Hiswa te Water in the Netherlands is becoming one of the premier shows for electric boats and boating, with almost 50 boat builders, dealers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers of motors, batteries and accessories. The show is being held September 2-6 at the Batavia in Port Lelystad, about 40 km (25 mi) from central Amsterdam.

HISWA is an industry trade group for the Netherlands water sports business. HISWA te Water is their  in-water consumer trade show for the water sporting public. It is the largest in-water boat show in Northern Europe and this year has upped its focus on electric boats and propulsion. There a number of new initiatives along with a significantly expanded Green Route of exhibitors working on sustainable boating and Green Tour which offers daily guided tours of these exhibitors.

The electric presence starts right at the entrance of the exhibition, at the stand Duurzaam Varen – the national Sustainable Water Recreation Program – in the first hall. Experts will be there to answer your questions about electric and hybrid systems and also provide take home materials. 

The Sustainable Boating Coalition (SBC), made up of companies directly involved in e-boating, will present the the EV Motor Show exhibit in the hall, with an overview of 16 different brands of electric and hybrid motors.

This is also the starting point of the Green Tour, daily guided tours in small groups designed to give visitors a one hour compact and complete overview of the state of affairs in sustainable boating. The Tour visits a selection of 10 exhibitors active in the field of sustainable boating where each will give a few minute presentation on their vision and offerings

Outside the hall is the floating Electric Boating Pavilion where SBC members will provide demonstrations of electric drives, batteries, solar panels, and boat monitoring while also guiding you to the electric sloops, sailboats, and motorboats in-water at the show.

At the Fun Park demos are the main attraction and this year will feature electric jet surf boards from Motorsurf and the Esurf, Audi Efoil, and Seabob from World Nautic Center.

Winding throughout the on-land and in-water areas is the flagship Green Route. Conceived of and organized by Dutch electric boat pioneer Marcel Schaap, it was started in 2025 to make it easy for visitors to build their own tour and identify exhibitors who are actively working in zero emission propulsion or other aspects of green boating such as materials.

The participating 80 exhibitors are clearly identifiable on the show’s floor plan, in the entrance hall, in the magazine, and on the Hiswa te Water website. New this year is an interactive plan, allowing visitors to map out their own route.

In the Plugboats Guide to Hiswa Te Water below we provide some highlights of electric boat exhibitors along with a directory with linksto their websites and other information for those not able to go to the show.

ACES Energy is a Dutch company specializing in energy storage solutions. Founded in 2015, the company’s name, ACES, stands for Affordable Compact Energy Solutions. With a combined experience of over 60 years in the power and energy industry, the team at ACES Energy began developing energy storage solutions in the first three years of operation. By the beginning of 2017, the company had successfully sold its first Lithium batteries.

The primary goal of ACES Energy was to create Lithium battery solutions that could easily replace lead acid batteries, offering customers lower ownership costs and improved performance. The batteries and battery management systems are primarily developed in the Netherlands, with the company also designing fully automated testing systems to maintain the high quality of its BMS.

Advantages over lead-acid batteries

Products

Netherlands

STEEPED IN TRADITION – BOATING FUTURE VISIONARIES.

Led by our founder Janusz Kutkowski, we’ve created our boats with expertise and attention to detail. Drawing on a rich Polish tradition of boat and yacht building, our boats blend cutting-edge technology with functionality. Inspired by a 1950s feel, it embodies elegance and a positive outlook on the future.

SUSTAINABLE BOATING FOR EVERYONE

The goal of the coalition is to promote the transition to sustainable boating and, in doing so, to work together to reduce emissions from recreational, passenger, and commercial shipping and to improve air and water quality.

We are working on a sustainable future for recreational boating to preserve our waterways and the ecosystems that live within them. At the same time, we want to keep water recreation accessible to everyone.

To achieve this goal, the coalition is working on various solutions such as smart charging infrastructure, a safety certification, shared boats, and swappable batteries.

By working together, the coalition can make a positive difference and help create a sustainable future for everyone.

The Netherlands

Our goal is to make electric boating really break through on Dutch waters and beyond.

Because it is a wonderful, relaxing sailing experience. Silent, reliable and clean. Good for ourselves and nature. But also for our climate. This is a global challenge, to which we are happy to contribute.

Mindful cruising

We are mindful cruisers.

Our home is on the lakes and river.

We believe the best cruises are clean and quiet.

We love to escape from it all.

»» Contact Delphia

With a team of 20 specialists and extensive facilities, we are at your service. At Drinkwaard Marine you choose a solid partner in pleasure craft.

The Dufour range of sailing boats comprises 9 iconic models designed to suit every sailing programme. Three are available with electric propulsion – Dufour 41, 470, 530., with four available . For over 60 years, Dufour yachts has a boat manufacturer have demonstrated their adaptability and versatility through beautiful innovations.

Fischer Panda has manufactured electric and hybrid drive systems for houseboats, motor boats and yachts for more than 15 years now.

Electric drives from Fischer Panda are perfect for cruising on waters where conventional combustion engines are not permitted, both for monohull and multihull boats with one or two drives.

What we offer:

Germany

Helios Yachts is a manufacturer of fully electric day-cruisers and yachts. We operate on a vertically integrated model, building our vessels from the ground up with our own proprietary software and IoT boat control module, as well as our LFP battery systems.

By owning the entire technical stack, we provide a smart, digital-first experience where autonomous capabilities and remote monitoring are built into the vessel’s core. This integrated technical stack provides a digital-first experience with smart features, autonomous capabilities, and seamless communication between all onboard systems.

By owning the entire engineering process, we deliver optimized power management, high efficiency, and a reliable zero-emission performance.

Sofia, Bulgaria

With 27,000 boats delivered globally since the brand’s beginning in 2011, Highfield Boats is now the world’s number one in the RIB Tender sector and a global player in the 15 foot+ sector.

Read articles about Highfield Boats in Plugboats

See Highfield Boats with electric motors for sale in Plugboats Marketplace

September 2 – 6, 2026

In addition to all the beautiful boats in the harbor and beautiful stands on the quay, there is much more to do at the Hiswa Te Water show, the largest in-water boat show in Northern Europe. Come for Demonstrations on the quay, trial sailing in the harbour, delicious food on one of the terraces and a visit to Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet or Batavia Museum.  And if you come with a group, there are special arrangements so that you can get a real ‘behind the scenes’ tour with all the details.

See Plugboats Guides to Electric Exhibitors at HISWA te Water

Experience silent cruising on our solar electric boats,

We are committed to using all our know-how, experience and the latest technology to design solar electric boats that are environmentally friendly and at the forefront of sustainable mobility.

SUSTAINABILITY

DESIGN

LIFESTYLE

INNOVATION

QUALITY

EXPERIENCE

MERCURY MARINE®

Electric boating since 2009

Our corporate policy is to take great pains over building boats that enhance the relationship between boats, people and the environment. We have a vision; the increased freedom of people to move at will across the sea shall not be achieved at the expense of the environment.

We started our electric ambition already in 2009 and have had an electric powertrain as an option for three of our boat models since 2015.

Our E-power Concept, also known as “Environmental Power”, represents Nimbus environmental thinking for the future, in which we include the entire boat-building process from production engineering to climate-smart materials.

Carefree enjoyment on the water in a comfortable, stylish, maintenance-free tender sloop? Meet Qrafter Boats. Sail 100% electrically, quietly and cleanly with our Dutch-build models. Convenience & comfort are the 2 most important principles in the unique design of our aluminum tender sloops.

The RAND Electric Series offers the true as well as the free nature experience from wind sailing. Secondly, coupled with the maneuverability, speed and freedom of traditional motorboats, it’s a unique match. In short, this series uniquely offers fume-free, soundless and futuristic joy at sea. Jump onboard the vessels of tomorrow.

Location: Nordhavn, Denmark

A Saffier Yachts daysailer combines striking looks with great performance, solo sailing and premium building quality.

In recent years we have been developing and producing an e-tender sloop that is intended for people and companies that have high demands and consider sustainability just as important as appearance, build quality and sailing characteristics.

This means throwing traditions overboard and having the courage to take a completely different approach in order to introduce a truly sustainable offering.

Snoeck Technical Solutions

We are the Benelux importer for Kräutler elektromaschinen GmbH. Snoeck Technical Solutions advises and supplies the complete electric motors and takes care of the installations. You can also come to us for service and maintenance of the Kräutler electric motors. We supply the electric inboard, outboard and Sail-Drive engines of the brand Kräutler for motorboats, sloops, sailboats, tour boats, ferries, etc. We also offer customized solutions for hybrid systems.

Electro boat experience with refined technology.

Location: Agard, Hungary

Electric drives for sailors

Electric drives for motorboats

Electric motors for kayaks

Electric boat drives for professionals

Germany

Enjoy undisturbed peace, unrestricted sailing, and a carefree boating experience with the press of a button. VETUS intelligent and modular electric-propulsion systems are easy to install (or refit) and bring performance, efficiency, and convenience to your boating adventures. With VETUS electric propulsion, you are always ready for a prime time on the water. A full day of pure enjoyment is now within your reach.

High performance, eco-friendly, and cost-saving

Ready for the green zones

Find the ideal electric propulsion system for your boat

Netherlands

Our products include sinewave inverters, sinewave inverters/chargers, battery chargers, DC/DC converters, transfer switches, battery monitors and more. Victron Energy has a strong, unrivalled reputation for technical innovation, reliability, and build quality. Our products are widely considered to be the professional choice for independent electric power.

Netherlands

POWER SOLUTIONS FOR THE PERFECT EXPERIENCE

A well performing energysystem is an absolute must in a pleasure yachts. A wide variety of products and systems can be supplied from stock including sine wave inverters, battery chargers and long life batteries.  WhisperPower’s sister company Hybrid Power Systems BV is the premium company to offer combined hybrid propulsion systems from 25 kW – 250 kW.

Netherlands

A new range of electric powered sailboats is a natural step for X-Yachts in order to support a greener future. Based on our path of 42 years of innovative yachts and heritage, combined with Danish green and sustainable energy.

Every X-Yacht is designed with performance in mind – and the X4⁹E is no exception. The X4⁹E is the first X-Yacht built as a hybrid-powered yacht. It is fitted with 2 x 10 kW electric saildrives, a 28,8 kWh Lithium battery bank and an onboard DC generator with a capacity of 11 kW.

The hybrid concept is chosen to make long-distance crossings possible without worrying about distance limitations. A pure electric solution is also available if limited distance under engine can be accepted.

Yamaha Motor to Begin Pre-orders of Next-Generation Boat Maneuvering System HARMO in Europe　― More comfortable, smart package boat with electric motor quietness

Allpa Marine Equipment – Combi

De Stille Boot: Waterworld, Molabo, BlueNav

Drinkwaard – ePropulsion motors

E-WERF / bootombouwen

E-WERF has electrified over 200 boats since 2014 and has now developed the Sailconnect connection system. This unique plug-and-play system makes electrifying a boat many times easier, as no specialized tools are required to connect the system. A suite of packages are available that include the highest quality plugs, cables, and components to make the transition to electric easy and for owners to enjoy their boat for as long as possible. The packages include motors from manufacturers Bellmarine, Combi, ePropulsion, Momentum, Temo, Torqeedo and VETUS.  E-WERF/bootombouwen  website

Fischer Panda X Molabo serial hybrid system

The system, which was developed for the IMOCA racing yacht of Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia, allows boatbuilders to combine pure-electric operation with generator-assisted cruising, offering flexible and ultra-efficient energy management for long-range or high-demand applications. All components operate at 48 V DC, ensuring safety and ease of installation; no specialized high-voltage certification or equipment required.  

Because the entire system remains low voltage, it can be installed by existing trained shipyard staff without slowing production lines. Routine service is equally straightforward: owners retain access to Fischer Panda’s worldwide service network for the gensets, while most marine electricians can safely maintain Molabo’s 48 V ARIES drive. In addition, the diesel-fuelled 6 to 22 kW integrated DC generators can be run on HVO – hydrotreated vegetable oil biofuel. Molabo website  Fischer Panda website

Snoeck: Krautler, Stream

Torqeedo – New Cruise and Travel models, Deep Blue technology

In the Travel family itself, Torqeedo introduced the Travel Smart Package that pairs the new Travel XS entry-level model (700W of power) with the new Travel Battery XS (648 Wh of energy storage). The Smart Package is expected to be available early 2026. At the higher power range of the Deep Blue systems (25 – 100 kW), the innovations are within the operating ecosystem. A new central Intelligent Control Unit (ICU) and Power Distribution Unit (PDU), expand the Deep Blue range with two core components that elevate high-power system scalability.  Torqeedo website

VETUS – E-LINE 22kW Inboard

VETUS, one of the first companies to offer an electric inboard motor for leisure boats, has unveiled the new E-LINE 22 kW as the highest powered motor in an extended electric propulsion model range. That E-LINE range now includes a total of seven motors. Three air-cooled models: the E-LINE Air 7kW and E-LINE Air 5kW with 24 or 48V architecture; and four liquid cooled models: the E-LINE 6kW, 8kW, 11kW and new 22kW.

All motors in the E-LINE range have been designed for easy installation on almost any existing engine mounts or foundations.The supplied Swap & Go mounting brackets, with motor mounts specifically developed for electric propulsion motors, can easily be adjusted in height and set to angle the shaft to 0° or 8°. This makes repowering and connecting to an existing propeller shaft a simple task. You can read more about the E-LINE 22kW in this Plugboats article   VETUS Website

Yanmar

ACES Energy

Boss Boating

Canna: Electric Boat of the Year Nominee

Delphia

ESEA: Electric Boat of the Year Nominee

Helios Omega 7.2 presented by E-WERF

Lasai 32KS solar-electric overnighter

Their latest model – the Lasai 32KS – is a larger boat designed for overnighting instead of day use alone. Using the learning from their smaller models, the designers and engineers used a catamaran design, which creates less drag and water resistance than a monohull and also allows for a wide spacious helm and deck area along with a fully equipped interior cabin with en-suite head.

The designers have done a great job of maximizing all of the space, using clever seating configurations and a layout that emphasizes convenience and boating pleasure. Elegant lines and a refined silhouette stand up to closer inspection with attention having been paid to the finishing details. Lasai website  Read more about the Lasai 32KS in Plugboats

Qrafter: Electric Boat of the Year Nominee

Stickl

Dufour

The company is also one of the leaders in building the popularity of electric propulsion on sailboats. They offer 6 models, from 9 to 18 metres, all but one of which are available with electric. The Dufour 41 and Dufour 47 will be on show at Düsseldorf, both of which are available with the company’s ODSea+ electric system including hydro-generation and solar panel.    Dufour website

Hanse – Hanse 360

A practical and spacious cabin layout is available in two or three formats, all offering an abundance of natural light and the feeling of space . The super hydrodynamic hull provides increased stability and performance and also makes the boat an excellent vessel to take advantage of the electric propulsion option. The 360 is available with a 25kW motor (≈ 40 hp) coupled with either an 18kWh or 36 kWh battery pack. This hull design also ensures optimal water drainage and unparalleled buoyancy, allowing the yacht to glide effortlessly through the water.   Hanse website

Saffier

When the Saffier SE 33 Life won the European Yacht of the Year Award in 2022, the electric version required a modified hull set up from the version with a Yanmar diesel SailDrive. Now, with the introduction last year of Yanmar electric drives that bolt exactly into the same fittings as their fossil fuel motors, no modifications are required. The electric options is now a Yanmar SDe 10 kW (13.5 hp) drive with lithium battery that matches the output of the standard Yanmar Yanmar 2YM15, and other aspects of the yacht have been updated since 2022 with features like a furling boom, taller carbon mast, inflatable bimini, stainless‑steel hull protection and integrated guardrails. Saffier website

AEQUAR

The electric propulsion, controllable speed, and rugged design ensure a unique boating experience.” The child-centric PWC is 100% electric, with a brushless drive that is governed to not exceed a speed of 13 km/h. It has a marine-grade buoyant hull and tethered kill-switch the rider can find without looking. The company also says it is “A first machine the way a first bike used to be.” All will be revealed at Hiswa te Water.   AEQUAR website

The post Plugboats Guide to Electric Boat Exhibitors: Hiswa te Water 2026 appeared first on Plugboats.

Europe is the world’s most advanced market for recreational marine electrification, while the US market is ripe for change as gasoline prices soar and more solar and wind generation capacity comes online daily.

With EU approval of the FM115 electric outboard from Flux Marine of Rhode Island and a new electric propulsion veteran joining Flux as Senior Field Sales Manager in the US, the company is now well positioned to be a player on both sides of the Atlantic pond.

The FM115  European debut comes aboard the iRIB-7 hull from Austrian boatyard i-RIB. The motor is coupled with Flux’s submersion-proof IP67-rated 28 kWh modular battery packs and is available on the i-RIB with 2 or 3 packs to create 56 kWh or 84 kWh of electricity storage.

iRIB founders Thomas and Michael Salzl were impressed by the technology, power, and price of the FM115, but were a bit overwhelmed by what was needed to get the US motor into the German market. So Flux took matters into their own hands.

“Boatbuilders don’t want to become electric propulsion specialists” said Ben Sorkin, co-founder and CEO of Flux. “They want to give their customers an electric option without rebuilding their business around it. We did the engineering and the compliance for the EU paperwork, which was relatively simple because the 115 isn’t a prototype, it’s a proven system”

Flux says the FM115  is the leading high-horsepower all-electric outboard in North America by units delivered and has more than 50,000 kilometres logged by real customers in salt and fresh water over the past four years. It has undergone real-world validation spanning thousands of hours of beta motor testing in 2023 and 2024 as well as two full commercial seasons since.

The motor was designed as a  drop-in replacement for a 115 hp (86 kW) gasoline outboard. Flux engineers started with a blank sheet of paper and a single question: What would an electric marine propulsion system look like if you didn’t have any constraints? The resulting motor mounts on a standard transom, uses existing steering and rigging hardware, and integrates with familiar Garmin chartplotter screens through a native Flux interface.

No oil to change, no impellers to replace, no carburetors to clog, no winterization rituals…you can read about its many features and benefits in this Plugboats article (link below) about a Flux-equipped Scout 215 XSF

Read: A great combo – Flux Marine electric OB and the Scout 215 XSF 

Europe is far ahead of the US in the number of electric powered boats available, partly because of a different style of boating and partly because of regulations, some of which were introduced as far back as the 1980s. On many lakes and canals, including Lake Neusiedl, which is home to iRIB, emission-spewing fossil fuel motors are banned or restricted to certain hours or areas.

In the United States the e-boat market is growing, but awareness and getting hands-on experience is a bit of a challenge. That’s where the new Flux hire comes in.

Chris Ponnwitz has joined the company as Senior Field Sales Manager, with responsibility for revenue growth across boat builder partnerships, dealer network expansion, and direct and commercial sales channels.

Chris was formerly with Mack Boring, the century-old marine propulsion distributor. He started in gas and diesel motor sales, but has spent the last few years as Chief Commercial Officer of Mack Sustainable Energy, the company’s electric propulsion division.

“I’ve been following Flux Marine closely for the past few years and watching their electric outboards develop from a concept into a proven commercial option” said Ponnwitz. “This technology gives us a real edge and we’re on the verge of rapid growth. I look forward to working with the passionate Flux team and giving more customers the opportunity to switch to electric propulsion.”

“Building out our sales organization is one of our highest priorities and Chris’s proven track record in marine electric propulsion makes him the perfect fit for Flux Marine” said Daylin Frantin, Flux co-founder and CFO/COO. “Chris has spent a decade leading commercial strategy in this industry, and he’s the right person to introduce our products to customers, dealers, and marine industry partners,” 

The senior sales leadership Chris has shown will play an integral role in new business development, representing Flux Marine at industry events and boat shows. This will enable Flux Marine to expand growth of its network of boat builder partners, dealers, and commercial customers across North America and now, Europe.

Flux Marine   i-RIB

See boats for sale with Flux Marine motors in the Plugboats Marketplace

The post Flux electric outboards get European certification and new US senior sales team appeared first on Plugboats.

The E1 Electric Speedboat Championship Series returned to Monaco July 17-18 for the fourth event of the 10 city circuit. This 2026 race marks the Championship’s third visit to the Principality, and came just one week after the 13th annual Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC). Both events are focused on electric boats, and both are hosted at the Yacht CLub de Monaco (YMC).

The MEBC brings together over 400 students from 30 colleges and universities around the world to design and build fossil-fuel free boats that compete against each other in three categories. It is also a showcase for commercial electric boat manufacturers.

Together the E1 and MEBC help reinforce Monaco’s reputation as a leader in promoting new propulsion and other technologies that aim to reduce the impact of human activity on the world’s oceans and other waterways.

The E1 Series mission is to “leverage the unique sporting platform and global reach of our competitions to showcase cutting-edge technologies that promote the protection of marine ecosystems and the uptake of e-mobility solutions worldwide.”

Speaking at the start of the weekend, his Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco said “We know how hard it is to start a new series like this – almost a new sport – and the spirit in which it’s been done is truly remarkable. I want to wish everyone well as they continue to push the limits as a showcase for sustainability, It’s a great message for the future.”

The two events also share an historic offshore racing course overlooked by the iconic Monte Carlo Casino. These waters are where the world’s first sanctioned powerboat racing competition was held in 1904 and are now the location for both the the E1 Series and the YCM (Yacht Club de Monaco) Speed Record competition of the Energy Boat Challenge.

Just the week before the E1 Series, the Frauscher X Porsche Specter 797 set a new record for the MEBC with a speed of 51.05 knots: 94.54 kph / 58.75 mph. That is more than impressive for a production planing boat. It’s the same top speed as the much hydrofoling and – much lighter – Racebirds of the E1. (There is a full Overview of the Racebird boats, the E1 Rules and the race strategies at the bottom of this article) 

Read: Frauscher X Porsche sets second speed recrod at Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

The E1 races are held over two days and the first day’s Qualifying events had loads of action, a few surprises and a little sentimentality. Although this is the third time Monaco has hosted the E1, it is the first time it has had a home team participating in the Championships – a stellar opportunity for its two pilots to show their best stuff.

The male half of the piloting duo for Team Monaco is Maxime Nocher, previously one of the most accomplished figures in kitesurfing, with 11 world championships to his name. The other pilot is Oban Duncan – only 20 years old – who began her competitive boat racing career at the age of eight and started with E1 when she was just 18. That was after setting a British powerboat speed record and being crowned British Powerboat Champion 10 times.

They did the Principality proud in Friday’s Qualifying sessions as they claimed the home pole ahead of the Saturday race showdowns. This was especially well done because the waves of the Mediterranean coming into shore and bouncing back to sea created some of the roughest conditions of this year’s E1 season.

Those conditions were not equally kind to Actor Will Smith’s Team Westbrook. They were sitting on top of the standings coming in to Monaco on the strength of back-to-back victories in Lake Como and Dubrovnik. Unfortunately the weekend’s high chop led to a propeller overspeeding on pilot Sara Price, leaving her underpowered for the remainder of her session and placing Westbrook in fifth.

On Finals Day the next morning it was Monaco’s turn to get snake bitten. They made a wrong turn on the course in their Group Race, which consigned them to join Westbrook in the Place Race along with Team Rafa – owned by tennis legend Rafael Nadal – and Team AlUla, championed by basketball star LeBron James.

In the Finals, Team Drogba, owned by former Chelsea footballer Didier Drogba, dominated both races and put together their first E1 victory ever.

In Final 1, with Spanish pilot Tara Pacheco at the wheel, they finished just ahead of Emma Kimiläinen of Team Brady, owned by the former NFL great. The battle resumed in Final 2 with Kiwi Micah Wilkinson holding off Kimiläinen’s partner Sam Coleman. Wilkinson was rewarded with PIF Pilot of the Day for his performance in the race. Team Miami came through to finish third, securing their first podium spot in 13 races.

Will Smith’s Westbrook team salvaged things a bit by getting a victory in the Place Race, which translates into seventh overall for the weekend. That knocked them down from first in the season standings to second, allowing Brady to get to the top and lead by nine points.

Team AlUla came into Monaco 3rd overall and leaves in the same place, but now has others nipping at their stern. Aoki, owned by DJ Steve Aoki, is only 4 points behind, and Team Blue Rising, owned by Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is just 9 points behind that.

Team Drogba’s victory had them jump from 10th overall to 5th overall and they are now just five points behind Blue Rising.

The season is not even half over, there are still six races to go, and lots of points to be dished out. The winner of the Finals receives 38 points, the second place finisher 30 points and third place 20. So you can see how things can change quickly. The next exciting race is September 12 and 13 in Luanda, Angola.

E1 Series website   E1 YouTube Channel

Launched in Jeddah in January 2024, the E1 Series features ten teams racing the one design ‘RaceBird’ all-electric hydrofoiling speedboats at events held in top international ports and waterways. Each team is owned by a noted figure in the worlds of sport, entertainment and business and is led by a female and male pilot who compete in mixed genre races throughout the season. There are no ‘men’s races’ and ‘women’s races’, they are all on equal footing.

The goal of the series, aside from deciding ‘The Champions of the Water’, is to publicize and promote cutting-edge clean technologies while helping to protect and restore our planet’s coastal waters and ecosystems.

The series was founded by Alejandro Agag and Rodi Basso and is loosely patterned after the on-land Formula 1 and Formula E car events, where the emphasis is on the driver’s capabilities rather than throwing money at technology. In fact, Agag is a founder of the Formula E electric car racing series and Basso worked with Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and McLaren Applied Technologies.

The Racebird itself is designed by Sophie Horne of Seabird Technologies. The Sophie Horne. The 7 meter (23 ft) boat has hydrofoiling wings that lift the hull out of the water enabling speeds of up to 90 kmph (50 knots / 55 mph) using a 150 kW (200 brake horsepower) electric outboard system by Mercury Racing and Kreisel batteries.

The ten teams and are their owners are:

The pilots of the boats come from a wide variety of disciplines. Many, like Sam Coleman and Emma Kimmaläinen of Team Brady, came from powerboating and motorsport racing, but Maxime Nocher of Team Monaco was a kite surfing champion; Team Drogma’s Tara Pacheco was in sailboat racing; Cris Lazarraga of Team Rafa was a jetski racer and Lucas Ordóñez of Westbrook first entered real life professional racing by winning a spot in a PlayStation 3 Gran Turismo competition.

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Championship: Ten teams race over 9 weekends, with points awarded for finishing place, along with some bonus points for specific achievements. The Champions of the Water are the team that accumulates most points by the end of the season.

Events: Each event is held over two days, usually a Friday and Saturday. Qualifying time trials and races are held on Day One. Day Two has Group Races which decide two of the finalists, the Race Off to determine the other four finalists, the Place Race, and two Finals races – so both the female and male co-pilots of each team help determine the outcome.

The Finals and Place Race dictate the Championship Points awarded for each weekend.

Points Awarded: Points are awarded for each placing every weekend with the Champion having the most points at the end of the season.

Points are also awarded for the three fastest Qualifiers: Fastest: 3  |  2nd: 2 |  3rd: 1.

Qualifying: There are four Qualifying Stages with teams knocked out to establish the pole positions for Saturday’s races.

Saturday Racing

The top team from each group advances directly to the Finals. The bottom team from each goes to the Place Race. The teams finishing 2-3-4 in each go to the Race Off.

Race Off: Six team single race (only one pilot from each team) with the top four finishers going to the Finals and the bottom two going to the Place Race.

Place Race: Two races, one with each team’s pilot, best averaged time. Determines places 7-10 and Championship points.

Finals: Two races, one with each team’s pilot, best averaged time. Determines places 1-6 and Championship points.

SOME GENERAL RULES:

Pilots

In the Finals, the finishing order for the first race determines pole position for the second.

Laps

The Qualifying Stages are timed on one Normal lap. The Saturday Races are six laps – one of which must be a Long Lap and one of which must be a Short Lap. Penalties are usually an extra long lap within the six laps, which could add anywhere from 20 to 35 seconds to the overall race time. 

Boosts

General Strategy

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The post First time E1 electric speedboat winner changes season standings at Monaco appeared first on Plugboats.

The Open Sea Class of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is where the e-boat industry comes to show their latest products in a competitive setting. Unlike other boat shows – even in-water shows – where the emphasis is on displaying the boats to the buying public, at Monaco the emphasis is on friendly competitions between companies intent on showing how the latest technologies and designs compare with each other.

Two of the highlights of the Challenge are the YCM (Yacht Club de Monaco) Speed Record and the 16 Nautical Mile Speed Race. The YCM event is a one kilometre straightaway competition that takes place along the Monaco coastline just east of the Yacht Club, while the 16 NM Speed Race has the boats testing both speed and autonomy in the open sea, going from the Club to Ventimiglia, Italy and back.

This year the winning companies in each race were the same as last year – but they both did it using a different boat than their 2025 entries. Frauscher × Porsche took the YCM with a boat lighter and shorter than last year’s Fantom 850 Air, while Explomar high performance outboards in partnership with X-Tenders and XNRG won the Open Sea Race with a boat 250 kilograms heavier and .6 meters longer than last year’s winner.

In the Monaco-Ventimiglia competition, the XNRG 8.3-meter carbon-fiber RIB – Rigid Inflatable Bat – powered by the ExploMar WAVE 300+ crossed the finish line in 35 minutes and 24 seconds, defending its title and finishing nearly nine minutes ahead of the Frauscher × Porsche Specter 797.

The day before, that Specter 797 was the winner of the straightaway race, setting a new record time and speed of  38.2 seconds and 51.05 knots (84.95 kph / 52.16 mph) with the EXNRG-Explomar  boat placing second.

Read: Frauscher × Porsche sets another speed record at 2026 Energy Boat Challenge

While the YCM Speed Record is the more glamorous of the two events, the offshore 16 NM event is probably a better test of how the boats fare in conditions more like real life, although they were certainly put to the test on this day! Competitors faced Force 4 winds (13.9–20.7 knots) and 1–2 meter waves, creating severe pitching and heaving motions and rapid propeller ventilation and re-immersion.

Those conditions are challenging for any boat and motor, and a good workout for electric propulsion in particular because there are dramatic load fluctuations and extreme demands on the system’s dynamic response, mechanical robustness, and the battery’s thermal management capability.

One of the reasons Explomar and Team XNRG were able to repeat their victory from last year is the data collected during last year’s championship. It also helped that the same captain, Gerben Boomsma of XNRG, was at the helm.

“It was a little bumpy for sure,” said Boomsma, “a lot rougher than last year, when it was very calm but the heat was what you had to deal with. This year it was already a bit rougher in the days before the race – even during the straightaway speed race – so we were able to look at what is the smartest way to run the boat, propeller-wise and with what RPMs to make sure that we were able to get the most efficiency and balance of speed and range.”

ExploMar engineers collaborated closely with Boomsba’s team to optimize the WAVE 300+ system specifically for the Force 4 sea conditions. The torque control strategy was recalibrated to suppress torque oscillations during repeated propeller ventilation and re-entry. On the battery side, thermal management algorithms were refined to maintain cooling performance as the load fluctuated.

There was also a fair bit of old-fashioned seamanship involved. “We held back a bit at the beginning, when everyone took off, “said Boomsba, “to look at what was happening and how the boats were behaving in the waves because it was quite serious. In front of the the stone walls on the shore where all the waves are coming back, there are random peaks and crosswake are all around you, the pilots call it ‘the washing machine’ when the conditions are like this.”

“We were together with Frauscher-Porsche and Vita at the first buoy and we were the first ones turning at the Ventimiglia buoy, but then we decided to take a bit of a different route, so we were taking it almost like half wind, so it was a bit more comfortable. We had to travel a bit more distance, but that gave us a steadier speed, so that was basically where we pulled ahead.”

“But we were really happy arriving back  in Monaco because it was it was a serious journey I can tell you.”

The technical analysis shows the boat maintained an average speed of 27 knots over the full 16-nautical-mile event, crossed the finish line with 40% battery capacity remaining, and recorded a maximum battery temperature below 45°C, demonstrating significant thermal management margin under sustained high-load operation.

The winning boat was one of four entries using Explomar systems, each boat paired with and designed to showcase the versatility of the company’s different motors.

Like the 300+ on the XNRG 8.3, all of the Explomar systems were matched with Rigid Inflatable hulls, of varying sizes and shapes. Tokarex of Poland, distributors and dealers of Explomar and the Kolibri and Gala boat lines, showcased the first all-electric model they are offering for sale, a Gala Atlantis A500 Cruising RIB with the WAVE 70+. German full service yard, marina and broker Yacht Technik married Explomar’s WAVE 150 with a 6.5 metre (21 ft) RIB from Italian manufacturer ZAR Formenti.

The fourth boat partnering with Explomar was the impressive Arcistratega presented by AS Labruna, a 10 metre (33 foot) RIB developed on a Python 33 platform with dual WAVE 300+ outboards. In addition to Explomar’s high-capacity batteries she is equipped with solar panels and a methanol-powered fuel cell used to generate electricity at night and during periods when solar production is insufficient.

In collaboration with its official propeller partner SOLAS, ExploMar optimized each propulsion package through dedicated propeller matching and system calibration, ensuring maximum performance across every vessel platform.

The 11-meter Arcistratega hit a speed of 29.58 knots despite a fully loaded displacement of 5.5 tonnes. The ZAR RIB powered by the WAVE 150+ achieved an average speed of 26.06 knots, while the 5-meter Gala RIB and WAVE 70+ reached 20 knots.

“Winning this championship for the second consecutive year is both an honour and a responsibility for our entire team,” said Alex Dong, Founder and CEO of ExploMar. “Every victory is built upon countless engineering iterations, extensive sea trials, and the dedication of our partners. Looking ahead, ExploMar will continue pushing the boundaries of electric propulsion performance along with a broader electric marine ecosystem to deliver higher-performance, reliable, and smarter electrification solutions for waterways worldwide.”

Explomar  xtenders  XNRG  Tokarex  Yacht & Technik  AS Labruna  Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

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The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) gathers the best and brightest of university students from around the world, bringing them together with some of the stars of the electric boat industry to advance the future of zero emission propulsion through races and competitions. This year’s event (the 13th annual) took place July 8 – 11 at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM).

There are four Classes of boats in the MEBC. Students compete in the Energy and AI Classes; the SeaLab Class is open to both student and commercial ventures; and production electric boats are in the Open Sea Class.

All of the Classes have internal competitions for things like manoeuvrability and endurance, and the SeaLab and Open Sea boats face off against each other in the YCM Speed Record. The boats take off from a starting line just outside the breakwaters of the Club and race along the Monaco shore to a marker 500 metres away. The course echoes that of the world’s first international powerboat race in 1904. There are two timed legs – one out to the marker and one back – with the fastest average time deciding the winner.

The record was set last year by the Frauscher-Porsche 850 Fantom with a speed just shy of 50 knots at 49.84 kt (92.3 kph / 57.35 mph).

This year Frauscher Porsche entered their new creation, the 797 Spectre. It  came to the starting line with the crowd buzzing with anticipation that this might be the year the 50 knot barrier was cracked. Indeed it was, with Frauscher pilot Bastien Bonnet coming in with a final average time of 38.2 seconds and speed of 51.05 knots: 94.54 kph / 58.75 mph.

“Breaking the record we set only last year is an exceptional achievement by the entire team” said Frauscher. “The 797 Spectre impressively demonstrates the potential created by the consistent joint development of the boat, hull and electric powertrain.”

The joint development he refers to is the partnership of Frauscher and Porsche, two historic names in their respective industries. Porsche was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche and Frauscher Boats in 1927 by Engelbert Frauscher.

Today, Porsche is one of the most successful luxury sports car manufacturers in the world and Frauscher is Europe’s largest electric boat builder. Both companies are family-driven, have very similar values, and focus on innovation, design and quality.

Frauscher Bootswerft started out building sailboats, then gas/petrol powerboats and in 1955 introduced their first electric boats. Since that time they have worked with many marine propulsion companies, including Torqeedo, Molabo and Evoy. The Porsche electric partnership is the first with an automotive drive train.

It came about in 2022 when Frauscher executives were meeting with Porsche (the companies had worked together on a fossil fuel boat, the Demon, in 2016) and the car company revealed their plans for a new all-electric SUV – the Macan – and wondered if there might be something in using its power train in a Frauscher hull.

The boatyard leapt at the chance, developed a prototype, showed it to the board of Porsche, and the two companies unveiled the Frauscher X Porsche 850 Fantom Air in 2024. In 2025 they launched the boat in a closed fore deck model that won numerous awards, including the Gussies International Electric Boat Awards, and set the 2025 Monaco speed record. They unveiled the new record 797 Spectre in January 2026 at Boot Düsseldorf.

Other than the Spectre being shorter and lighter than the Fantom, the essential difference is that the Fantom was an existing hull that had the Porsche electric drivetrain installed while the Spectre was designed from the beginning around the electric motor and battery.

Frauscher had the two ideal candidates for creating the boat – nautical engineer/yacht designer Harry Miesbauer and designer Stefan Iverwin. Miesbauer is renowned for his sailboat designs and has worked on many notable yachts, including the Amer Sport One of the Nautor Challenge and the Volvo Ocean Race.

Harry’s father used to sail with Engelbert Frauscher and Harry likes to tell the story of getting a call in 2012 from Michael Frauscher, the company’s Head of Design asking if he would like to work on designing a new boat. “I said, ‘Ahhh, nice, you’re going to go back to sailing boats’. No, Michael said, I want you to design a motorboat’. Miesbauer asked him if he was crazy, saying ‘I haven’t done a motorboat since my time in university!”

He took on the project, though, and that turned out to be the original 850 Fantom, a very successful multi award-winning combustion boat. The same boat that would have the Porsche Macan engine installed a decade later.

Spectre Designer Stefan Iverwin found his life coming somewhat full circle when asked to work on the project. “I started my career at the Porsche Design Studio” he told me, “working for many years in vehicle design, product design, industrial design, and even architectural projects.”

He has been with Frauscher for the past 10 years and was the obvious choice for the Spectre’s overall visual design and the styling of the boat’s exterior and interior elements that deliberately blend automotive and nautical influences.

Miesbauer said that from a nautical engineering perspective, knowing from the beginning that the boat would be electrically powered made a huge difference. “The main thing with hull design is to know the weight of all of the parts, and then address the most important aspect – the centre of gravity. That is what makes the boat ride properly and with the optimum efficiency.”

“With the Fantom electric we had to redo certain structural aspects and some stringers to distribute weight in the same way as with the combustion engine, but with the Spectre we had a blank sheet. We could address everything and have it as we wanted from the first sketches.”

From Iverwin’s design point of view, the freedom to create the whole boat specifically for electric propulsion was an exciting opportunity. “We were able to tailor things to the battery, which has a very specific large format that effects so many things. So when you look at the design, you see that it has a slightly different feel from other Frauscher models. It has some design elements, some design features on the sides with the air intakes and outtakes, where we wanted to show off this new kind of boat, visually hint that it has a different power source.”

The functionality of the air vents is to enable battery cooling, but this helped contribute to developing an overall design aesthetic. “We wanted to celebrate them as design features,” said Iverwin, “so if you look at the side intakes, they are the source for a straight line that goes all around the rear end and adds a lot of dynamism to the whole design theme.”

“If you look at the surface treatment overall, it makes the boat look bolder and stronger and from the rear end, you can see that it looks quite wide, a very fast, sportive boat. It resembles the design language that you find on a sports car like the Porsche. So it echoes that, but is also part of the Frauscher DNA, this sportive approach and kind of automotive feel that you find in many of their models.”

In speaking with Miesbauer and Iverwin, I asked them what reaction they hoped people would have when they experienced the Spectre 797 for the first time. “That it is surprisingly powerful” was the naval architect’s first thought. “They would say ‘I didn’t know you could have the same performance, maybe even better, with an electric boat, that you have with a combustion boat.'”

“For me,” said Stefan, “the best thing that can happen is if someone sees the boat and just has a gut reaction of ‘I love this boat, I want this boat’ They also find reasons why it makes sense to decide for the boat, but I want that emotion, that feeling, saying ‘I love how it looks, I love how it feels when I drive it, I love how it performs.”

Power. Performance. With a +50 knot result at the 2026 YCM Speed Record competition at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, it seems fair to say that those goals have been achieved.

Frauscher Boats   Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

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The 13th annual Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) takes place July 8-11, with university students, electric boat builders and alternative fuel experts converging from around the world to meet at the host Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) and explore greener marine propulsion in all shapes, sizes and use cases.

The MEBC has grown with the rise of electric boating since 2014 while also leading the pace of the technology that is changing how we travel on water. The number of teams, university students and alumni having participated is a testament to the event’s importance: 1,825 innovators from more than 30 countries and every continent except Antarctica.

At this year’s Challenge there will be more than 50 different competitors from 20 countries on four continents competing in four classes:

Read Plugboats’ coverage of all the MEBCs since 2019

While the ‘Challenge’ in Monaco Energy Boat Challenge refers to the competitions, it can also be seen as a challenge to the boating and yachting industry to come up with solutions that are better for our planet – while also referencing the environmental challenges we are all facing.

To that end, the MEBC also encompasses two days of conferences for the yachting industry. On Thursday, July 9, the Advance Yachting Technology Conference takes place. Yacht and superyacht builders, designers and companies in the supply chain will gather to discuss and explore how new design approaches need to encompass clean propulsion and how decarbonization goes hand in hand with onboard efficiency and   digital transformation.

Day Two, Friday July 10, sees the 7th annual Alternative Fuels and Sustainable Yachting Conference, with presentations, Q&As and seminars providing an objective analysis of alternative fuels in the maritime sector — hydrogen, methanol and other innovative sources, with insights into research, real-world applications and future developments.

With the exception of the yachting conference, the public is invited to attend all of the races and events of the MEBC. It is a very exciting and inspiring to visit The Quayside of the Yacht Club de Monaco where hundreds of university students from all over the world are fine tuning their zero emission boats for the different races. Each of these talented engineering, naval architecture and other students are intent on making the world a better place and their enthusiasm is contagious.

Jutting off the quayside is the YCM E-Dock, which allows up to 20 electric boats to recharge at the same time during the Challenge. It was conceived by the Club in 2023 as part of its commitment to sustainable navigation, and built in conjunction with Aqua superPower, the global marine fast-charging network.

The eco-pontoon has flexible solar panels on the roof and is equipped with both AC and DC chargers through Aqua’s high-power marine charging infrastructure (Aqua 200 HPC) in association with Kempower Satellite technology. It is the largest public marine fast-charging installation on a single pontoon, eclipsing even the facility Aqua constructed for the Paris Olympics sailing events.

Below are the schedule, some further descriptions of the events, and some past highlights from the MEBC.

At the bottom of this article is a list of all competitors with links for more information.

Wednesday kicks off the MEBC with a Grand Parade of all competitors in all classes, and the E-Boat Rally, where competitors in the Open Sea and SeaLab Classes tour the harbour of the Yacht Club and then take to the open waters of the Mediterranean past the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, a magnificent building perched on the cliffs not far from the Prince’s Palace.

Energy Class: Qualifying Laps.

Energy Class, Open Sea and SeaLab: YCM Speed Record

Last year the Frauscher × Porsche — 850 Fantom (that has the same motor as the Porsche Macan electric SUV) set the record with a speed of 49.84 knots (92.3 kph / 57.35 mph). This year the latest collaboration between the two companies – the Frauscher × Porsche 790 Spectre – will have its crack at the record, competing with boats and motors by Explomar, Taiga, Evoy/Vita, WIA Yachts, Weenav and ZeroJet.

Read: Frauscher-Porsche 850 Fantom Winner in 2025 Gussies Electric Boat Awards

SeaLab: Manoeuvrability

AI Class: Docking and Fleet

Energy Class: Endurance Race

Open Sea and SeaLab: 16 Nautical Miles

AI Class: Figure of 8

Open Sea: Manoeuvrability

SeaLab: Endurance

AI Class: Slalom

Energy Class: The Championship

At the end of all the competitions the points from each event are tallied up to declare the overall winner of each Class. The University of Bologna is truly the Greatest Of All Time in the Championship Races, the Energy Class itself and maybe ever the entire MEBC as they have won four of the past five Energy Class titles. Let’s see who wins this year!

WANNSEA – Germany: Technische Universität Berlin

ZEROJET SPARK 330

TU DELFT HYDRO MOTION TEAM: Delft University of Technology – Netherlands

WANNSEA – AI CLASS: Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin): Germany

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One of the communities embracing electric propulsion is the owners of the boats and barges that ply the web of canals and rivers of England, Scotland and Wales. Electrika – the only show dedicated to electric narrowboats on UK waterways – is back for its third year in response to rising interest.

The show is now an important meeting place for boat builders, refitters, motor companies and accessory suppliers to share information and real-life experience about the electric life. Most canalboat, barges and narrowboats are powered with diesel, so electric propulsion is new and exciting, but education is needed.

Electrika 2026 is organized and presented by Aquavista, the UK’s largest marina operator, and Ortomarine, one of the leading builders of electric narrowboats. Ortomarine has produced over 30 electric narrowboats – a mix of Serial Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid and All Electric designs. Their commitment to greener boating was recognized in 2022 with a UK Boating Business sustainability award. Aquavista’s 33 marinas offer a full suite of residential and leisure moorings, boat sales, floating homes and marine services. 

Friday July 10 and Saturday July 11 are the show dates, Brinklow Waterside & Marina, Cathiron Lane, Rugby is the show location. Entry is FREE. Tickets can be »» reserved on the Electrika website.

There will be seven electric narrowboats for visitors to inspect with the boat builders and owners there to answer any questions. Other builders will have representatives and information available, but will not have a boat on the water. There are also exhibits and information from electric motor and systems suppliers, battery and solar panel companies and others with green products and services available, including a hydrogen fuel cell unit specifically designed for narrowboat owners.

Below are some highlighted boats and products along with brief outline of presentations from industry experts and electric narrowboat owners. 

Established in 2004 by Justin & Jane Hudson-Oldroyd, Aqua Narrowboats is celebrating 20 years in business. During that time, we’ve gained a reputation for building superb quality boats and providing great customer service and aftercare.

One of those boats is tThe Speedy Whippet II, a 68 ½ ft boat powered by a Hybrid Marine Parallel hybrid engine. The gas free boat has 775 amp hours of batteries enough to provide 8-12 hours of continuous cruising.

The Speedy Whippet II is the fourth hybrid boat we’ve built to date. The fifth will be Thistledown (our 58th boat build). This will be a serial Hybrid utilising a Fischer Panda generator and Ortomarine’s own electric motor, LiFePO4 batteries and their OrtoMate Control system to provide monitoring and automation on board.

bluewaterboats.co.uk

July 10-11, 2026

Buiding on the success of last year’s pioneering event, we are pleased to announce Electrika 2025, the second ever gathering of electic narrowboat owners, industry experts and manufacturers.

With more and more electric narrrowboats on the canal network and increasing interest in sustainable boating, Electrika aims to encourage and support the wider adoption of electric propulsion on the UK waterways.

Details for this year’s show are still being worked out, but we have included as much information as we currently have below, and we recommend watching this space for updates.

Marine is Energy Solutions’ longest established market area , since 1996 we have been working with leading OEM boatbuilders, superyacht owners, boat yards and individual sailing and motor yachts. As well as helping clients find power and control systems that fit their requirements we continually strive to introduce new, innovative products to our customers. We research, design and manufacture in house and provide new ways for our clients to attract customers and set themselves apart in terms of look, efficiency and technology. Working with products from the world’s leading manufacturers we are able to offer clients fully designed systems incorporating all elements form helm panels to tank senders.

Luxury bespoke electric canal boats.

Hybrid Marine has been developing advanced hybrid systems for over ten years. From leisurely inland canal boats to fast offshore sailing catamarans our hybrids have been well proven.

Our parallel hybrid is the result of a five year research program and provides an integrated power and propulsion solution for small marine craft. Since 2008 we have been working with Beta Marine UK LTD to provide complete parallel hybrid systems for both inland and offshore craft.

We make hydrogen fuel cell domestic power systems for boats, enabling those afloat to live off-grid without idling engines or running petrol generators in Winter. Our aim is to start the transition away from carbon-based fuels for the canals and rivers of the UK. We do domestic power now, since that is possible now with portable G20 cylinders. Join us on the canal journey to nett zero.

Leoch is one of the UK’s leading independent battery specialists. Our operations are backed by over 100 years of collective experience in the battery industry, supplying products for an impressive host of applications. Through a direct partnership with our manufacturer and global battery superpower, Leoch Battery PTE, we are at the forefront of battery technologies.

We are also delighted to represent US-based lithium-ion battery distributor RELiON Battery. The green energy source of the future can provide up to 10 times the cycles of lead alternatives.

Established in 1990, we are innovators and leaders in the design and manufacturing of highly efficient and reliable electric motors suitable for marine, vehicle, robotic, industrial, hybrid and traction industry.

Mastervolt offers integrated electrical systems which generate, store, convert or manage alternating and direct current. We realise this by using high-quality technology in digital switching, energy storage by means of Lithium Ion batteries, and chargers/inverters that are both efficient and user-friendly. All these products communicate in the same language via the MasterBus platform. This ensures that everyone working with a Mastervolt system can always see the right information related to each product in the system. Onboard, at the yard or on remote, system analyses are always easy to perform. This ensures a carefree and reliable electrical power system which enables sailors to enjoy having electricity onboard without any concerns.

Netherlands

Solar Electric Boats For The Inland Waterways

We want you to feel the joy of motoring along in near silence and fully present to the natural world; birdsong, buzzing insects and the ripple of the water in the knowledge that you are not costing you or the earth anything.

People respond to nature and natural products. Go below into the cabin. Here the majority of timber used is reclaimed, often hundreds of years old.

That said, there is nothing old fashioned about our design. It’s fresh and every thought is given to the feeling of space, we make contemporary narrowboats.

A range of solar electric and hybrid boats designed for inland waterways.

Location: UK

Ortomarine’s goal is to build environmentally friendly boats that both significantly reduce the vessel’s “carbon foot print” and create a quieter, cleaner and more natural boating experience. We want to give our customers, the “greenest” narrowboat that current technologies allow, without compromising on quality or cost.

Purpose built narrowboats

Our electric motors for boats are designed to be efficient. These motors excel at driving large propellers, ensuring optimal performance with reduced energy consumption. Törkmar’s innovative technology offers eco-friendly, powerful solutions tailored for reliable and sustainable boating adventures.

The Törkmar inboard electric motors for boats are highly efficient and extremely quiet. Glide along, and all you’ll hear is the gentle gurgling of water around the propeller, the rustling of leaves, and the songs of birds. You can be assured that you will be using minimal watts to navigate your way.

Northants, UK

Enjoy undisturbed peace, unrestricted sailing, and a carefree boating experience with the press of a button. VETUS intelligent and modular electric-propulsion systems are easy to install (or refit) and bring performance, efficiency, and convenience to your boating adventures. With VETUS electric propulsion, you are always ready for a prime time on the water. A full day of pure enjoyment is now within your reach.

High performance, eco-friendly, and cost-saving

Ready for the green zones

Find the ideal electric propulsion system for your boat

Netherlands

There will be a full program of talks on all aspects of electric propulsion, on both days of the show, given by industry experts and experienced electric narrowboat owners.

Install Guidance for LiFePo4 Batteries: Paul Sumpner

New line of VETUS electric motors debuts in Old Nick canalboat

Electric motor efficiency: Tim Knox.

Read the full Plugboats article about Torkmar propulsion

Total Energy Management: Phil Smith of Energy SolutionsPhil Smith is Technical Sales Manager for Energy Solutions, whose focus is on the design, build and supply of hybrid power solutions to marine, vehicle and off grid markets, with marine being the longest established market area. Since 1996 they have been working on vessels of every size and use, with leading OEM boatbuilders, superyacht owners, boat yards and individual sailing and motor yachts. Their understanding and modelling of hybrids puts Energy Solutions at the forefront of the industry, meeting the demands of increasingly sophisticated end users.

Optimum Hull design for electric narrowboats: Alastair Hunter of Floating Ohm

Real life experiences of “Going Electric”: Sarah Mules

Aqua Narrowboats – Infinity

Bluewater Boats – Paws & Relax

Elton Moss Boatbuilders – Dexter’s Star

Finesse Boats – Longinqua

Ortomarine Amastra and Electric Dreams

The other Ortomarine show boat is ‘Electric Dreams‘, a 57’ semi-trad stern, parallel hybrid narrowboat, which is actually a conversion of one of their older diesel boats. Formally known as ‘Eau Rouge‘, the 8 year old boat was sold to new owners (Den & Andrea) in October 2025, and has been in the Ortomarine workshop over the winter for an extensive refurbishment alongside the conversion. Unlike all of the other boats at the Show, Electric Dreams uses a parallel hybrid system based on an engine by Beta Marine. In a parallel hybrid system such as that on Electric Dreams, there is a diesel motor and an electric motor both attached to the same drive/prop shaft, whereas in a serial electric hybrid the shaft is only ever driven by an electric motor and battery pack with diesel used only to fuel a generator that charges the battery. Ortomarine

Smithwood Narrowboats – Twitchy Feet

Clearwater Boats – Golden Motors

Hybrid Marine International – New multimode hybrid

At Electrika 2026 they will be presenting their newest model – the multimode hybrid – that produces 10kW in generation mode and provides 15kW of electric drive, with many other features. Hybrid Marine International

Lynch Motors- Red Snapper hybrid and Drive Master all electric 

Torkmar

The keys are: A: a large propeller that moves a lot of water at low revolutions per minute to deliver gentle, consistent thrust and B: a high torque motor capable of turning that propeller with efficiency. It’s the same principle used in huge ocean going cargo ships and the Törkmar unit Knox developed is a PMAC (Permanent Magnet Alternating Current) motor wound specially for low speed applications (below 1000 RPM).

Torkmar surrounds this motor with the technology needed to monitor and optimize electricity flow and battery usage and makes it available in easily installed kits. Knox will be speaking about the benefits of a high torque system in the Electrika Presenter series and also has a downloadable e-book (free) on the topic, available on their website.  Torkmar website  

VETUS – E-LINE 22kW Inboard

All motors in the E-LINE range have been designed for easy installation on almost any existing engine mounts or foundations.The supplied Swap & Go mounting brackets, with motor mounts specifically developed for electric propulsion motors, can easily be adjusted in height and set to angle the shaft to 0° or 8°. This makes repowering and connecting to an existing propeller shaft a simple task. You can read more about the E-LINE 22kW in this Plugboats article   VETUS Website 

Hydrogen Afloat – hydrogen to replace diesel generators

Their first two products are the HyArk and HERO. HyArk is made to service the domestic or ‘hotel’ load of a boat (lighting, fridge, etc), but not the electric propulsion aspect. HERO will support both the propulsion and domestic power requirements.

HyArk provides up to 200 W of DC power to keep domestic batteries fully charged. The hydrogen is stored in two “G20” cylinders, each containing around 6.5 kWh of stored energy. HERO has a 1kWh fuel cell and 3.6 kg of hydrogen storage. Depending on conditions and use, Hydrogen Afloat estimates HERO will provide around 50 miles (90 km) of cruising range. Hydrogen Afloat website

Pro Electrical – Solar Tilt System, The Boat Battery

The Boat Battery is a self enclosed unit that enables users to easily install Lithium battery packs on to canal and narrowboats. The unit includes all the components that would normally take up a lot of time, knowledge and space to install. It is compatible with engines that use two alternators (including a dedicated alternator for domestic use) and provides an accurate state of charge reading. It comes with a 5-year Warranty Service which doesn’t require the removal of the battery if a repair is needed. Pro Electrical

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The silent, clean and precise operation of electric motors has always been attractive to those who like to do their fishing from a kayak, and now ePropulsion has customized their popular eLite outboard to appeal to those who enjoy one of the fastest-growing activities in recreational fishing.

The new kLite 750 is a ‘rudder style’ electric outboard, where the wide, tapered shaft holding the motor also steers the boat and holds the motor’s integrated 378 Watt hour battery, so there is nothing extra for a kayaker to lug around. The entire unit weighs in at under 15 lbs (6.8 kg).

With its specifically designed mounting bracket, the kLite has a number of features kayak fishers will appreciate:

The kLite has plenty of power for moving a kayak, fisher and gear through the water, with three modes available at the tap of a switch. Go Mode delivers 500W continuous power (.75 hp) for general cruising while Sport Burst provides 750W (1 hp) for up to 60 seconds and is great for shooting rapids or to punch through rips. When the fisher has arrived at the waters where they they want to cast or dip a line, Fish Mode provides precise low-end control.

“When we showed our original prototype at ICAST (the world’s largest sportfishing trade show), the interest was substantial,” said Tom Watson, president of ePropulsion Americas. “The eLite has already been revolutionary for tenders and small craft, and we are confident that the kLite is going to take kayak anglers to new and exciting places.”

ePropulsion was founded in 2012 by current CEO Danny Tao and fellow students, graduates, faculty and advisers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. They launched their first motor, the Spirit 1.0, at the METStrade marine industry trade show in 2014, where their brushless, direct-drive technology was the first in the market.

Their low power (1 to 6 kiloWatts / ≈3 to 10 hp) Spirit and Navy outboards and pod drives established and built a reputation for high quality and value which the company has built on. Their product line now includes electric propulsion solutions for everything from small dinghies to runabouts, workboats, sailing catamarans and 12 metre (40 ft) ferries.

In 2022 they introduced the H-Series range of inboards catering to boatbuilders and the commercial market. The 60-250kW (80 – 350 hp) motors enable vessels between 60 to 100’ (18 to use a battery electric zero emission propulsion system.

The I-Series followed, with lower-powered inboards (10 – 40kW / 15 – 55hp) designed for smaller vessels including sailboats, day boats, narrowboats and canal boats. The X-Series introduced in 2023 brought similarly powered outboards to the market: 12, 20 and 40 kW (≈16, 30 and 55 hp).

The motors are complemented by ePropulsion’s E-Series and G-Series lines of lithium iron phosphate (LifePo or LFP) batteries that provide exceptional energy density, extended cycle life and increased safety. The modular technology of their eSSA products (ePropulsion Smart System Architecture) enables safe, reliable connection of all components while saving time and reducing complexity.

In 2024 they introduced the eLite rudder style outboard, which has been a major success. The kayak-customized kLite now takes things to the next level with a product aimed at a very specific segment of the boating public. According to the American Sportfishing Association, more than two and a half million anglers in the US fish from kayaks, making up a market worth somewhere between half a billion and 600M dollars (€440M – 525M). Market intelligence firm Ken Research estimates that kayak-designed electric propulsion systems account for about 10% of that with US$50m–70m in annual sales.

ePropulsion is now in the position of being one of the global leaders in electric propulsion, with a product range that will be key to the electric transition in the coming years. What they have built is a brand known for quality and innovation that makes it easier and easier for just about any recreational or commercial boat owner – along with new and established boatyards – to have a full electric vessel that reduces noise, carbon and toxic emissions on our waterways and in the air that we breathe.

ePropulsion website

The post New kLite kayak fishing electric outboard from ePropulsion appeared first on Plugboats.

With partners and affiliates in over 20 countries already, ExploMar is expanding an impressive international network of dealers, distributors and other partners ready to capitalize on the growing interest around the world in electric water transportation.

Working with these partners has also demonstrated that electric outboards can do everything expected of a motor – and then some – with technology that is quieter, cleaner and more economical in the long run. Cruising yachts in Poland, ferries in Nigeria, sport RIBs in Germany, fishing boats in Indonesia –  here’s a short (and incomplete) rundown of the latest vessels equipped with their systems, showing a glimpse of the range of locations and use cases.

In Poland, LAMDO Houseboats charters 10 metre (33 ft) yachts for luxury cruising in the country’s Masurian Lake District, which contains more than 2,000 lakes and was chosen as one of the 28 finalists of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Their LY30+ Open and LY30+ Fly Trawler models are spacious ‘apartments on the water’ designed by Tony Castro, first released in their fossil fuel version 2023. They have been designed as a C Category vessel in the European classification: yachts intended for coastal cruising and inland waters, able to handle moderately strong winds of up to 27 knots (force 6) and waves reaching two meters (7ft) in height.

LAMDO has now built two LY30s outfitted with the ExploMar WAVE 70+ electric outboard system and a third with the larger WAVE 300 system. The companies worked closely together, taking advantage of ExploMar’s experience with other boat builders as a one-stop service covering design, installation, and on-water commissioning.

The WAVE 70+ motor has 40 kW continuous power, 80 kW peak (≈ 55 / 108 hp) and an estimated energy consumption of about 1 kiloWatt hour per kilometre (kWh/km) – meaning it has a range of about 60 kilometres with the accompanying 60 kWh capacity ExploMar lithium ion (NMC) battery.

The WAVE 300 has continuous power of 150 kW, 225 peak (≈ 205 / 305 hp) and an estimated energy consumption of about 2.5 kWh/km.

The LAMBO houseboats are chartered to people with all kinds of differences in how they want to use the boat, and the two ExploMar system provide them with all the options.

A beam of 3.5m (11.5 ft) allows plenty of space for friends and family vacations, whether they are covering a long or short distance. With two cabins and four berths as well as room in the salon for two more to sleep, the LY30s can accommodate a total of six overnight passengers – ten during the day. The salon/galley has a folding table and bar with fully equipped kitchen and an open space can be created between cockpit and the salon area for an airy feel. A bathing platform makes swimming and enjoying the water a breeze.

The quiet, no fumes ExploMar electric motors and battery system are the ideal companion for any kind of cruising in the Masurian District or any of the other destinations offered by Lamdo. Expect not only Lamdo, but many other builders in the area to start seeing demand for electric as word gets around about the benefits from people enjoying their ‘electric experience’.

Last year Lagos, Nigeria became one of the host cities of the E1 Electric Speedboat Championships, a high profile declaration to the world that the country is serious about a future of safer mobility, climate resilience, and long-term cost efficiency.

Read about the 2025 E1 Series race in Lagos Nigeria

The city has seen its population swell to over 100 million people in the past few decades and the metropolis is just one of many cities in Africa where commuters are looking for alternatives to chronically congested roads and the pollution, airborne particles and health impacts that go along with them.

A 30 km (18 mi.) lagoon winds through Lagos and connects it to the Port of Guinea. ExploMar is part of a team that is executing on a plan for the city that includes up to 70 electric and hybrid ferries and 25 terminals to provide waterbound transport with zero emissions and quieter, more peaceful journeys for all. At the recent CIBS (China International Boat Show), ExploMar signed an agreement with project backer Caverton Offshore Support Group for 20 electric propulsion systems and accompanying 5S energy station chargers.

ExploMar and Caverton have spent the past two years developing and testing the system together, with a prototype ferry already operating in Lagos and transporting passengers in a pilot programme. The journey from Ikorodu to Lagos Island, which takes as much as two hours by car or motorcycle, takes about a quarter of that time by electric ferry.

The 28-seat, 12-meter (40 ft) vessel – named OMIBUS – brings together a Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) hull and twin ExploMar WAVE 300 electric outboards (see specs above). On a fully loaded cruising range they deliver up to 3 hours at 10–15 knots – the main use case for a passenger ferry – and a maximum speed of 32 knots.

The 5S Energy Station is equipped with a 300kW solar system that can generate up to 1500 kWh of electricity in a day. It can fully recharge the ExploMar twin 125 kWh High Energy Density Batteries (HEDB) in one hour and support up to six hours of daily operation.

Olabode Makanjuola, CEO of Caverton Offshore Support Group, describes the collaboration as a defining moment for regional transportation. “The future of Nigeria’s waterways is electric,” says Makanjuola. “Cities like Lagos are defined by water, yet millions of residents remain trapped in road congestion while vast waterway networks lie underutilized. Conventional petrol and diesel-powered ferries are costly to operate and increasingly difficult to justify in dense urban environments.”

“This partnership sets out to validate an entirely new operating model under real-world conditions. Along with that, ExploMar’s manufacturing scale and systems integration is central to delivering solutions for Lagos and other emerging markets.”

As ExploMar has expanded its partnerships and touch points with both boat builders and consumers they’ve learned that getting each to consider an electric outboard requires an understanding that the propulsion is fundamentally different than combustion motors in a lot of ways and requires rethinking some assumptions.

Many in the e-boating industry talk of the ‘electric experience’, where people are amazed by how quiet and hard performing electric outboards can be. ExploMar is putting that effect into action with new industry and retail outlets that go beyond what people have come to expect. The philosophy is reflected in the name of their new concept: the ExploMar Electric Boating Experience.

The ‘Experience’ idea was first explored in Kuncheng Lake in Changshu, China, where systems are tested and demonstrated in real life operating conditions. More than just another sea trial opportunity, the EEBE gives boaters and builders insights and first hand appreciation of what makes electric propulsion truly different from using exploding fossil fuels to make a vessel go through the water.

The first Experience centre outside Changshu is in Bangkok and was developed with local dealer Thai Maritec. It encourages and allows customers to explore ExploMar’s high-performance electric outboards up close. They can ask questions, get answers and get out on the water for real-world usage and detailed follow-up on the practical side of electric boating, including charging and energy management.

The questions are an essential part of the Experience. In many standard dealers and marinas, boaters are sometimes reluctant to ask things that they feel might reveal their lack of knowledge about how electric motors and battery systems work. Here, every question is respected and seen as an opportunity to spread the word about e-boating. The idea is to to help customers better understand how the technology could work within their own boating operations.

“We are building a global user perception network where electric boats are no longer just a trend, but are truly experienced, utilized and validated across different markets and real-world scenarios,” says ExploMar’s CEO Alex Dong. “As global water mobility transitions toward low-carbon and intelligent solutions, this approach provides a clearer pathway for electric boats to move from being ‘understood’ to being ‘chosen’.”

As the first ExploMar Electric Boating Experience partner location, the Thai Maritec collaboration is an important learning experience for ExploMar itself to fine tune, enhance and roll out the concept for other markets.

In Germany, ExploMar recently announced the appointment of Yacht & Technik as distributor for the country. An Electric Boating Experience outlet is under development for Chiemsee Lake with the first element already in place: a ZAR Formenti 6.5 metre (21 ft) RIB with ExploMar Wave 150+ electric outboard available for test rides.

Summer Wind Kft has been appointed exclusive ExploMar distributor for Hungary and their team is actively working with ExploMar on the EEBE that will be an important focal point for a country whose inland waterways, including Lake Balaton, are widely recognized for their strict environmental standards and forward-looking approach to sustainable boating.

New ExploMar partner SAS Opensea, part of Vanguard Yachts Group, will be distributor in France and Monaco as well as many Caribbean nations in the Francophony such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Martin.

Joel Amor, President of SAS Opensea, visited ExploMar’s booth at CIBS and travelled to the flagship Changshu Electric Boating Experience after the exhibition for an on-water sea trial. “Getting hands-on with these systems is essential,” he said. “The design, performance and engineering quality behind ExploMar’s products clearly demonstrate strong potential for the markets we serve and we will be actively supporting market development through the Experience centre to offer customers a premium and immersive engagement.”

In Indonesia ExploMar worked with dealer Komponen, distributor Apollo Marine and electric and hybrid boatyard Kapal Listrik Internasional to deliver a Saalima08 commercial fishing boat with Dual WAVE 70+ Electric Outboards and dual SI-60 batteries.

Rudy Kurniawan, Director of Kapal Listrik, said ‘Indonesia is the largest maritime nation in the world, so as Indonesians, we feel called not just to be spectators, but to play a leading role in electric boating technology. The advantages of the ExploMar systems make them relevant not only for activites like fishing and inter-island transportation, but also for developing the marine tourism sector, one of our country’s greatest assets.”

Greman Corporation of Lima, Peru is the official ExploMar dealer in yet another emerging electric boat market with huge potential – the continent of South America. In Chile, a 7 metre workboat powered by the ExploMar WAVE 70+ is now in operation for aquaculture applications.

Back in Europe ExploMar continues its relationship with Italy’s AS LaBruna and will be returning to the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge July 8-11 to defend its title as winner of the 2025 Monaco-Ventimiglia electric boat race that is part of the competition.

North America is a different situation than other continents because many things are determined by states and provinces rather than by country. ExploMar is in active discussions with a number of dealers and distributors there, with more news to come on Plugboats. Any one interested in finding out about opportunities in North America should reach out to Mr. Dong through the ExploMar website:

ExploMar Contact  See all ExploMar Dealers and Partners 

The post ExploMar high performance electric outboards making international waves: Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, South America… appeared first on Plugboats.

With a win by Angola Westbrook Racing (owned by actor Will Smith) in Dubrovnik this past weekend, his team now leads the race for the E1 season championship as the sport continues to grow in popularity. Tom Brady’s Team Brady – champion of the first two season – is in second spot followed by Team AlUla Championed by NBA star LeBron James.

This is the second year that Croatia’s historic and romantic city has hosted the E1, and the third race of the 2026 series. The Adriatic Luxury Hotels E1 Dubrovnik GP 2026 takes place in the turquoise waters off Old Town, with its medieval walls, copper-green domes and terracotta roofs providing a stunning backdrop to the 21st century electric technology.

The E1 format has ten teams competing, each owned by well known personalities like Smith, Brady, James, tennis legend Rafael Nadal, multi-Grammy winner Marc Anthony, and others. Each team has a female and male pilot who race in one-design hydrofoiling electric boats – Racebirds – that can hit speeds of 90 kmph (50 knots / 55 mph).

The season consists of eight race weekends. Previous to Dubrovnik were Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Lake Como, Italy. Monaco is next up on the calendar (17-18 July), followed by Luada, Angola (12-13 Sep), Lagos, Nigeria (3-4 Oct), Miami, USA (13-14 Nov), and winding up with the crowning of the ‘Champions of the Water” in the Bahamas (Nov 21-22). 

Each race weekend has a day of qualifying, then a multi-race day: ‘playoffs’, the finals and consolation ‘place race’. The gender of the pilot of each team alternates throughout each weekend’s races, but there is no ‘women’s race’ and ‘men’s race’, all races have a mix.

Before we get to the Dubrovnik event, you can click on one of the two sections below to get an Overview of the Series and/or an explanation of the Rules and Strategies.

Launched in Jeddah in January 2024, the E1 Series features ten teams racing the one design ‘RaceBird’ all-electric hydrofoiling speedboats at events held in top international ports and waterways. Each team is owned by a noted figure in the worlds of sport, entertainment and business and is led by a female and male pilot who compete in mixed genre races throughout the season. There are no ‘men’s races’ and ‘women’s races’, they are all on equal footing.

The goal of the series, aside from deciding ‘The Champions of the Water’, is to publicize and promote cutting-edge clean technologies while helping to protect and restore our planet’s coastal waters and ecosystems.

The series was founded by Alejandro Agag and Rodi Basso and is loosely patterned after the on-land Formula 1 and Formula E car events, where the emphasis is on the driver’s capabilities rather than throwing money at technology. In fact, Agag is a founder of the Formula E electric car racing series and Basso worked with Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and McLaren Applied Technologies.

The Racebird itself is designed by Sophie Horne of Seabird Technologies. The Sophie Horne. The 7 meter (23 ft) boat has hydrofoiling wings that lift the hull out of the water enabling speeds of up to 90 kmph (50 knots / 55 mph) using a 150 kW (200 brake horsepower) electric outboard system by Mercury Racing and Kreisel batteries.

The ten teams and are their owners are:

The pilots of the boats come from a wide variety of disciplines. Many, like Sam Coleman and Emma Kimmaläinen of Team Brady, came from powerboating and motorsport racing, but Maxime Nocher of Team Monaco was a kite surfing champion; Team Drogma’s Tara Pacheco was in sailboat racing; Cris Lazarraga of Team Rafa was a jetski racer and Lucas Ordóñez of Westwood first entered real life professional racing by winning a spot in a PlayStation 3 Gran Turismo competition.

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Championship: Ten teams race over 9 weekends, with points awarded for finishing place, along with some bonus points for specific achievements. The Champions of the Water are the team that accumulates most points by the end of the season.

Events: Each event is held over two days, usually a Friday and Saturday. Qualifying time trials and races are held on Day One. Day Two has Group Races which decide two of the finalists, the Race Off to determine the other four finalists, the Place Race, and two Finals races – so both the female and male co-pilots of each team help determine the outcome.

The Finals and Place Race dictate the Championship Points awarded for each weekend.

Points Awarded: Points are awarded for each placing every weekend with the Champion having the most points at the end of the season.

Points are also awarded for the three fastest Qualifiers: Fastest: 3  |  2nd: 2 |  3rd: 1.

Qualifying: There are four Qualifying Stages with teams knocked out to establish the pole positions for Saturday’s races.

Saturday Racing

The top team from each group advances directly to the Finals. The bottom team from each goes to the Place Race. The teams finishing 2-3-4 in each go to the Race Off.

Race Off: Six team single race (only one pilot from each team) with the top four finishers going to the Finals and the bottom two going to the Place Race.

Place Race: Two races, one with each team’s pilot, best averaged time. Determines places 7-10 and Championship points.

Finals: Two races, one with each team’s pilot, best averaged time. Determines places 1-6 and Championship points.

SOME GENERAL RULES:

Pilots

In the Finals, the finishing order for the first race determines pole position for the second.

Laps

The Qualifying Stages are timed on one Normal lap. The Saturday Races are six laps – one of which must be a Long Lap and one of which must be a Short Lap. Penalties are usually an extra long lap within the six laps, which could add anywhere from 20 to 35 seconds to the overall race time. 

Boosts

General Strategy

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Coming into Dubrovnik, Smith’s Westbrook Angola Team had only won in one locale: Italy’s Lake Como – the only freshwater event on the circuit. The most recent victory was a month ago and the first was two years before that. Pilots Lucas Ordóñez and Sara Price were sitting on top of the standings for the first time coming into Dubrovnik, but it was a slim lead. Just three points separated them from Emma Kimiläinen and Sam Coleman of Team Brady, another three from the team owned by DJ/Producer Steve Aoki (Dani Clos and Sara Misir), and seventeen from James’ AlUla team of Nerea Martí and Rusty Wyatt. Expectations were high for a thrilling weekend.

The waters off Dubrovnik’s Old Town may be beautiful but they are deceptively challenging for the Racebirds, which travel fastest when their hydrofoiling wings are evenly balanced at the same height above the water. Waves, especially unpredictable ones, are not friends.

In Dubrovnik, big rollers come from different directions all over the track, not just the deep waters of the Adriatic Sea, but also bouncing back from the shore side. Winds coming off the coastal mountains don’t make things any easier or less complicated.

Friday Qualifying was a great demonstration of how the pilots navigate through these kinds of conditions, but held few surprises as Westbrook, Brady and Aoki came out 1-2-3, their positions at that time in the overall Championship standings.

In Saturday’s Group Stage races, Westbrook continued their winning form, thoroughly dominating and getting a direct bye to the Finals. “This is amazing for our team,” said pilot Sara Price. “I don’t think we’ve ever actually won qualifying.” They were joined in the Finals by arch-rival Team Brady as both Kimiläinen and Coleman topped their Group Stage to keep the pressure on for the overall season hunt.

It was a different story for Team Drogba Global Africa, owned by footballer Didier Drogba – former Chelsea star and Captain of the Ivory Coast World Cup team. Despite New Zealand pilot Micah Wilkinson topping his Group Stage race, a disqualification for dangerous driving by teammate Tara Pacheco – a four-time Spanish Olympian and world champion sailor – resulted in the team missing out on a place in the Finals.

The Finals of an E1 race weekend consist of two races – the times of the female and male racers are combined –  and six teams competing. With Westwood and Brady automatically in due to their Group Stage performances, six other teams participated in the Race Off to determine the other four Finalists and their pole positions.

There, Tom Chiappe of Rafael Nadal’s Team Rafa put in a masterful performance that led to him being awarded PIF Pilot of the Day for steering his team to the Finals despite a tough overall weekend. AlUla and Team Miami (Marc Anthony) were nose and nose for the next pole position and the sixth team in the Finals was Monaco, a new entry this year.

In Final 1 Emma Kimiläinen of Team Brady beat Westbrook’s Price to the first corner and held the advantage for the rest of the race. Final 2 was disrupted after the nose of Timmy Hansen’s Team Miami boat became detached as a result of a high-impact collision with a significant wave that saw the red flags come out and the team out of the race. Once racing resumed, Westbrook’s Lucas Ordóñez found extra speed to take the chequered flag and overall victory. 

Speaking after the race, Ordóñez said: “This weekend has been incredibly special. We’ve triumphed in difficult conditions and proved our fight and resilience as a team. Will has backed us all the way so it’s amazing to pay back that trust.”

Team Brady’s second place puts them 12 points behind Westbrook for the season, with AlUla another 19 points back. The season is still young, though. The winners of a race weekend receive 38 points, so with the season not even halfway through, this is far from over.

Jamie Copas, Chief Executive Officer, E1, said: “This has been an extraordinary weekend of racing in one of the world’s great coastal cities, and today’s final delivered everything E1 stands for – fierce competition, gifted pilots, and the most spectacular setting in motorsport. The 2026 Championship is shaping up to be one of the most compelling seasons we have seen. We head to Monaco next month with the standings far from settled and every point between now and the finale will matter.”

One of the unique aspects of the E1 Series is the off-water activities, some of which are driven by celebrity awareness and other by awareness of what is happening with our planet.

On the celebrity side, LeBron James and fellow NBA star Kyle Kuzma (co-owner of Team Sierra Racing Club) were on the Dalmatian Coast alongside tennis legend Rafael Nadal to see everything live. 

They do not bring star power alone, though. All owners are committed to E1’s mission to “leveraging the unique sporting platform and unmatched global reach to showcase cutting-edge technologies that promote the protection of marine ecosystems and the uptake of e-mobility solutions worldwide.”

On Friday, in addition to the Qualifying races, there was also a Blue Economy Summit convened by Dubrovnik and Croatian officials, industry leaders, financial institutions and public authorities to examine how coastal economies can transition to climate-resilient development. The Championship provides a live demonstration of zero-emission marine technology at scale.

While the team owners aren’t in the cockpits of the boats, their competitive spirits still shine through in their WhatsApp group. Will Smith posted a celebratory ‘YES! Finally ahead of you, Brady‘ as the NFL icon and owner of the two time reigning champions shot back with that time-honoured phrase of every sporting event: ‘We’ll see you at the next one.’

E1 Series website   E1 YouTube Channel

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