Betting on Boat Racing: The Biggest and Best Races to Bet on

Any type of travel, whether it is by sea, ground, or air will eventually lead to a competition to see which person can do it the fastest. Yachting was something that the rich used to do as a hobby, but it has since become more accessible to the middle class, and now there are plenty of sailing races that you can bet on at the biggest and best sports betting sites. In this article, we are going to look at the various boat races that you can bet on as well as some of the biggest boat races in the world.

Types of Boat Racing You Can Bet On

Boat racing is something that now comes in many different sizes and shapes. In some boating competitions, athletes power the boats, while in others it is all about a single person and a boat with a high-octane engine. Then there are also the long-distance races that see crews having to rely on teamwork and the weather to carry their yachts over the winning line. Boat racing betting websites have a little something for everyone nowadays, and below we are going to look at the various boat racing types that you can put your money on. If you want to find out more about betting on boat races, then take a look at this guide.

Hydroplane Racing

Hydroplane racing is for those adrenaline junkies as it is something that involves high-speed boats with just one operator in control of it. You can think of these competitions as something similar to Formula 1 or NASCAR, with the main difference being that they take place on water and not a track. These amazing vessels use their huge horsepower to force water to the bottom of the boat, which then lifts the front of the vessel out the water completely.

There are many competitions now for these machines, and they feature hydroplanes of different engine size and various classes. You have the Grand Prix boats that come with big V8 engines, the unlimited hydroplanes that are capable of speeds of more than 200mph, and the pro-class powerboats.

You will find powerboat races across Europe, Asia, and the United States. In Japan, most forms of sports betting have been made illegal, but it is still legal to bet on boat races because of its cultural importance.

Rowing

Rowing is a type of boat racing in which the vessel is powered by human strength, oars, teamwork, and endurance. Crews of different sizes row in tandem to create a strong momentum to propel the craft to the finish line. When it comes to rowing competitions, one of the biggest is called The Boat Race, which sees rowers from Cambridge University take on rivals from Oxford University in a race on the River Thames. You can find out a little bit more about this race a bit further down the page.

Yachting and Sailing

In sailing, the vessel is moved forward by using the power of the wind. When it comes to sailing racing, the crew coordinates the sail riggings, the rudder movement, and the keel to force the wind into the foils so that the boat moves in the desired direction. A good sailor will be able to master the seas and the winds to steer their boat to the finish line.

Yachts are the biggest class of sailboat, and the biggest boat races usually involve this type of vessel. You will find some races that use dinghies, and you will be able to bet on such races too in most cases. Some of the biggest yacht races in the world are the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Cowes Week, and the Americas Cup. We talk about these big races in a bit more detail a little later on.

Biggest Events to Bet on Boat Racing

There are hundreds of boat races that take place all over the year and all over the world, but there are some that are much bigger than others, and these are what we are going to take the time to look at now.

The Boat Race

As we mentioned briefly above, The Boat Race is a rowing competition between rowers from Oxford and Cambridge Universities that is raced each year in London, England. This race has been an annual event all the way back to 1856, apart from when the two World Wars were taking place. Cambridge currently lead the way with 84 wins to their name, while Oxford has won this race 80 times.

There is a men’s and women’s team of eight crew members, and the race is 4.2 miles long. More than 250,000 spectators turn out to watch it live, and around 15 million people tune in to watch it on the television, so it is little wonder that all the best betting sites have made sure that they offer markets for this amateur showdown.

America's Cup

This is another big event for boat racing sports betting sites, and it is a race that takes place between two sailing yachts. In order for a race to be scheduled, an agreement first needs to be made between the person who holds the cup, who is called the “Defender”, and the person who wants to try and take it off them, known as the “Challenger”.

This yacht race just so happens to be one of the most prestigious in the world, and it is actually the oldest sporting trophy known to man. The competing yachts will attract the best sailors and ship makers as well as some big sponsors and wealthy donors. If you are into yacht race betting, we are pretty sure that you have bet on this huge event before. If not, then what have you been waiting for?

Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Every year, one of the world’s most difficult sailing races is organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is roughly 1.5 days long, with the fastest finishing time in history being one day, nine hours, and 15 mins. The number of competitors in the race grows with each passing year, with more than 100 entries nowadays.

However, the contestants are handicapped according to length, shape, weight, and the sail dimensions. Despite the different categories and handicaps, the crews still battle it out for line honours, which goes to the first boat over the finish line. This often goes to the newest and biggest yacht competing in the race.

Bookies that offer sailing betting will have a variety of markets for this race that you can choose from to bet on. You can bet on the winner, the margin of victory, the top three finishers, and so on.

Kyotei Grand Prix

Kyotei in Japanese means boat racing and, as mentioned earlier, it is one of few sports that you can bet on in Japan. These powerboat races are done on 600-meter courses on man-made lakes - there are six participants in each race, and each one has to try and complete three laps the fastest. The highest Kyotei level gets the SG designation, and the best racers get to take part in the Grand Prix, which is the most lucrative race.

Betting on Kyotei races has become really popular for the Japanese, and there are no fewer than 24 stadiums across the country that hosts such races. Due to its popularity, you will find markets for it at a wide variety of sports betting sites.

The Ocean Race

The Ocean Race, known now as the Volvo Ocean Race for sponsorship reasons, used to be called the Whitbread Round the World Race. Since 1973, it takes place every three years. It starts in October in Europe and is the most challenging boat race in the world because it is nearly nine months long. The competitors have to put up with some adverse weather conditions in order to complete it.