U.K.-Based Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore Head Coming To Key West With Strong Media Focus

After closing its borders to most international travel more than a year-and-a-half ago, the United States opened them today for COVID-19-vaccinated travelers from abroad. Among today’s travelers is Azam Rangoonwala, the chief executive officer of London-based Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore and he’ll arrive tomorrow in Key West, Fla., for the weeklong Race World Offshore-produced, American Power Boat Association/Union Internationale Motonautique Offshore World Championships.

After skipping a year, offshore powerboat racing’s world championships return to Key West, Fla,, this week. Photo from the 2019 Race Offshore Key West World Championships by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Rangoonwala, whose P1 Offshore group produced three races in Florida—Cocoa Beach, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg—as part of the APBA Offshore National Championship Series—and his team are working closely with Race World Offshore head Larry Bleil on the Key West event. More specifically, Rangoonwala will oversee five days of race filming for domestic and international television broadcasts.

“P1 has an exclusive TV filming and distribution rights agreement in place with the APBA, together with a ten-year, worldwide deal with the UIM for Class 1 offshore racing covering all commercial rights,” he said before departing his London headquarters. “We are committed to growing the sport and fanbase of offshore powerboat racing using our global television distribution, content production and creation.

“To be back in the United States will be a great feeling on both a personal level and to reconnect with the industry now that international travel has resumed,” he continued. “There will be a strong concentration of stakeholders in Key West, and we look forward to having some very productive conversations—but also listening to what teams, sponsors, and fans alike have to say.”

Powerboat P1 has a strong, long-standing business relationship with Greenlight Television, which is a television program production and distribution company also based in the U.K In April, P1 announced that it had renewed its agreement with Bally Sports to provide national coverage on its family of regional sports networks, as well as CBS Sports Network.

With the 222 Offshore Australia (above) and Huski Chocolate teams already committed to the 2021 season, Rangoonwala is bullish on the future of Class 1. Photo from Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach 2019 by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

According to a press release from the organization, the current potential world reach of the broadcast deals is “more than 230 million homes” with Greenlight producing a one-hour television program from each round of the APBA national championships. Action from the 2021 Key West Worlds will be broadcast live Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on the Race World Offshore website and Facebook page while an hour-long, Greenlight-produced television program will air before the end of the year.

“Quality content creation is an essential building block for any successful motorsport,” said Rangoonwala. “I believe that TV has a hand in creating the future of the sports it shows. To that end, we are excited to welcome the likes of Huski Chocolate and Huski Wear to the pinnacle of the sport in Class 1—with more on the horizon.”

“This year provided a significant step forward for our business as we welcomed new venues, a new CEO, and several new partnerships,” he added. “I’m confident we will take that progress into next year and continue to build on it.”

U.K.-Based Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore Head Coming To Key West With Strong Media Focus

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