Race World Offshore has locked in Courtyard by Marriott Key West as a sponsor for the 2026 Key West event, securing accommodation for teams, crews and fans heading to the Florida Keys for next season's racing.
The resort-style hotel sits just minutes from Duval Street. Organisers have flagged two details that matter to anyone travelling with a boat or trailer in tow: no resort fees, and free parking, which is not something to take for granted in Key West.
For Kiwi teams who've made the long trip across for Key West racing in past seasons, that combination counts. Offshore powerboat campaigns already carry heavy freight and logistics costs, without a hotel nickel-and-diming guests on top.
The property offers spacious suites, a beach suited to sunbathing or launching a kayak, and a junior Olympic-sized pool. There's a Tiki Bar on site too, useful for teams and supporters looking to unwind after a day on the water.
Courtyard by Marriott Key West has picked up the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award every year from 2022 through 2025, a run that reflects consistency rather than a single good season.
Key West has long been one of the anchor events on the Race World Offshore calendar, drawing international teams and a strong spectator crowd to watch raceboats hammer through the channel at speed. Accommodation sponsors like this one keep the event running behind the scenes, housing crews, officials and visiting fans across race week. It joins a growing list of 2026 backers, with Ocean Key Resort & Spa, situated right at Zero Duval Street, also positioning itself as a base for travelling fans during the November 1 to 8 championships.
For New Zealand followers of the sport, Key West remains one of the glamour stops on the international circuit, a venue where Kiwi drivers and teams have tested themselves against strong American and international fields.
No race results or standings have come out of this announcement; it's purely hospitality news ahead of the 2026 season.
Still, anyone plotting a trip to follow the action in person should sort these details now rather than closer to race week, when rooms in Key West tend to disappear fast.
