Each team normally has two or three boats competing, in a similar format to Forumla One.

Zapcat racing features small offshore powerboats, with organisers claiming it is the fastest-growing powerboat sport.

More than 50 teams competed in the opening round of the 12-series Zapcat Championships, which were held for the first time at Abersoch.

Among them were Anglesey Motor and Marine, who finished third overall after the 2003 championships.

Last year was the first season in the sport for driver and team manager Neil Oldham and co-driver Rob Hickman, and the team won the "Rookie of the Year" award.

The team, based in Rhosneigr, are entering three boats this year.

The action takes place on short M-shaped chicane courses.

Neil said: "It's very fast and furious, they're very small boats, and apart from their manoeuvrability, it's quite a cheap sport to get into - boats cost �8,000 and it costs about �10,000 to race."

Cardiff-based Bat Out Of Hell also competed for the first time.

The weekend's event was won by the Hampshire-based Wet Willie team, while the Anglesey team finished sixth overall, with their highest placed boats winning second and third place on successive days.

All teams have the same design of inflatable boat, with no modifications allowed to the hull or the propeller, to put the emphasis on the two crew's skills over up to 10 laps.

Race director Euan McGrath said more competitors were joining, making the competition hard fought.

He said: "These boats have an amazing power to weight ratio of 340 brake horse power, which is more than a Porsche or Ferrari."

The sport started in South Africa in the 1990s and this is the fourth year championships have been in Britain, with the Welsh heat last year on Anglesey.

Neil Oldham said the racing is over a course just off the beach.

"It's very much a spectator sport, unlike some other powerboat racing which can be from one bay to another, this all happens 400 metres off shore."