We are a team of Ocean Wonderers, trapped on land by our lives and jobs, but with a common goal, to use Submarine Racing to ensnare, enthuse and motivate future generations of ocean engineers, scientists and sports fans.
``The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.``
— Jacques Cousteau, oceanographer and explorer
THE OCEAN, THE LAND AND THE ATMOSPHERE
We think that too often, the only stories that circulate about the ocean are based on the ‘doom and gloom’ scenarios, or the rare and tragic accidents about the dangers of the oceans. The ocean is seen by many as a complex, hostile and unmanageable environment and they take easier paths for education, work and recreation.
To get more people engaged with the oceans we want the submarine racing to act as a hook to get more people to ‘dive into’ the details. Many young people know more about their mobile phones than they do about the oceans.
WHY ARE WE RACING IN THE OCEANS?
The SubRacing Series is all about racing. You look at two-year-old kids, what do they do? They race each other. Everything we do as a human race is a competition to out-compete each other… I think we’re wired that way, and we have fun that way.
That is why we use racing as a mechanism for channelling that passion – for engaging humanities with the coastal ocean and with what it means.
Nick Cunningham-Moorat –
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
FROM POTENTIAL TO REALITY - OUR PARTNERSHIP JOURNEY
FINDING A LAUNCH PATH
Our entry point in the development of the SubRacing Series was when we discovered the existing racing series of the human-powered submarines. These races have been taking place since 1989 in the United States, originally in open water off the coast of Florida. From 1995 on, the races were held in the David Taylor Model Basin near Washington DC. The first UK race took place in 2012 in QinetiQ’s Ocean Basin in Gosport. They bring together teams from Universities and higher education and at events in alternate years in Washington D.C. USA and in Gosport in the UK.
We could immediately see the potential to ‘scale-up’ the format from human-powered to hybrid-electric powered SubRacers, and hold the events in accessible outdoor locations where there were significant opportunities for brands to be involved and the public to get engaged with the sport.
PROVING OUR CONCEPTS AND IDEAS
Under the leadership of our Race Director, Dr. William Megill from the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, we have held two proof of concept events where we have moved from the timed in-pool format to head to head races in the coastal ocean, and proved that racing submarines safely is a reality which generates significant local and international interest.
By adding more experienced and talented individuals with skills in marketing, projects, Information Technology, safety, marine science and marine engineering, we sucessfully completed the two proof of concept events where we had human-powered submarines racing along the sea floor within a complex safety structure. We dipped our toes in the water with just two boats in 2023, then jumped right in with a truly International event with five teams in 2024.
BRINGING THE ACTION TO THE SPECTATORS
Our next step was to create a visual spectacle in real-time for a surface-bound audience. We want to bring into people’s living rooms the action and the excitement of seeing teams compete with each other underwater.
While underwater cameras have been available for many years, few of these have the ability to transmit high band-width signals from a speeding submarine in real time. However with recent advances in miniature AUV’s and underwater transmission systems we can see these coming together to create Digital Arenas where spectators can follow all the action in real time.
BRINGING THE ACTION TO A WIDER AUDIENCE
We created a highly visual record of our second Proof of Context in Gran Canaria. You can enjoy the spectacle as the teams prepare their submarines for the event and race fin to fin in the coastal ocean.
OUR DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY
We are creating a transformative journey that explores up to 10 globally significant sites of societal and ecological importance, venturing below the ocean’s surface with crewed racing submarines. Building upon the success of our 2024 Human-Powered Racing Proof of Concept (The Gran Canaria Invitational), we plan to achieve the following milestones:
2025-2026: Design Competition
• Overview: Launch an international submarine design competition to attract innovators, universities, and industry leaders.
• Goal: Foster groundbreaking designs and identify world-class concepts for future races.
• Impact: Build a global community of talent to shape the SubRacing vision while supporting educational and sustainability goals.
• Continuation: Transition from theoretical designs to the build phase, with mentored hybrid racing submarine development for the 2027 Proof of Concept Racing Event.
March 2027: Proof of Concept Racing Event
• Objective: Host a scaled test event to refine logistics, enhance spectator engagement tools, deliver the entertainment package, and validate technological readiness for global expansion.
• Location: Gran Canaria (provisional), leveraging insights from earlier events.
• Outcome: Demonstrate the commercial viability and scalability of SubRacing’s multi-location global series.
2027-2028: Global Expansion
• Expand to strategic regions, including the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific.
• Develop race arenas with advanced infrastructure for above-water, below-water, and real-time spectator experiences.
• Continue growing the design competition, attracting more participants and innovative concepts.
GROWTH THROUGH A UNIQUE PROPOSITION
Our sporting proposition of racing exciting looking underwater SubRacers is totally unique. No other sport takes place totally underwater, and the challenges of the technology, the underwater environment and events in a 3D environment make it a physical as well as a technical challenge.
For brands, this is an opportunity to associate with something good and something fun. We will add value for those that are trying to change the narrative from negative to positive – from ‘we’re destructive’ to ‘we’re creative’, and also provide opportunities to develop talented young marine engineers with the complex problems that need to be solved when designing these machines.
Partnership Opportunities
- Sponsorship Packages: Showcase your brand across our events, from design competitions to race days, through both digital and on-site promotions.
- Equity Investment: Secure your stake in SubRacing’s scalable, innovative future.
- Partnerships: Collaborate on engineering, education, and event strategies to align with our mission.
WHY JOIN US ON OUR DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY
1. Shape the Future: Be part of the pioneering team developing the world’s first ocean submarine race series.
2. Innovate with Impact: Support cutting-edge designs such as human-powered and hybrid-electric submarines, showcasing the future of sustainable marine engineering.
3. Embrace a Global Vision: Help us expand from our Gran Canaria pilot event (2024) to a global race series that celebrates the oceans.
4. Collaborate on Education: Align with our initiatives promoting innovation and sustainability, addressing UNESCO’s ‘Decade of the Ocean’ challenges in education, technology, and data.
NEXT STEPS IN OUR JOURNEY
We are actively seeking partners and investors who share our passion for innovation, sustainability, and global entertainment. Your support will directly enable:
- Advancements in submarine design and event infrastructure.
- The successful execution of the 2025/2026 Design Competition and 2027 Proof of Concept Event.
- Expansion to new global markets with sustainable growth.
Contact Us
Join us in building the future of sports, technology, and sustainability by contacting us at info@subracingseries.com or using the button below.
Together, we can launch a globally recognized submarine race series that inspires innovation and captivates audiences worldwide!
TALK TO THE FOUNDERS ABOUT THESE PARTNERSHIP OPTIONS
