Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and other water-borne craft for as long as such watercraft have existed.
There are three broad categories of boat racing which define how the watercraft are powered. Self-propelled, human powered boats; wind (sail) powered boats; and motorised, frequently referred to as motorboats or powerboats.
Dragon boat racing – a type of human-powered watercraft racing, originating from oriental Asia
Rowing (sport) – a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers or lakes, or on the ocean in special types of ocean-going rowing boats
Canoe racing – competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking
Kayak racing
Outrigger canoe racing
Yacht racing – the sport of competitive yachting
Team racing – also known as teams racing, is a popular form of yacht racing
Inshore powerboat racing – and within this category, the F1 Powerboat World Championship
Offshore powerboat racing – racing by large, specially designed ocean-going powerboats
XCAT Racing – a sport involving Extreme Catamarans or XCATs; XCAT Racing is promoted by the World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA) and governed by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM)
Drag boat racing – a form of drag racing which takes place on water rather than land
Hydroplane racing – a sport involving racing hydroplanes on lakes and rivers
Jet sprint boat racing
Swamp buggy racing – although not technically classed as boats, these specialist craft race tri-annually on swampy area circuits in the Florida region
Kyōtei – parimutuel boat racing in Japan, referred to as "BOAT RACE"
Match race – a race between two competitors, going head-to-head
The Boat Race – between Oxford and Cambridge Universities
The Welsh Boat Race – between Cardiff and Swansea Universities
The Northumbrian Water University Boat Race – between the University of Durham and the University of Newcastle
Vallam Kali – the traditional Snake Boat Race in Kerala, India
Nehru Trophy Boat Race – Snake Boat Race in Alleppy, Kerala, India
Musi Triboatton – an annually international boat race across more than 500 km of Musi River in South Sumatra, Indonesia
The Volvo Ocean Race
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
The Vendee Globe – a round-the-world, non-stop, single-handed yacht race
The Velux 5 Oceans Race – a round-the-world, staged, single-handed yacht race; originally known as the 'BOC Challenge', and then the 'Around Alone'
The Fastnet Race
The Harvard–Yale Regatta – also known as 'The Race'
24 Heures Motonautiques de Rouen – a 24-hour circuit boat race in Rouen, France
Archer eade memorial – an unlimited outboard race consisting of six laps
