Building upon a pair of successful kilo run records set during last year’s Suncoast Grand Prix in Sarasota, Fla., Super Boat International (SBI) announced it will be holding another round of world speed record attempts on July 2 as part of its 2010 event.

Obviously, competition in cool weather is best for engine performance and setting records, but the organization believes holding the record runs in July will allow more time for teams to test and prepare their boats for record-setting attempts.

Al Copeland Jr. hopes to set a speed record in Phenomenon, a 56-foot catamaran he unveiled at the Key West World Championships.

With a full year under its belt, the Platinum Powerboat Club is reaching out in a little different way in 2010. After raising more than $60,000 for children in need and giving 400-plus charity powerboat rides since its inception in late 2008, the club is expanding to other events around the country.

Dubbed the 2010 Puttin’ on the Wish tour, the club will bring its charity rides to a handful of established performance-boating events, including the Desert Storm Poker Run in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., at the end of April.

“Desert Storm will be our first event of the year,” said Joy Schou, founder of the Platinum Powerboat Club. “We started this club to help make a difference, and in order to keep the club growing and moving forward, we have to reach out to other events and other people.”

Powerboat P1 plans to launch a North American version of its successful offshore racing tour by producing races as early as 2011.

“The United States market is critical to any multi-national company involved in motorsports marketing,” said Asif Rangoonwala, chairman of Powerboat P1, in a press release. “We view participation in the USA as an essential element in our growth as a World Championship and as a business.”

Powerboat P1 USA has reportedly received sanctioning from the American Power Boat Association (APBA). It already has the backing of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the worldwide sanctioning body for the sport.

The Powerboat P1 tour has spent the last two years raising its profile in the U.S. market and looking at possible venues that could be added to the Powerboat P1 World Championship. Initial plans for the Powerboat P1 USA series include three V-bottom classes using the tour's power-to-weight ratio.