There will be more than championship points and bragging rights up for grabs during the Bermuda Power Boat Association season, commencing at Ferry Reach tomorrow.

Powerboat racers have now been given another incentive to put their best foot forward with cash prizes to be awarded to the top three finishers in each class.

“This is the first time we are doing cash prizes on race days,” said Robert Cardwell, the BPBA “The top three in power boats will share a cash prize.”

The BPBA are finally set to launch their season which was delayed twice owing to the Covid-19 pandemic that resulted in the association’s entire 2020 campaign being cancelled.

“The BPBA is really excited to get our season under way,” Cardwell added. “Our teams are ready and we look forward to a spectacular day of powerboat racing.”

Tomorrow’s season opener will feature four classes that will compete in two races for points to count towards the overall season championship as well as cash prizes for the podium finishers. A race involving juniors ages 10 to 15 is also on tap.

Juniors will make their racing debut in the European-designed GT-15, which is being launched a year ahead of the BPBA’s original plans to introduce the class in 2022.

The 13-foot monohull is a strict one-design powered by a stock 30-horsepower engine, which teams have been prohibited from modifying to further ensure a level playing field.“They have had an orientation session,” Cardwell said. “This Sunday will be the beginning of the season race series.”

The junior race will kick things off at 11am with the two power boat races to commence at 1pm and 2.30pm.

The BPBA had also planned to launch the new jet ski league which has been delayed due to mechanical issues.

“The jet ski league suffered many mechanical problems, so backed out,” Cardwell said. “They are waiting on parts to return. The jet ski league will kick off, but start date to be determined.”

Covid-19 protocols will be in place with team members being subjected to having their temperature taken and names recorded for contact-tracing purposes. Team pits will also be roped off and off limits to spectators.