San Diego Bayfair Welcomes Return of H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes
The world’s fastest boats return to San Diego’s Mission Bay for the annual end-of-summer tradition, San Diego Bayfair, running September 12-14, 2025. Southern California’s largest beach festival promises a high-octane celebration of speed and horsepower.
For three exhilarating days, six H1 Unlimited hydroplanes are expected to thunder across the 2.5-mile Bill Muncey racecourse as the San Diego race will determine H1 Unlimited’s 2025 National Champion.
“Bayfair is more than a race—it’s a San Diego tradition,” said Bob Davies, Bayfair’s race director. “The hydroplanes bring generations of fans together, and we’re proud to welcome them back on Mission Bay.”
More than 90,000 people are expected to attend the festival that takes over East Vacation Island, Crown Point and Fiesta Island. Bayfair 2025 brings a full weekend packed with live music, a cornhole tournaments, car shows, craft beer gardens and more. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, a classic boat racing fan, or simply looking for a memorable weekend by the bay, there is something for everyone.
“San Diego has a rich tradition that resonates deeply with both our teams and fans,” said Darrell Strong, co-owner of H1 Unlimited. “We’re excited to return and crown the next National Champion on Mission Bay.”
Goodman Real Estate’s Andrew Tate currently leads the H1 Unlimited national championship by 400 points over J Michael Kelly. Kelly won the 2024 Bill Muncey Cup and the Gold Cup in San Diego.
Hosting Bayfair is a point of pride for San Diego. More than 500 volunteers help stage the annual event on Mission Bay and Bayfair is a major driver of hotel room nights for the San Diego area.
“Without the support of the San Diego Tourism Marketing District, an event of this scale wouldn’t be possible,” Davies said. “We encourage our fans to stay in hotels and make it an extended vacation in San Diego.”
Founded in 1964, Mission Bay Park was built to host H1 Unlimited hydroplane races. From the oval course to the banked shores to dissipate boat wakes, the layout was designed for the best view on the circuit. Tickets and VIP packages are now on sale at SanDiegoBayfair.org.
