Honda Marine Secures Title Sponsorship of The 2026 Great Loop Challenge
• Honda Marine has secured the title sponsorship of The 2026 Great Loop Challenge powered by Honda Marine, an ultra-endurance, 7,500+ nautical-mile marine marathon supporting pediatric cancer research.
• The 2026 Great Loop Challenge powered by Honda Marine is the mission-driven effort led by cancer survivor Captain Scott ‘Red’ Flowers aiming to raise funds and awareness for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation® (NPCF).
• The at-sea marathon will be run aboard a custom Portā DARK:30 Velocity powered by Honda Marine, developed and purpose-built by marine innovator Scott Portā.
• Challenge showcases real-world performance of high-power Honda BF350 V8 outboards, including efficiency, durability, and long-range reliability under extreme conditions.
• Honda Marine supports the initiative with technology and funding, reinforcing its commitment to innovation with purpose and community impact.
Honda Marine has secured title sponsorship of The 2026 Great Loop Challenge powered by Honda Marine (2026 GLC), a 7,300+ nautical-mile endurance run supporting pediatric cancer research. Launching August 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET from Lake Beresford Yacht Club in DeLand, Florida, cancer survivor Captain Scott ‘Red’ Flowers and crew will attempt to set a benchmark time around a customized route of The Great Loop—waterways spanning the eastern United States, Canada and the Mississippi River system.
Honda Marine is providing funding, technical support and propulsion—pairing twin Honda BF350 V8 high-power outboards with a custom-built Portā DARK:30 Velocity boat for the real-world endurance run. The effort supports the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation® (NPCF), with Honda Marine contributing $10,000 to the initiative.
‘At Honda, we believe high performance means more when it serves a purpose,’ said Josh Matthews, Director, Honda Marine Division. ‘The 2026 Great Loop Challenge powered by Honda Marine gives us the chance to demonstrate the endurance, efficiency and reliability of Honda BF350 outboards in a true real-world test—while helping raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research through the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation®. We’re proud to power this effort, support it as title sponsor, and back the mission with a direct donation.’
Partnership on the Water for the 2026 GLC Powered by Honda Marine
Joining Captain Scott ‘Red’ Flowers are Scott Portā, President and Founder of Portā Products and inventor of the Portā Hydraulic Transom System and Jim ‘Slim’ Berns, Vice President of Operations, Sharrow Marine. The crew plans to run 24/7—stopping only for fuel, routine maintenance, fundraising activities, weather or safety—before returning to Lake Beresford Yacht Club. The run will serve as both a benchmark attempt and a rolling platform for pediatric cancer awareness and fundraising.
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Inspired by his own battle with stage 4 melanoma, Captain Flowers first turned the Great Loop into a fundraising platform after meeting young cancer patients during treatment. In 2024, he and his crew completed a 6,500-nautical-mile Great Loop run in 19 days, 19 hours and 50 minutes, raising $450,000 for NPCF. This year’s expanded 7,300+-nautical-mile route adds distance, open-water exposure and operational complexity.
‘This challenge is personal for me,’ said Captain Flowers. ‘As I fought cancer as an adult, I was shaken to watch children fighting for the chance to live the rest of their lives. The 2026 Great Loop Challenge powered by Honda Marine lets me throw my weight into that fight. With Honda Marine as title sponsor, the power of the BF350 V8, and a team of partners helping us prepare for every condition, we have the confidence to push forward mile after mile for the cause.’
The crew will attempt the 2026 challenge aboard a custom-outfitted Portā DARK:30 Velocity powered by twin Honda Marine BF350 V8 outboards. Honda’s flagship 350-horsepower outboard combines acceleration and top-end performance with fuel efficiency, quiet operation, low vibration and reliability—attributes critical to range, dependability and consistent performance across thousands of miles and changing conditions.
The 2026 GLC powered by Honda Marine also integrates construction, navigation, safety, communications, stabilization and human-performance technologies from participating partners, including:
• Construction: Portā Performance; AkzoNobel; Velocity Powerboats; FARO Creaform; AmeraTrail; RGF.
• Human Factors: Ullman Dynamics; TMS Group; Porta Performance; David Clark Company; Power-Pole; Porta Products.
• Navigation: TELEDYNE Raymarine; TELEDYNE FLIR Marine; Tocaro Blue; Hefring Marine.
• Propulsion: Honda Marine, Portā Products; Sharrow Marine; Seakeeper RIDE; Portā Performance.
‘The Portā DARK:30 Velocity powered by Honda Marine is the right platform because it combines a proven performance hull with a purpose-built configuration for speed, endurance and real-world testing,’ said Scott Portā. ‘Pairing that platform with twin Honda BF350 V8 outboards is critical. Honda power, efficiency and reliability give us the confidence to push the boat hard across thousands of miles, collect performance data and help kids with cancer.’
Tracking Progress on the Route
Along the route, the 2026 GLC powered by Honda Marine will create storytelling opportunities in boating communities, Honda Marine dealer markets, marinas and waterfront destinations through fundraising milestones, live tracking updates, maintenance stops and crew appearances. Planned stops include Deland, Jacksonville, Key West, and Tampa, Florida; Wilmington, North Carolina; Portland, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Cleveland, Ohio; and St. Clair Shores, Michigan, with additional stops to be confirmed.
Several pediatric cancer patients and survivors, including Greyson, Brittany, and Makinley will serve as honorary co-captains, helping supporters understand the direct impact of their contributions. Post-run, the campaign will continue into September, National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, through NPCF activities. Honda Marine also plans to showcase the Portā DARK:30 Velocity powered by Honda Marine at IBEX 2026, October 6–8, at the Tampa Convention Center, where fundraising for the 2026 GLC will continue.
‘The 2026 Great Loop Challenge powered by Honda Marine is an outstanding example of what happens when innovation and purpose come together to drive real impact for children with cancer,’ said Christopher Geib, Chief Development Officer, the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation®. ‘Every mile helps bring more attention and resources to research that can accelerate clinical trials, advance new treatment options and move us closer to faster cures. With Captain Flowers and his crew, Honda Marine, and participating partners, this effort becomes a meaningful platform to inspire communities to rally behind kids and families in the fight of their lives.’
Throughout the run, Honda Marine, the NPCF, Captain Flowers, his crew and participating partners will share updates on route progress, engineering performance and fundraising milestones. Followers can track the Portā DARK:30 Velocity powered by Honda Marine, donate to The 2026 Great Loop Challenge powered by Honda Marine, and access additional event information, photo and video assets at www.hondanews.com, https://marine.honda.com/marine-events, and https://nationalpcf.org/the-great-loop-challenge/.
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