Evolution of Great Race Winners

In the early years of the Great Race, both media and fans focused on a single question: which boat reached Tobago first? That boat was crowned the overall winner and celebrated as the Great Race Champion.

In modern times, however, the structure of the race has evolved. Today, there is no longer just one overall winner. Instead, competitors are grouped into speed classes, and each class winner is recognized as a Great Race Champion within their category.

This shift reflects the realities of the sport:

• Different classes run slightly different courses

• Boats start at different times

• Variations exist in distance, conditions, and competition level

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Course Evolution & Race Format

Over the past 50+ years, the Great Race course has changed multiple times. These adjustments were made to:

• Improve spectator viewing

• Accommodate different racing classes

• Meet sponsor requirements

• Create more exciting finishes, often with boats arriving closer together in Store Bay, Tobago

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​Historic Milestone

A major breakthrough came in 2008, when Mr. Solo, piloted by Ken Charles with throttleman Darin Marshall, became the first boat to complete the race in under one hour.

• Course distance: ~90 miles

• Time: 58 minutes

This achievement remains one of the most iconic moments in Great Race history.

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UIM World Record Recognition

In 2018, the Trinidad and Tobago Powerboat Association became a member of the Union Internationale Motonautique, allowing the Great Race to be officially recognized on the world stage.

To meet UIM standards:

• A fixed course was established

• Measured from the Gulf of Paria (Trinidad) to Store Bay (Tobago)

• Total distance: 80.5 miles

 

⚠️ Important:
This UIM record is a point-to-point time, meaning it excludes the starting and finishing circuits.

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UIM World Record Holder

• Boat: Motul Monster (46’ Skater)

• Class: 130 MPH

• Time: 47 minutes 43 seconds

• Crew: Joey Sabeeney / Peter Peake / Josh Sabeeney / Daniel Peake

• Date: August 18, 2018

This remains the official world record for the Great Race UIM course.

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Modern Era: Class Champions

Recent years highlight the dominance of certain teams across classes:

2025 Winners

• S-Class: Kraken

• 50 MPH: Hooligan

• 60 MPH: Limitless

• 70 MPH: Extreme Measures

• 80 MPH: Heatwave

• 130 MPH: Mr. Solo Too

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2024–2023 Trends

• Kraken dominating S-Class

• Extreme Measures consistently strong in 70 MPH

• Heatwave leading 80 MPH

• Mr. Solo Too controlling 130 MPH

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Legacy of Speed: Great Race Champions

Despite the shift to class-based winners, the legacy of the “fastest boat to Tobago” still holds historical importance.

From 1969 to 2023, legendary boats like:

• Mr. Solo

• Motul Monster

• Total Monster

• Energiza

have defined eras of offshore racing in Trinidad and Tobago.

Notably, Mr. Solo stands out as one of the most dominant names in Great Race history, spanning multiple decades of victories and evolution in boat design.

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The Great Race has evolved from a single-winner spectacle into a multi-class international event, while still preserving its core identity:

• A test of speed, endurance, and seamanship

• A showcase of engineering and racing skill

• And a proud tradition in Trinidad and Tobago’s sporting history