The first round of the 2004 Powerboat P1 World Championships is taking place in Malta, over the weekend of 29-30 May. This exciting event will be hosted in the breath-taking natural harbour - the Valletta Grand Harbour. The Championship aims to compete with the best sporting events in the world, with each event racing a carfully selected course to ensure that the spectacle is highly visible.

The Grand Prix weekend starts on Friday afternoon with final preparations on site at the Viset Valletta Waterfront - Pinto Quay 3 becoming the home of Powerboat P1 for the weekend. Although the Powerboat P1 Dry Pits are secure and closed to the public, there will be two opportunities for public access during the weekend, but more of that later...

Teams will be registering during the day and will first venture out onto the water from the Grand Harbour during the afternoon for Free Practice sessions, when they will get their first taste and experience of the sea surrounding Malta. The Teams use this time to get a feel of the unique sea conditions and to formulate their plans including race strategy, choice of propellers, etc.

Friday

There will be a Police escorted Powerboat P1 Race Boat Parade, starting at around 17:00 and continuing for about 2 hours. The Parade will be taking a route through Valletta and along the coast to Bugibba and back again. This is to give the public the opportunity to get a close-up view of a Powerboat P1 Race Boat and is usually a very popular event in its own right.

The racing will take place over two days, forming the prestigious first and second rounds of the 2004 UIM World Championship.

Saturday

09:00 to 11:00 - will see the Teams ready for their first Official Practice which will take place along the Official Course running the length of the East Coast of Malta between Sliema Point and the St Paul's Bay area.

Following the Practice Session at approximately 11:15 and until 12 noon, public access will be allowed to the Dry Pit Area at Valletta Waterfront. The exact timing will be dependent upon the return of the Race Boats to the Dry & Wet Pit Areas after the Session, which may vary given sea conditions, etc.

14:30 to 16:30 - Round 1 of the UIM Powerboat P1 World Championship 2004.

The Race Teams will muster just to the North of the entrance to the Grand Harbour in preparation for the start of the Grand Prix. The Start Line will be easily visible to the front of the Sliema Fort Area. Powerboat P1 is free to the public. When the UIM Start Official is happy that all is ready he will instruct the Teams by means of an orange flare that there is 2 minutes until the start of the Race. The Teams will then all turn in a line towards the Start Line and follow the lead of the Start Boat which will be bringing all the Race Boats into a line across as they gather speed towards the Start Line. The UIM Start Official will be holding a Yellow Flag high in the air as they gather speed to around 30 knots. As they near the Start Line, if the Official is happy that no one is jumping the gun, he quickly swaps the Yellow Flag for a Green Flag - and they're off racing!

The course for Saturday is an Endurance Race, which will run to around 90 miles. This will consist of 4 'short' laps for the Evolution Teams (the fastest Race Boats) and 3 'short' laps for the SuperSport Teams. As soon as each Team completes these laps - which run between Sliema and the beginning of St Paul's Bay, they will then continue to Race completely around Malta.

During this circumnavigation UIM Officials present at the Race will oversee the setting of a new World Record for the fastest time by a powerboat around the Island. The winner of this World Record will be awarded the Sunseeker Malta Trophy to commemorate this very special event for the Teams and for Malta.

The Finish Line will be at the Start Line, in front of Sliema Fort. Racing will be close to the shore, so it will be possible for the public to view the racing from the Coast, especially along the East Coast but for Saturday's Race from anywhere around Malta!

On the water, the Armed Forces and Civil Protection of Malta will be ensuring the safety of spectators with many patrols all around the Coast. Powerboat P1 encourages safe on-water viewing by spectators with their own boats and draws attention to the Notice to Mariners being issued by the Harbour Master of the Valletta Grand Harbour which can be viewed at www.mma.gov.mt . Viewing will be encouraged in the Bay Areas and obviously well clear of the Race Course itself.

Sunday 30 May - Round 2 of the UIM Powerboat P1 World Championship 2004

09:00 to 11:00 - will see the Teams ready for their second Official Practice Session which will take place along the Official Course running the length of the East Coast of Malta between Sliema Point and the St Paul's Bay area.

Following the Practice Session at approximately 11:15 and until 12 noon, public access will be allowed to the Dry Pit Area at Valletta Waterfront. The exact timing will again be dependent upon the return of the Race Boats to the Dry & Wet Pit Areas after the Session, which may vary given sea conditions, etc.

The Race Teams will muster just to the North of the entrance to the Grand Harbour in preparation for the start of the Grand Prix. The Start Line will be easily visible to the front of the Sliema Fort Area. Powerboat P1 is free to the public. When the UIM Start Official is happy that all is ready he will instruct the Teams by means of an orange flare that there is 2 minutes until the start of the Race. The Teams will then all turn in a line towards the Start Line and follow the lead of the Start Boat which will be bringing all the Race Boats into a line across as they gather speed towards the Start Line. The UIM Start Official will be holding a Yellow Flag high in the air as they gather speed to around 30 knots. As they near the Start Line, if the Official is happy that no one is jumping the gun, he quickly swaps the Yellow Flag for a Green Flag - and they're off racing for the second Round of the Grand Prix of Malta.

The course for Sunday is a Technical Rally Race, which will run to around 66 miles. This will consist of 6 laps for the Evolution Teams and 5 laps for the SuperSport Teams.

The Finish Line will be at the Start Line, in front of Sliema Fort. Racing will be close to the shore, so it will be possible for the public to view the racing by being along the shore of the East Coast of Malta.

Winners

The combined scores from Saturday and Sunday Racing go to create the final table for the Grand Prix of Malta with Winner, Second and Third places being awarded in both Evolution and SuperSport Classes.

At 16:30 there will be a Podium Prize-giving ceremony at the Valletta Waterfront, where the Teams will be presented with the Malta Tourism Authority Trophies for the inaugural UIM Powerboat P1 Grand Prix of Malta 2004. These beautiful trophies have been specially commissioned by the MTA from Mdina Glass in Malta and are works of art as well as wonderful commemorations of the results of the Grand Prix.