By Cale Nuttall
Sunny skies, high-octane action, and beachfront fun defined this year’s Six Gun Grill King of the Waves Regional Tournament. The adrenaline-inducing sport of Inflatable Powerboat racing is quickly becoming a popular sport amongst spectators, competitors and sponsors. Held on the 16th and 17th of November at the famous Blaauwberg Beach, the event provided a thrilling platform for athletes to showcase their skills, companies to gain brand exposure, and spectators to enjoy the exhilarating sport of Inflatable Powerboat racing.
This friendly competition brought together racers across three classes—Stock, Pro Stock, and Modified. While the races did not count towards the championship standings, they delivered close-up action and tested the mettle of teams in the surf race and long-haul formats.
The Sport’s Landscape: Accessibility and Affordability
The distinction between the three classes can be found in the level of modification allowed in each class under racing regulations. The Stock class is allowed to make minor modifications, with the propellor making the greatest difference. Michael from Boats and Bikes explains, “The standard motors now are blueprinted, and the rev limiter is on.” Michael adds “Pro Stock is taking it to what the factory specifications give you, the measurements of the motor, so the size of the ports, volumes and weights, so you have to stay within those specs. The Modified class is pretty much open, but you have to stay with the same block and engine. You can interchange parts but to a limit obviously, all under U.I.M.”
Interestingly, all the boats from Stock to Pro Stock and Modified boast 50 horsepower but differ in rev limits. Michael elaborated, “The standards are a little bit slower because they have rev limiters on, so they only rev to about 6000rpm, the Pro Stock boats can run to about 7300rpm and the Modifieds can run over 8000rpm.”
Brendan Kelly, a retired Formula 1 powerboat racer and commentator for the King of the Waves highlighted the sport’s accessibility “This is a relatively cheap form of racing compared to other forms of motorsport. What has been particularly good to see is the number of newcomers that have joined the sport in the standard class.” Michael concurred adding, “It’s very accessible to everybody, it’s growing again, it wasn’t very big for a long time but it’s coming back again and becoming more affordable to people once you have paid the initial outlay of the equipment.”
Although this sport is reasonably affordable and accessible for entry-level competitors, Michael highlights the fact that competing in the modified class can become costly, “If you want to be at the top of the game, you’ve got to spend money, it’s like any motorsport, at the end of the day, you’ve got to spend money.”
Six Gun Grill King of the Waves
King of the Waves is a friendly regional tournament including long-haul racing and surf racing formats. Held on Blaauwberg Beach, the event capitalised on the area’s dynamic coastal conditions. Each race took place on open water and point break, where waves start forming, offering high-energy action for spectators and unpredictable challenges for competitors.
Thus, setting this tournament apart from the flat-water races many of the competitors are used to. Brendan noted, “Surf racing to me is the ultimate in Inflatable Powerboat racing because it doesn’t matter how good you are, one set of waves changes the whole race.” Brendan added that the best of the best knows how to read the surf and that’s what sets them apart from the rest mentioning the likes of Wimpie Ackermann and Stefan Lindeque.
Dieter Blignaut, a Stock-class pilot, emphasised the sport's unique intensity, describing it as a true test of both the pilot’s and co-pilot's skills, as well as the boat's performance. “This sport is mentally challenging, physically challenging and tests your equipment.” The Six Gun Grill King of the Waves certainly showcased these elements, pushing teams to their limits despite its friendly, non-championship status.
King of the Waves 2024 provides invaluable Inflatable Powerboat racing and its sponsors, including Six Gun Grill and Pokerbet, two of the main sponsors for the event. Spectators, residents and passers-by admired the races from the promenade on Blaauwberg Beach, free of charge. One spectator, inspired by her daughter to attend, shared, “It’s very well organized, the guys are out as soon as there is a problem. I am very impressed and although this is not my thing, I wish I was on one of these boats because it looks like loads of fun!”
Brendan highlighted the atmosphere of the event as well as the importance of key sponsors, “That’s the beauty of having a company like Crown National with Six Gun Grill being involved, it’s all about outdoor entertainment and the braai ethos that goes with it and the families out on the beach enjoying themselves and having fun.” He added, “We are pleased to have Pokerbet come on board as well now and have given prize money.” Pokerbet sponsored R50,000 prize money that was awarded to various teams at the end of Day 2.
The involvement of major sponsors in an event like King of the Waves is vital, both for the teams and the sport itself. Brendan explained, “The boats are a travelling billboard, and the sponsors want maximum exposure.” Brendan also mentioned that the event is an opportunity for the boat manufacturers to showcase their equipment. The support from sponsorship and spectators the King of the Waves achieved this year is a testament to the fact that Inflatable Powerboat Racing is picking up in the Western Cape.
Teamwork and Camaraderie in the Sport
Beyond the fast-paced races and fun to be had in the sport of Inflatable Powerboat racing, what stands out is teamwork and comradery among the teams and the people who are there to support them. As much as the teams are competing against each other, they never hesitate to lend a hand when they see someone in need. Whether a boat has flipped, or a team needs help bringing their boat onto shore, someone is always there to help. Keeping in mind that it was a friendly tournament, this level of comradery is unique to Inflatable Powerboat racing.
This environment and the competitors encourage the next generation of racers who are eager to get involved in Inflatable Powerboat racing, Brendan notes, “The guys want to grow the sport, so they encourage youngsters [to get involved] and the older guys are always willing to get new blood involved and help the guys along.” This big brother attitude ensures the longevity of the sport by constantly bringing new talent in as well as giving the older guys a reason to continue competing.
As Jan-Harm Swanepoel puts it, “At the end of the day, everybody helps each other to get all the boats onto the water, whether it is borrowing a prop, spare part, or a fitting. Some teams keep their props to themselves, but they still help other teams when it comes to tuning, fixing or setting up a motor/boat.” He adds, “One notable thing is after each race has finished, the teams congratulate each other and reflect on the race, talking about funny or risky moments, where they won the race or lost it.”
Brendan highlights the commitment the sport requires, “This is a lifelong commitment” Brendan adds, “For the young guys and girls, for a 16-year-old to tackle the Trans Agulhas, takes something special because you are still learning about yourself and to throw yourself at those extreme conditions certainly will set you in good stead for the rest of your life.”
King of the Waves Day 2
Day 2 of King of the Waves began with the 50km long-haul race, where teams from all three classes competed head-to-head in open water. The long haul is a different discipline of Inflatable Powerboat racing to the surf race as this gruelling format tested endurance, teamwork, and equipment as teams raced flat-out across the sea.
The weekend concluded with another series of surf races, giving teams one final chance to compete and thrill the crowd.
Looking Ahead
As Inflatable Powerboat racing gains traction, upcoming events like the Trans Agulhas—a multi-day endurance race across extreme coastal conditions—will further push the boundaries of this exciting sport. The King of the Waves has set a high standard for the season ahead, showcasing not only the technical skill and physical resilience of its participants but also the unique camaraderie that defines this growing motorsport.
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