Madison Regatta facts for kids

The Indiana Governor's Cup (also known as the Madison Regatta) is an exciting boat race held every year in Madison, Indiana. It takes place on the Ohio River during the Independence Day weekend. This race features special boats called H1 Unlimited hydroplanes, which are super fast and skim across the water! Madison has hosted this amazing race almost every year since 1951. Did you know that a movie called Madison, starring Jim Caviezel, was inspired by this very race? The Regatta was also part of the important APBA Gold Cup race series in 1979, 1980, 2019, and 2021.

History of the Madison Regatta

Even before the official races, people were having informal boat races in Madison, Indiana as early as 1911. The first big race happened in 1929. This was organized by the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association (MVPBA). They held a race for the "725 Cubic Inch Class" boats. After World War II, this class of boats grew into what we now call the "Unlimited Class."

In 1930, the MVPBA held the Webb Trophy race in Madison. The Webb Trophy was like their biggest award, similar to the APBA's APBA Gold Cup. These 725s raced in Madison throughout the 1930s. However, racing stopped for a while after a huge flood on the Ohio River in 1937 and then because of World War II.

The Modern Era of Racing

The current series of regattas in Madison started in 1949. This was a less formal race, managed by the Ohio Valley Motor Boat Racing Association. The biggest boats racing then were from the 225 Cubic Inch Class.

The first Unlimited race in Madison took place in 1950. These early Unlimited races from 1950 to 1953 were often just one heat and included different types of boats. They didn't count for the National High Points championship.

The first Unlimited race that counted for National High Points happened in 1954. This was largely thanks to Phil Cole, a writer for the Madison Courier newspaper. For a race to be a "High Points Unlimited race," it needs to have at least two heats and at least four boats starting legally.

Madison had a continuous run of High Points Unlimited races every year from 1954 through 2012. Sadly, the 2013 races were canceled because the Ohio River flooded, covering the pit area where the boats are prepared. However, other events connected to the regatta still happened. The 2015 race was also canceled due to high water and debris. In 2020, the race was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Madison has been chosen to host some very important races over the years. It hosted the famous APBA Gold Cup in 1971, 1979–1980, 2019, and 2021. It also hosted the U.I.M. World's Championship in 1972 and 2004.

The Madison committee, called Madison Regatta, Inc., is the longest continuously active Unlimited racing committee in the entire country! They have hosted the Unlimited races every year since 1950 (except for the canceled years).

List of Madison Regatta Winners

2008 winner FormulaBoats.com

Here is a list of the winners of the Madison Regatta over the years: Source:

¹ H1 Unlimited canceled the 2015 race because of high water and debris on the Ohio River where six of the 11 boats withdrew. A non-championship race was held instead with five boats.