OPA Racing | General Rules

OPA Racing General Rules

While you are watching the race, it's nice to be able to tell who's winning the race. Sometimes that can be difficult as several classes of boats race at the same time. They may not be racing against each other, yet they may appear to be if you're not paying attention. Each Class runs ONLY against the ones running within their class.

Scoring: Each turn of the race or race buoy has a “Turn Boat” with Race Officials on board keeping track of the racers and their performance, as well as on the Start/Finish boat. As each race boat passes a “Turn Boat” and “Start/Finish” boat, the official marks their sheets according to the rules. When the event is done all times, speeds and distances traveled are calculated to determine the winner.

There are actually fifteen individual classes, broken up into separate races; that are happening at one time. On the chart below you will see the different classes and numbers they are allowed to run. What class is your favorite boat in?

CLASS

Extreme 1100

Super Cat

Factory Stock

Super Stock

Super Vee

Modified Vee

Stock Vee

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Class 4

Class 5

Class 6

Class 7

BOAT #

2-99

2 - 99

S-2 - S-11

2-99

100-199

200-299

300-399

400-499

500-599

600-699

700-799

DESCRIPTION

Canopy

Unlimited

Open Cockpit

LENGTH

40'-50'

34' - 42'

34' - 40'

32' limit

35' - 46'

32' limit

30' limit

—

40' limit

30’ limit

26’ limit

20' - 22'

TOP SPEED

Unlimited

115 MPH*

100 MPH*

95 MPH*

85 MPH*

75 MPH*

70 MPH*

60 MPH*

ENGINE(S)

Piston Power

Twin 750

Twin 450R Outboards

Twin Stock Outboards

Twin (see Rule Book)

Single (see Rule Book)

Single 525 EFI

Twin

Single or Twin

Single

Single Outboard (300HP limit)

*Indicates boats in classes which are based on speed and cannot go over the class bracketed speed. Any boat caught breaking out of their speed bracket will receive last place points and will start the next race in the outside lane. GPS units will track this. GPS units are mandatory in each race boat, otherwise they will be disqualified.

An official start time begins when the bow of the boat crosses the start line. The boat is then scored by completed laps/distance. A completed lap is when a boat crosses the start line, and continues around the marks of the course and back to the finish line. The start and finish line are at the same point on the course. When the green flag drops the races begins, but the 1st completed lap is scored when the boats passes the start/finish and then comes around again to complete the lap.

rule book