Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix canceled for 2025

Finances and uncertainty about construction around Sarasota Bay have sunk the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix for this year, organizers said Tuesday.

P1 Offshore announced Sarasota has been dropped from its 2025 schedule of races. 

According to a news release, the decision was influenced by budget concerns by the race organizer about producing a high-quality, safe race. 

Organizers also pointed to uncertainties surrounding the ongoing construction connected with The Bay’s master plan, including the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall parking lot and Centennial Park, where some of the static events of the event are staged.

The decision by P1 Offshore was “all about the quality of the event,” said Pete Harvey, director of sports for Visit Sarasota. Harvey said Sarasota is looking forward to the race’s return in 2026 “Visit Sarasota is financially committed to be partners” with P1 Offshore to host the event next year.

In the news release, Powerboat P1 says it remains optimistic about finding ways to bring the event back to the area, whether it’s identifying an alternate site during the construction period or securing additional sponsorship support. 

“We feel scaling down the event would not do justice to the legacy Sarasota has built over the years,” Thomas Covington, Commercial Director for Powerboat P1, said in the release.

The multi-day event celebrated its 40th anniversary in Sarasota last year, when it was moved from its traditional July 4th weekend date to mid-September. That decision did not play a part in P1 Offshore leaving Sarasota off of this year’s race calendar, Harvey said. 

“For the city, the community, the area’s hotels, I think it was a great move,” Harvey said. I don’t think it made any difference .. for 2025.” 

The P1 Offshore Triple Crown 2025 Race Calendar shows three events in 2025:

• New Orleans, Louisiana: June 27-29
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin: Aug. 8-10
• St. Petersburg, Florida: Sept. 5-7