Orange Cup Regatta brings 150-mph powerboats to Lake Hollingsworth Oct. 16–18

Racing boats capable of about 150 mph will run on Lake Hollingsworth this weekend as the Orange Cup Regatta returns Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16–18. Watching from the shore costs nothing; spectators can bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks, according to LkldNow.

The weekend opens with a Friday evening Pit Party, where visitors can meet drivers and crews, see the boats up close, and find food trucks and live music. Racing follows Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting, on a longer course the first day and a shorter one the second.

Free shoreline, paid pit access

The racing pit area is at Lakeland Yacht Club, and getting in requires an American Power Boat Association membership. The sanctioning body's event page says APBA members need not buy anything but should bring their card to registration, while nonmembers should buy a $25 single-event membership, one per person.

Visit Central Florida lists the venue address as 929 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. APBA's directions to the yacht club run from South Florida Avenue to Beacon Road, then left on Beacon and right on Lake Hollingsworth Drive. A second route takes Highway 98 North to Crystal Lake Drive, then Lake Hollingsworth Drive to the club.

Check times before heading out

LkldNow reports racing hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, while Visit Central Florida's listing shows 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Drivers hold their meeting Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the pits, according to APBA. Because racing depends on the weather, it is worth confirming the schedule the morning you go.

Anyone who can't get to the lake can watch the livestream on the Orange Cup Regatta Facebook page.

Why racers come to Lake Hollingsworth

LkldNow calls the regatta one of Polk County's longest-running sporting traditions and notes the lake's nickname among racers, the Lake of Records, earned from speed records set there over the decades. Visit Central Florida says it is the only regatta in Florida where competitors can earn double APBA points by racing both Saturday and Sunday.