KENNEWICK — With the season set to begin for the H 1 Unlimited hydroplanes, July 3-5 at Madison, Indiana and the Gold Cup, race teams will stage their annual “Spring Training” event on the Columbia River in Tri Cities, Saturday, May 30.
Tri-City hydroplane testing is the annual preseason event on the Columbia River where H1 Unlimited teams take to the water to test equipment. It serves as an official kickoff to the racing season and a preview for the summer’s main races.
• Date: Saturday, May 30.
• Location: Columbia Park in Kennewick, Washington.
• Time: Boats typically hit the water starting at 9:00 a.m. (following morning driver meetings) and testing runs through the afternoon.
• What to Expect: Watch multiple classes of hydroplanes (including the H1 Unlimiteds) dial in their speeds and make off-season adjustments.
• Cost: It is generally free for the public to attend, though organizers may charge a small parking fee (usually around \(\$5\)) for general lots.
For exact schedule updates and parking details, visit waterfollies.com or check out www.h1unlimited.com. This testing directly paves the way for the Apollo Columbia Cup and the STCU Over-the-River Air Show, which are held later in the summer on July 24–26.
The complete race schedule and locations are as follows:
• May 30: Pre-Season Testing (Tri-Cities, WA)
• July 3–5: APBA Gold Cup (Madison, IN)
• July 24–26: Columbia Cup (Tri-Cities, WA)
• July 31–Aug 2: Apollo Mechanical Cup / Seafair (Seattle, WA)
• Sept 18–20: San Diego Bayfair (San Diego, CA)
The H1 series will invoke a variety of changes for 2026 racing events and they include:
New Scoring Format: The league is abandoning draw-based heat lineups. Instead, they will implement Total Weekend Points, a cumulative format where Time Trials, preliminary heats, and the Final connect into one continuous bracket.
Classic Course Return: The Madison Regatta is bringing back its historic 2.5-mile course layout following fan feedback demanding the longer stretch.
Streaming Coverage: Fans can watch every qualifying session and heat race streamed live on the H1 Unlimited YouTube Channel.