I didn’t plan to fall for it. I went for “just one race” in Dubai. Then I found myself back at a stop in Italy that same summer. You know what? I still hear the engines when I close my eyes. If you want a no-frills schedule ticker, my go-to bookmark is the unofficial fan dashboard over at x-cat.racing.
Before I dive into the nitty-gritty, if you want to see where the series is heading next (or relive the last photo-finish), the official hub is XCAT Racing.
For an even deeper, photo-packed retelling of that inaugural Dubai weekend, you can flip through my full diary.
So, what is it like up close?
Picture a sleek catamaran, all carbon and attitude. About 30 feet long. Two seats. One driver. One throttleman. Twin outboards on the back. At full tilt, they skim like dragonflies. The hull barely kisses the water.
From the breakwater at Mina Seyahi, the start felt like a punch. Horn. Spray. That first turn? Chaos and control mixed into one tight knot. I could feel the rumble in my chest. Not a roar like big V8s—more of a sharp, high wail from those Mercury Racing outboards. It’s loud, but not harsh. Odd, right? I thought so too.
The pits: sweat, salt, and carbon dust
I spent a full morning in the wet pits. Cranes lifted boats from slings as calm as folding laundry. The smell was part fuel, part resin, part sea. I watched a crew swap a prop like they were changing shoes. Quick hand signals. A little tape over a seam. One guy checked trim angles with a tiny level like it was a science fair.
A team manager talked through the “Long Lap” on the radio. “Not now. Wait for clean water.” It’s a rule that adds a twist. Take a longer loop once or twice, and you pick when. It sounds small, but it can flip a race. I saw it decide one, right in front of me.
I didn’t ride in a race boat (no open seats for that), but I did hop on a marshal RIB for practice laps. We chased the pack at what felt like 60 knots. My cheeks shook. My GoPro caught nothing but spray and a scream-laugh I didn’t know I had.
Real moments that stuck
- Dubai, late afternoon heat: I bought karak tea, then watched “Dubai Police” and “Abu Dhabi” dice down the back straight. One slipped wide. The other held the line and kept it tidy. Clean pass. The crowd clapped like a wave.
- Stresa on Lake Maggiore: Flat water, mirror-like. The cats ran straight as arrows. A storm rolled in after race one. Quick gusts. Flags snapped hard. The second session got delayed, and I found shade by a gelato stand. Not a bad timeout.
- Fujairah (years back): Whitecaps and chop. One boat pulled early with a steering gremlin. Safety crews were sharp. Fast response, no drama. That eased my nerves.
If you’re curious how a wind-whipped freshwater venue compares, dive into my windy, splashy weekend in Sheboygan—the Midwest breeze adds a whole different flavor.
Speed with a brain
Here’s the thing. XCAT isn’t only raw speed. It’s setup and rhythm. Everyone runs the same spec power, so the edge comes from props, balance, and trim. The throttleman keeps the boat dancing. Nose up. Nose down. Tap, hold, tap. On the straight, I clocked 120 mph on a team board. But the art lives in the turns. That’s where brave meets smooth. For deeper technical breakdowns—think prop pitch charts and trim-tab telemetry—the league’s own resource page lives at xcatracing.com, and it’s a rabbit hole worth falling into.
Stuff I loved
- Access: You can actually see the boats in the pits. Crews will chat if they’re not in a rush.
- The start: Electric. That rolling run to green gave me goosebumps both times.
- Safety vibe: Full canopies, rescue RIBs, and trained marshals. It felt tight and smart.
- Family-friendly: Kids on shoulders. Big eyes. Free flags. It had that festival buzz.
- Price: Not wild. I paid less than a big concert and got a whole day.
Stuff that bugged me a bit
- Heat and glare: Shade is gold. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a light buff.
- Noise: I like it. My ears didn’t. Wear plugs. Trust me.
- Delays: Weather and course resets happen. Some long gaps between races.
- Scoring confusion: The “Long Lap” can be hard to track from the wall. I wish the big board showed it live.
Desert spectators know that heat struggle all too well—when I watched boats blaze across Lake Havasu, the sun felt like a spotlight following every lap.
Little gear notes from my bag
I wore foam earplugs under light headphones. Brought a 1-liter bottle, sunscreen stick, and a cheap rain shell for spray. My old Garmin watch survived the salt air, but my phone? It hated it. Keep a dry bag.
Personal highlight
A crew member let me sit in a boat on the trailer. Canopy open. Belts across my lap. The seat hugged my ribs. The wheel felt small and tight, like a kart. I stared at the trim switches and thought, How on earth do they do this at full speed in chop? Then I climbed out with shaky legs and a big grin.
Should you go?
If you like speed, water, and a bit of grit, yes. If you want quiet comfort, maybe not. But I’ll say this—standing by the sea, with spray on your face and boats sliding by like arrows, feels special. It’s sport, but it’s also a little art.
Quick tips for a smooth day
- Get there early for pit walks and crane action.
- Bring earplugs, water, and a hat with a strap.
- Check the schedule the night before; it can shift.
- Pick a spot near a turn buoy. That’s where the moves happen.
My verdict
XCAT powerboat racing gave me speed, access, and real heart. Sure, it’s hot and loud. Sure, the plan can change. But when that pack hits the first turn and the spray blows back over the wall, you feel it. I’d go again tomorrow. And I’d still bring extra earplugs.
If you’re pondering other ways to get your aquatic adrenaline fix, my candid rundown of five kinds of boat racing might steer you toward your next splashy adventure.
Sometimes that post-race buzz follows fans off the dock and into their social lives; if you’re curious how the same no-strings thrill translates to dating, skim this frank UberHorny review where you’ll find a breakdown of features, costs, and safety pointers before you dive in.
After a scorching afternoon track-side, a lot of crews chase recovery with a solid stretch or a tension-melting massage; if your travel calendar swings you through Long Island during the U.S. leg, a quick scroll of Rubmaps in Lindenhurst can pinpoint reputable spas and flag the duds—its crowd-sourced intel helps visitors score a genuine deep-tissue fix without wasting time or cash on a tourist trap.