The engines at Oulton Broad have been silent since last summer.
It’s been almost a year since that awful accident where Brett Duncan lost his life, and powerboat racing still hasn't come back. Honestly, the question everyone around Lowestoft is asking right now is pretty simple. What actually needs to happen before they can safely get boats back on the water?
East Suffolk Council has now confirmed that discussions are continuing with the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club about finding a safe way forward.
In response to questions from Lowestoft Wire, an East Suffolk Council spokesperson said: “A report has been submitted to HM Coroner following investigations by East Suffolk Council. It would be inappropriate to comment further until the inquest has taken place.
“We are continuing discussions with the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club as it works towards a solution for racing to place safely for participants and other users of Oulton Broad this season.”
Lowestoft Wire also contacted the Broads Authority, Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club and the Circuit Powerboat Association for comment. No responses had been received from those organisations by the time of publication.
What is clear from public records is that racing was suspended after the fatal accident on 24 July 2025, when Mr Duncan’s powerboat collided with a stationary houseboat at Oulton Broad. ITV News reported that Suffolk Police were called to what they described as a serious marine collision at around 7.10pm, and that emergency services, including the ambulance service and Coastguard, attended. Mr Duncan, 51, was later named as the racer who died following the collision.
And look, before we talk about the sport or the history, that’s the real heart of this. A family and a tight-knit community lost someone they loved. You can't lose sight of that.
But naturally, people are wondering where we go from here.
Oulton Broad is basically famous for this. It's one of the oldest motorboat racing venues in the world, and we're talking over a century of history. For generations of locals, that roar of the engines is just what summer sounds like. It brought massive crowds to Nicholas Everitt Park and gave the whole area this unique, high-energy vibe. That’s why the silence now feels so heavy.
It brought spectators to Nicholas Everitt Park, gave the Broad a different kind of energy, and kept alive a sporting tradition that made Oulton Broad stand apart.
That is why the continued silence matters.
The 2025 season was formally brought to an early end after the accident. East Suffolk One reported in September that the club had worked with the authorities and investigators to return to racing, but confirmed it would not happen that year.
Since then, official papers from the Broads Authority have confirmed that racing has remained suspended while safety and investigation issues are addressed.
A September 2025 report to the Broads Authority’s Navigation Committee said East Suffolk Council was carrying out an investigation and that the Authority had taken the decision to suspend racing while awaiting the outcome. At that time, no timescale had been given.
By February 2026, Broads Authority papers recorded that East Suffolk Council had said, based on the information available at that point, it was not pursuing further action. However, that did not mean racing could simply restart. The same papers noted the need to review risk assessments, arrangements, and recommendations before any return.
In April 2026, draft Navigation Committee minutes said East Suffolk Council still needed some questions answered before it could be fully satisfied and before the potential return of racing could be established.
A May 2026 Broads Authority health and safety review still referred to powerboat racing as suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation and any recommendations.
Taken together, the public record suggests the issue is no longer simply whether racing is popular or historic. It is about whether all the relevant organisations are satisfied that racing can return safely.
It's a tough call to make
Let’s be real, powerboat racing is inherently risky and incredibly fast. And unlike a closed track, Oulton Broad is a public space. You’ve got moorings, spectators, homes, wildlife, and casual boaters all right there. Managing that risk is a total logistical headache.
Usually, the clubs have to submit massive risk assessments, and rangers go out on the water to keep regular boats away from the race course. But now, the big question is what actually has to change to make everyone comfortable enough to sign off on it?
Do they need to change the actual race course? Are we looking at extra safety zones, or new rules around where houseboats and regular vessels can moor? Who even gets the final say? And honestly, is there any realistic chance we see racing return at all this year?
Asking this stuff isn't about being anti-racing. It’s just what needs to be sorted if the sport is going to have any kind of future here.
We also have to remember that the local club is mostly run by volunteers. These are normal people with jobs and families who spend their free time drowning in paperwork, dealing with officials, and taking flak from the public for no pay. If they are behind the scenes grinding through these safety docs, they deserve some grace.
But at the same time, the community needs some clarity. The worst thing that could happen is for the sport to just quietly fade away into limbo because nobody knows what's going on.
A tragedy happened, and it shouldn't be swept under the rug. Any return to the water must completely respect that and learn from it.
If a safe return is possible, outline the steps left. If not, or if racing must change, say so clearly. Heritage matters, but safety must come first.
If it cannot return, or if major changes are needed, that also needs to be explained openly.
Oulton Broad powerboat racing is not just another event in the calendar. It is part of Lowestoft’s sporting heritage. But heritage alone cannot answer the safety questions now sitting in front of the authorities.
For now, the Broad waits. The engines are quiet. And one of Lowestoft’s longest-running sporting traditions remains suspended between its history and an uncertain future.