Some of the fastest racing boats in the country will roar across Lake Hollingsworth this weekend as the Orange Cup Regatta returns Oct. 16–18, bringing two days of high-speed competition and a Friday evening kickoff party to Lakeland.
Nicknamed the “Quake of the Lake,” the event features powerful hydroplanes and other racing boats that can reach speeds of 150 mph. Spectators can expect roaring engines, towering plumes of spray as drivers race around the lake.
The Orange Cup Regatta is one of Polk County’s longest-running sporting traditions. Lake Hollingsworth is known among racing enthusiasts as the “Lake of Records” because of the many speed records set there over the decades. The event is also one of the Southeast’s largest inboard powerboat races.
The festivities begin with Friday’s Pit Party from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Visitors can meet drivers and crews, see the racing boats up close, enjoy food trucks, and listen to live music.
Racing takes place Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. Saturday’s competition uses a 1.25-mile course, while Sunday’s races take place on a 1-mile course. Competitors have opportunities to earn racing points and break speed records both days.
Watching from the lakeshore is free. Spectators can bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks and enjoy the races from almost anywhere along Lake Hollingsworth. Access to the racing pit area at Lakeland Yacht Club requires an American Power Boat Association membership, with a $25 single-event option for nonmembers.
For more information about attending, visit Visit Central Florida’s event page. Can’t make it to the lake? The races will also be livestreamed via the Orange Cup Regatta Facebook page.
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