PEP 2026 Competition Information

(Scroll down for race divisions and Q&A.)

We will race in Portsmouth, Virginia from April 14-16. We have full support from the city and we're excited to use the boat ramps at the Portsmouth City Park.

Teams should fill out this form (Word) with the best information available now. We know that the budget and even the division may adjust over the next few months, but give us the best information you have. If necessary, there's also an extra page for signing up additional teammates. All sign-up forms must be submitted before September 30, 2025.

We are excited to see you this fall! These meetings will give you special access to job and internship opportunities. It will also provide you with in-person mentorship (and likely in-kind donations) that will speed you down your Gantt Chart to successful testing and iterative improvement. Get this on your calendar and email us if there are troubles. Please don't worry if the whole team cannot participate, but send who is available and we'll have impactful meetups!

1. San Diego, CA: September 23-25 (Fleet Maintenance & Modernization)
2. Philadelphia, PA: October 9-13 (Homecoming 250 with support from Hanwha)
3. Pascagoula, MS: October 24-25 (with support from Austal, Bollinger, & Ingalls)
4. Portsmouth, VA: October 28-29
5. Mystic, CT: TBD – Late September
6. Independence, OH: TBD – Late October
7. Other – more events will be scheduled through August 2025.

Here are the six racing divisions for PEP26!

	Uncrewed - Autonomy: New for PEP26! Design an autonomous craft that can race for 2-miles around our course given GPS waypoints. Go through the levels of autonomy to earn the maximum number of points in the documentation for your autonomous craft. Sign Up Today! (Word)
Uncrewed - Over-The-Horizon: New for PEP26! Operate the craft from the shore, and ensure you can control your craft from about 1 mile distance. You will need to send information from the craft back to the operator to navigate our oval course. Sign Up Today! (Word)
	Uncrewed - Budget Warriors: Want to show off how efficient your team can be? Compete with other craft on a $1,500 budget. Note that we will supplement your budget with funding to ensure you can travel to and from Portsmouth, VA using money outside this budget. Sign Up Today! (Word)
Uncrewed - Open: Similar to PEP25, but teams must carry 60 pounds of ballast through the two-mile course. Use 55.5 volts or less. We will again have the great support craft from Little Creek, so you can follow your boat as close as you choose. Sign Up Today! (Word)
	Crewed - Planing: Man your boat! Race for five miles of glory! The challenge is the same as PEP25: Maximize the efficiency from your 55.5 volts or less. Worry about the straightaways, there are only 9 turns. Race safely and efficiently with a hull that can get on top of the water at your speed. Sign Up Today! (Word)
Crewed - Displacement: Displacement craft are manned boats that do not get up on plane. Use your 55.5 volts of battery power to navigate through 5 one-mile laps. Only 9 turns and 5 total miles to PEP glory. Sign Up Today! (Word)

Questions & Answers about PEP26 Rules

(Updated Aug 5)

Can a single craft participate in multiple events provided that it has the capability to do so?

Our goal is not to start this way. But, there have been craft in the past that started in one division and then gained more abilities, and competed in both the crewed and uncrewed divisions. So, we may allow it down the road, but teams will have to decide which division the craft is primarily designed for. This year, we have Autonomy and Over-The-Horizon uncrewed divisions. Teams will not be able to race in both of those divisions. Teams will need to declare which type of operation they will utilize.

Could a manned craft be configured to participate in the autonomous or over-the-horizon events?

Let’s not make this the main focus. In fact, there will be three sources of boats that teams will be able to purchase that have some of their dimensions and cost $500 or less. Those details are being nailed down right now, but we should have extra hulls hanging around so it will be easy to ensure teams do not feel overly tied to one hull.

Note: This year we expect about 55 boats, so part of the focus here is to make sure we are using the on-water time to maximum efficiency. The counterpoint that you could show is at an October event, a team could show off something innovative that wows industry so we make a special allowance.

Are there any size limitations on crafts for the autonomous and over-the-horizon events?

There are no size limitations, just remember that the ONR judges are the ones that appreciate the payload so bigger boats will match the judges’ expectations.

How much weight does speed have on final scores as opposed to reliability?

It still is a reliability race. There are 60 points for on-water performance, and the winners tend to be the craft that have tested extensively and can reliably operate over the 2 miles for uncrewed craft and 5 miles for crewed craft.

Will points be deducted for crafts that take on water next year?

We will not deduct points for craft taking on water. There is a rule, that craft must have reserve buoyancy so that they continue to float even if they are swamped with water. You can see in some of the videos from PEP25 how craft operated differently when they took on some water as they ride lower and move slower.