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Powerboat president Bobby DeCosta admits he's presiding over a dying sport, blaming the passive attitude of the younger generation for the steady decline in racing.

Only three boats were out for the off-shore nationals on Sunday, reflecting the recent trend, which had seen what was once a national sport dwindle to almost nothing.

The spiraling costs of getting a boat ready to race have often been seen as a factor. But DeCosta, who has not been able to race this season after suffering a heart attack, reckons there's bigger social issues to blame.

"It's not like it used to be. We used to work round the clock to make sure our boats were ready for the race.

"The sport has not passed on to the younger generation. They won't go out there and work overtime or at weekends to pay for repairs and they won't stay up all night to get their boat ready for a race."

For DeCosta, a former Round the Island winner, remembers the days when crowds would line Ferry Reach on an average race day to watch 20 plus boats competing, said it is sad to see the decline.

And he believes too many young people in Bermuda would rather spend their money on drink and weed.

"They'd rather go out and drink. It's Bermuda's favourite passtime. It's amazing how they say they've got a handle on the drug problem. Not from where I'm standing. Kids can go out and get weed as easy as they get cigarettes."

He said plenty of people had expressed an interest but few could be bothered to put the work in.

"I've got a boat up at my shop that I painted and fixed up for a guy and now he's lost interest in racing.

"Sometimes you would get 30 boats out for a race day back in the day. Guys would help each other out. If your boat was ready then you'd go and help someone else get there's ready.

"People aren't like that these days. They want to work a 40-hour week and have everything else handed to them.

"If they keep this up they are going to make me come back out and race."

He said the sport was just about holding together.

"We've had five guys out for some of the early races this season which is more than last year. Hopefully we can hold it together and somehow things will pick up."

Sunday's nationals saw Philip Correia win D Class, Patrick Stamper and Jeremy Medeiros win A Class. Each was the only competitor in his class in the four-lap offshore race.[[In-content Ad]]

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