The opening races of the Zapcat powerboat season will take place in Newquay, Cornwall on 24 and 25 April, when the Blue Chip Newquay Zapcat Grand Prix race weekend takes place at Fistral Beach.

Viewing will be free and a range of entertainment and freshly prepared food and drink will be available for spectators. Opportunities to meet the race teams and see the powerboats up close will be laid on to encourage a growing following for the championship, which already has international status

Up to 16 heats of racing will take place culminating in two divisional finals each day. Each daily round will earn the competitors vital points towards the prestigious National Championships, the Services, Rookie, and Team, Mixed, Home Nations and Surf titles, all of which will come to their tense finales in October.

The Course will take the Zapcats out to the Fistral Headland before turning south and then returning parallel to the beach giving spectators an excellent view from every vantage point.

Practice sessions will take place on Friday 23rd when press, radio and filming opportunities will be made available along with Zapcat experiences for the media.

On the evening of St George's Day (Friday 23rd), a grand Zapcats Parade will take place through the town featuring competitors and boats, raising awareness of the Grand Prix, and attracting visitors to come to the event over the weekend.

Spectacular races will commence on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th at the north end of the beach featuring around 40 teams; the southern end of Fistral Beach will remain open for public use. Races will take place from midday through to 5.30pm on each day of the weekend.

Teams, including local Royal Marines from RAF St Mawgan, will cut through the surf, performing daring and spectacular aerial leaps as they propel themselves through the sea at speeds of up to 50 mph.

Blue Chip Newquay has over 170 high quality self-catering properties in Newquay that are available for short-breaks over the Blue Chip Newquay Zapcat Grand Prix. Three-night stays start from £258, and if you book for Zapcats weekend, yuo could be in with a chance of winning an exclusive Zapcats VIP day, including a cruise around Fistral Bay in a Zapcat!