Brandon DeSilva and Blake Burgess swept class honours to get the defence of their offshore series and national championship titles off to a flying start in the Bermuda Power Boat Association’s season opener on Sunday.

The duo led the BV class across the finish line at Ferry Reach in each of the two races to lay down a marker in their 19ft Phantom.

“It was definitely a great start to the Bermuda Power Boat Association 2024 season and having almost ten boats show up on the first day is a good look for the season to come,” pilot DeSilva told The Royal Gazette.

“We gained some valuable points for two different series. It was a national series, which was the second race, and the first was the offshore series, so we gained valuable points winning both those races.

“I would just like to send a big shout out to all my supporters, all my sponsors, my race team and a big a shout out to the Bermuda Power Boat Association committee. Without them none of this is possible. It was definitely a great start and there is more to come.

“There are a lot more boats coming out and new boats coming to the island so all the fans out there will be definitely see some new things in store for this 2024 season.”

Shane Madeiros and Erin Butterfield claimed A class and overall honours in the opening offshore series race. Class rivals Chris Marshall and Kenneth Matthie finished second with DeSilva and Burgess taking third overall.

Steven Meireles and Philip Raposo won D class honours while Andrew Cottingham and Henry Talbot were the only entry competing in the S class.

Marshall and Matthie clinched A class and overall honours in the national championship race, Madeiros and Butterfield were, second with DeSilva and Burgess third. Cottingham and Talbot led the D class across the finish line to complete a sweep of their own.

“We had a great day of racing,” commodore Janae Nesbitt said.

“The weather was beautiful and we had a total of nine boats that showed up for the first race of the season.”