Clearwater Offshore Nationals

See, hear and feel the thrill of high-speed boat races zipping through the Gulf along Clearwater Beach during the 2026 Xinsurance Clearwater Offshore Nationals on September 24-27, 2026.

During race days on September 26-27, hundreds of spectators will gather along the beach and at Clearwater's famous Pier 60 to witness approximately 90 specially built power boats up to 50 feet long reach speeds of 150 mph as teams vie to qualify for the World Championship races in Key West in November.

Then after each day's competition wraps up, you can race yourself to enjoy everything the St. Pete-Clearwater area has to offer. With white-sandy beaches, fun family attractions, diverse dining, and a vibrant arts and cultural scene, you'll find everything you need to enjoy an action-packed weekend during the races.

How to Watch the Clearwater Offshore Nationals

With a 2.5-mile-long race course stretching parallel to Clearwater Beach just off the shoreline, these action-packed boat races will be easy to see. In fact, the first turn of the race happens just about 100 yards off lively Pier 60, a popular gathering place for locals and a perfect spot to watch the races.

For those who would rather see the action from the water, Starlite Cruises will offer a special race-day cruise on September 27 aboard its luxuriously appointed Infinity Dining Yacht, taking passengers through Clearwater Pass and out into the Gulf just north of Pier 60 to watch the races. During the eight-hour excursion, guests will enjoy a continental breakfast during the cruise out, plus a lunch buffet during the break between the first two races that day.  

Some beachfront hotels also host race watch parties, with hot spots like Shephard's Beach Resort welcoming guests for DJs and dancing into the night.

No admission is charged at any of the race events. 

2026 Clearwater Offshore Nationals Race Schedule

Saturday, September 26: Qualifying races start at 12:15 pm, followed by:

• Race 1 (Bracket Classes 2, 3, 4 and Super Stock) at 12:45 pm
• Race 2 (Classes 1, 2) at 2 pm
• Race 3 (Super Cat and Super Vee) at 2:45 pm

Sunday, September 27: There will be five races, including: 

• Race 1 (Super Stock and Bracket Classes 5, 6) at 11 am
• Race 2 (Bracket Class 7 and Vee Limited) at 11:45 am
• Race 3 (Super Cat) at 1 pm
• Race 4 (Mod Vee) at 1:45 pm
• Race 5 (Classes 1, 2) at 3 pm

The awards ceremony will take place at 7 pm that Sunday evening. (Please note all times are Eastern Daylight Time and you can find additional schedule details on our Clearwater Offshore Nationals event listing page.)

Public Transportation to the Races

If you're looking for easy access to the races, public transportation is available. From Pier 60, the Jolley Trolley will take you to Sand Key Park, the dry pit area where boats will be based during the races. You can pay to ride the trolley through the Flamingo Fares app, mobile tap-to-pay or with exact change (no pennies accepted). The Suncoast Beach Trolley can also transport you from nearby beach communities to Clearwater Beach.