Jet boat racing's long wait for a confirmed world championship date is over. River Racing New Zealand has officially locked in the 2027 New Zealand UIM World Jet Boat Championship, set to run from 19 to 28 November 2027. The ten-day event opens in Queenstown and closes in Christchurch, routing competitors through some of the most technically punishing river systems found anywhere on the planet.
Four classes are confirmed for the championship: Unlimited, A Class, CX and FX. The FX-Evo class is also in contention, though its inclusion remains subject to UIM approval. Threading through the mountain terrain of Central Otago before reaching the Canterbury finish, the course alone sets an extraordinarily high bar for every crew that lines up.
That championship announcement, significant as it is, sits within a larger picture. Back in December 2025, River Racing NZ revealed that the World Jet Boat Marathons would be held in November of both 2027 and 2028, pending UIM ratification. Running consecutive world-level endurance events in back-to-back years is a bold scheduling choice, and it hands competitors an unusually clear window in which to plan. Both marathons are expected to play out across South Island river systems, most likely linking the waterways between Canterbury and Otago and Southland, with crews covering roughly 1000km of fast, technical racing per event. Precise start and finish locations are still being finalised, with further course detail to follow once the route is confirmed.
November was no accident. River Racing NZ spokesperson Aidan Flett explains that the timing reflects a considered assessment of conditions and practicalities. "November gives us the best mix of river conditions, daylight hours, and event certainty for teams travelling from around the world," he says. Announcing the dates this far in advance, he adds, gives international crews the preparation time they need for what he describes as some of the most demanding river racing terrain in the world.
North American competitors are being actively recruited for both the 2027 and 2028 marathons, with River Racing NZ extending a direct invitation to teams from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Acknowledging the real challenges involved in shipping equipment across the Pacific, the association is compiling a list of boats available for lease or purchase within New Zealand ahead of each event. The intention is to give overseas racers a workable path into competition, removing the complexity and expense of transporting their own machinery from home.
Teams can register their interest through River Racing NZ's Expression of Interest form, which covers pre-run boat access for course familiarisation as well as accommodation, vehicles and crew logistics. Flett is clear about the ambition driving the initiative. "We want international crews to feel confident that they can arrive, race hard, and enjoy the full New Zealand marathon experience," he says.
Additional details on course specifics, entry dates and boat availability are expected to be released in the months ahead.
