Doubts over powerboat racing return to broad following fatal crash |
Brett Duncan, 51, was killed in a high speed crash on Oulton Broad in July last year.
Powerboat driver Brett Duncan, who died in a high speed collision on Oulton Broad. (Image: Mick Howes/Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club)
Racing was temporarily suspended on the Suffolk broad as investigations were launched after the tragic crash, and the 2025 race season ended early last September.
With the 2026 season due to begin next month, officials at Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club (LOBMBC) based atNicholas Everitt Park have now said that they "simply can’t confirm the restart” of racing.
With a competitive racing history on Oulton Broad that stretches back to August 1903, the club has organised racing at the venue since 1933.
Now they remain locked in talks with East Suffolk Council and the Broads Authority over the return to racing to the waterway which is recognised as the world's oldest powerboat racing venue.
Tributes to Mr Duncan as flowers were left at the edge of the water on Oulton Broad (Image: Mick Howes)
Updating members on the current situation, directors and management at LOBMBC said: "It is with a very heavy heart we have to announce that at this time we cannot confirm the season will go ahead, albeit the ongoing work to make this happen continues, we simply can’t confirm the restart of our club and it’s racing activities.
"As we move ever closer to what would be the 'usual' season start in early May, time is obviously very much of the essence.
"The club management have gone above and beyond to try and deliver an agreeable solution but still find further work and justification is left to resolve."
Brett Duncan was 51 years old. Image: Circuit Powerboat Association (Image: Circuit Powerboat Association)
Mr Duncan, a father-of-two from Ipswich, died on July 24, 2025, when his powerful hydroplane craft hit a stationary houseboat moored in the vicinity of North Bay during the ninth round of the LOBMBC club championships.
The Broads Authority said the collision happened beyond the boundary of the official race area.
The houseboat moored on Oulton Broad. Image: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) attended the scene but later confirmed it would not be conducting a formal investigation, as neither vessel was engaged in commercial activity.
East Suffolk Council has conducted its own investigation, with the Broads Authority involved throughout.
'Absolutely everything has been done'
An East Suffolk Council spokesman told this newspaper: “We continue to liaise with the club and Broads Authority as the club works towards a solution that demonstrates racing can take place safely in the coming season."
LOBMBC said they are hopeful of holding a planned on-water demonstration of activity to highlight to the relevant authorities what a safe return to racing looks like, but "additional documentation and safety assessments" are still required before any restart can be sanctioned.
The club said they were continuing to do its very best to resume racing, adding: "Whilst this is such sad news to deliver please be certain absolutely everything has been done to try to find middle ground and get racing back on the Broad."