Powerboat racing enthusiasts will have to wait at least another week for the annual Rubis Around the Island Race to take place after organisers postponed today’s spectacle because of thunderstorms.

Twenty boats spread across five classes were primed for battle when the race committee decided best to keep the racing fleet on shore because of the adverse conditions.

“Due to the thunderstorm advisory that was issued at 11.30am, and the lightning that is sitting off of South Shore, we’ve had to make the unfortunate decision to call the Around the Island Race today,” Janae Nesbitt, the Bermuda Power Boat Association commodore, told The Royal Gazette.

“We are looking to go on August 24. If not, we’ll push it to August 31.”

Today’s inclement weather also forced postponement of the model boat race and jet-ski race scheduled to take place at Ferry Reach before the main event.

Among this year’s racing fleet is Quincé Dowling and Tai Bean, who claimed C class honours and had the honour of parading the coveted chequered flag in front of hundreds of spectators gathered at Ferry Reach after being the first boat overall across the finish line last year.

New champions were to be crowned in S class, with Andrew Cottingham and Henry Talbot having vacated their crown, as well as in C class because Dowling and Bean are competing in B class this time around. There is no BV class this year.

Back to defend their titles are Bobby DeCosta (D class), Shane Madeiros (A class) and Phillip Raposo (B class). Madeiros is again competing with co-pilot Errin Butterfield; while DeCosta and Raposo are racing with new co-pilots Joshua Holder and Ferdinand Arnold this time around.

Professional racers and past winners Steven Bridges and David Selley have registered in S class but have yet to determine whether they will compete.