A boat racing club’s banquet has more to cover than most. There are class champions, but a boat is raced by more than a driver: there is often a throttleman or co-driver, a crew that rebuilt the motor overnight and a rescue crew that sat on the water all season. The banquet is the one night all of them are in the same room.
This guide is a list in banquet order, with notes on how to count each line. It works for drag, hydroplane, outboard and offshore clubs alike; trim the classes and categories to what your club actually ran.
High point champions by class
The core of the banquet is the season points table. Most clubs award the champion and the next two places in each class, and more places in deep classes. Settle the eligibility rule, such as a minimum number of events, before counting.
- Class champion. The largest piece for each class, with the driver and boat name.
- Points places. Second and third, sometimes deeper, in a matching smaller design.
- Overall or national champion. If your club or association names one champion across classes, count it separately.
Points championship awards covers how deep to award, ties and eligibility in more detail.
Driver, throttleman and crew
In classes raced by two people, the co-driver or throttleman earned the result too. Many clubs give both a matching award, with each name on its own piece, rather than one trophy to share. Ask for both names when you collect the results.
Crews deserve their own line. Crew chief of the year, team of the year and best appearing boat recognize the people who keep boats running between rounds and the effort that goes into a clean rig.
Season Champion
Pro Class
Boat name
Driver and throttleman names
2026
For design ideas such as putting the boat name above the driver name, see power boat racing trophy ideas.
Rookie, most improved and hard luck
Rookie of the year goes to the best first-season driver. Some clubs award one per class, others one overall; decide which and count it once.
Most improved recognizes the driver who climbed furthest in the points or the standings.
Hard luck is for the driver who led and broke, flipped or sank and came back. It is often the most applauded award of the night, as long as the driver is in on the joke.
More category ideas from other forms of racing are in racing banquet award categories.
Rescue crew, officials and volunteers
No boat race starts without a rescue boat on the water. The rescue and safety crew, divers, turn judges, scorers, the starter and the people who set the course and run the pits all belong on the banquet list.
Count this line by role, not from memory: go through each job at a race weekend and write a name against it. Volunteer awards has options, and sponsors are covered in sponsor plaques.
Perpetual trophies
A perpetual that stays with the club and gains a name plate each year gives a class or a title its history. The plate for this season’s winner needs to be ready at the banquet, and it is the piece most often left off the order.
Send a photo of the existing plates so the new one follows the same layout. Perpetual trophies covers planning plates and what to do when a perpetual is full.
A banquet list you can copy
| Award | How many | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Class champion | 1 per class | Two pieces in two-person classes |
| Points places | 2 or more per class | Same design, smaller |
| Overall or national champion | 1 | Counted separately from class awards |
| Rookie of the year | 1, or 1 per class | Decide which before counting |
| Most improved and hard luck | 1 each | Optional but popular |
| Crew chief or team of the year | 1 each | Names from the team |
| Rescue crew and officials | 1 per crew or role | Count by role |
| Perpetual plates | 1 per perpetual | Send a photo of existing plates |
| Sponsors | 1 per sponsor | From the sponsorship agreements |
For a line-by-line counting method, see how many awards for a banquet, and for the wider season-end order, end-of-season awards.
Ordering the set
Send the final points, the special awards with names, your club logo and the banquet date. We design the set in one family, class awards and specials together, and send a proof before anything is produced. For timing, work back from the banquet date and ask us for the current lead time; how far in advance to order explains how. Other boating events are collected on the boating event awards hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many places should a boat racing club award per class?
Champion plus two more places is common, with deeper awards in large classes. Apply the eligibility rule first, then count.
Should the throttleman or co-driver get an award?
In two-person classes, yes. Many clubs give a matching piece to each person rather than one trophy to share.
What is a hard luck award?
An award for the driver whose season was hit by breakdowns or crashes but who kept racing. Check that the driver will enjoy it before you present it.
Who belongs on the volunteer line?
Rescue and safety crew, divers, turn judges, scorers, the starter, pit and course crews and anyone who ran registration. Count by role.
When should the perpetual plate be ordered?
With the rest of the banquet order, as soon as the champion is known, so it is ready for the presentation.
Ready to order the season’s boat racing awards?
Send your class list, the final points and the special awards you give, with your club logo and the banquet date. We lay out the whole set on one design proof for you to approve before anything is produced.
See power boat racing trophies
