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Boat Race: The Basics

The same boat can race in totally different ways depending on who rides it. As you watch Boat Race, you'll notice how much the details and characteristics can vary from racer to racer, but you'll get more out of it by learning the basics. Even if you're a beginner, the following five points are all you need to keep in mind. Let's start by taking a look at what happens right in front of you.

6-Boat Contest

Boat Race is a competition in which six boats race to the finishing line. The boat racers' uniforms and boats are color-coded as follows:

3 Laps Counterclockwise

After passing the starting line, the boats vie for the lead by racing around the first and second turn markers in order, completing three laps around the dedicated course. At three laps of 600 meters per lap, that makes for an 1,800 meters course.

The Unique Way Races Start

Unlike the “standing start” used in athletic events, Boat Race employs the "Flying Start" system, in which boats must pass the starting line within a designated time frame.

From Warm-Up to Start

The six boats “pit-out” all at once, but before crossing the starting line, they warm up by sprinting clockwise around Marker 2 and the shortcut prevention buoy.

Flying (F) and Late (L) Starts

In Boat Race, a boat can take an advantage by passing the starting line ahead of all the others.

However, if a boat crosses the line too early before the needle on the giant clock hits 0, it’s called a “Flying Start (F)”. If it crosses too late after the needle hits 1, it’s called a “Late Start (L)”. In either case, the boat is scratched from the race and the bets on that boat are refunded. Be sure to hang on to your betting ticket.

Race Guide

Day-long racing sessions are performed on a regular basis, and they include twelve races each.

Check the location-based schedule to see when you can catch a wide variety of events, like regular races, the Rookie series, and the Venus series. On a monthly basis, there are also graded races marked as G1, G2, and G3 performed by racers of both genders, as well as G3 (All Ladies) and G3 (Masters League) categories.

Find your soonest chance to enjoy Boat Race!

Locations & Schedule

High Profile
Race Guide

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Back Story

Boat Race may look sleek and modern, but it’s got over 70 years of history. Although you may know it best for its high action and split-second decisions that make it an exciting motor sport, Boat Race is one of four publicly managed sports that support local governments and communities across Japan. Keep reading to see how fans and racers alike contribute to improving Japanese society.

Story

Beginning

After widespread damage from World War II, local goverments across Japan needed to find sources of reconstruction funds, so a few forms of publicly managed sports gambling were established. Horse racing was revived in 1946, the year after the end of the war, followed by bicycle racing in 1948, and auto racing in 1950.

Boat races were first held in 1952 at the Omura Boat Racetrack in Omura City, Nagasaki Prefecture, based on the Motorboat Racing Act that was enacted in 1951.

This was the world's first publicly sponsored boat race.

Story

Present Day

Boat Race is hosted and operated by 35 municipalities and 24 racetracks across the country. It is still under the supervision of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in accordance with the Motorboat Racing Act.

Every year, 75 percent of the money that comes in through Boat Race tickets sales is given to successful betters. The remainder is given as a grant to the Nippon Foundation to promote the shipbuilding industry, as well as other public interest and welfare projects. Local governments also use the funds for regional development.

Growth

As Japan's economy rapidly grew, new boat racetracks were opened across the country, and this generated a large amount of revenue.

Not only did it become a source of revenue for local governments, but the facilities at the boat racetracks were also improved, leading to live broadcasts of the races, as well as other televised broadcasts.

As times changed, fans got involved with telephone and internet betting, and boat racing was established as both a sport and a leisure activity.

Social
Contribution

As a public interest corporation and an organization of professional athletes, the Association of Professional Motorboat Racers engages in charitable activities that contribute to society at large.

Boat Race also contributes to local communities, such as supporting the construction of public facilities like schools and hospitals, as well as promoting local businesses.

YM-730 Type Boat

The YM-730 is a hydroplane wooden boat. It is manufactured with an overall length of 2,895 mm, a width of 1,316 mm, and a weight between 68 kg and 70 kg. It is equipped with a soft bow at the tip to absorb shock in the event of a collision.

For several reasons, the boats are made of wood. The boat materials must be strong enough to withstand impact and light enough to allow speedy movement on the water. Wood meets these requirements, and it is also an excellent material in terms of ease of construction.

Engine

The motor attached to the boat is a two-cylinder, approximately 400 cc, two-stroke motor that uses a fuel mixture of gasoline and oil. The maximum output is 31 PS at 6,600 revolutions per minute. There are about 60 motors available at each racetrack, and they all get regularly inspected and replaced once a year, but which motor is used by which racer is decided by lottery the day before the race!

Not only that, but the boats and propellers (Yamato propellers, nicknamed “pellers”) are all decided by lottery as well. That means a Boat Racer’s battle starts in the garage, because they must be their own mechanics and combine and adjust these crucial elements themselves.