Arade River in Portimão between 3.30pm and 6pm on Friday and between 3pm and 5.30pm on Saturday. There will also be a nighttime event taking place along the town’s riverside between 9pm and 11pm on Saturday night. The fun continues on Sunday when the winners will be decided between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, followed by an award ceremony at 6pm.
A week later, the prestigious UIM F1H2O World Championship, the world’s most important powerboat competition, will be once again returning to Portimão.
The town has long hosted the event, building a tradition of watersports in the town that was voted a European City of Sport in 2019.
Between May 17 and 19, many of the world’s top drivers will be taking to the Arade to win the Grand Prix title.
The full programme for both events can be found online at www.vivaportimao.pt
By Michael Bruxo
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