The race officially begins in summer 2014 after a 40-year break, but in preparation the smaller-scale Venture Cup Prologue will take place in June.
At least 17 powerboat teams are expected to take part in the three-day test race, which goes from London Bridge, to Southend, the Channel Islands and to the French coast, before finishing in Poole on 11 June.
The Prologue will see teams from Germany, Scandinavia and the US join those from the UK in the challenge. Organisers hope to change the perception of powerboat racing as an unchallenging sport.
For next year’s main event from London to Monte Carlo, scientists will be conducting a study on human endurance throughout the race.
Aidan Foley, event director for the Venture Cup, said: "At one level the Venture Cup is the ultimate glamour race, on another it’s a return to the romance of a true challenge, but at all levels it’s a genuine adventure.
"It’s also an accessible race - it’s not for those with either a god-given talent or a reckless belief in their immortality. Those that succeed will need to be armed with only a decent brain and an ability to take a lot of pain."
Supported by London and Partners, the event is expected to bring in more than £30m to the UK's capital.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: "It gives me huge pleasure in welcoming the prestigious Venture Cup to the shores of our great River Thames. The sight of these fearsome machines battling it out on the waves will offer a fantastic sight to behold, as well as a great day out for families and powerboat fanatics alike.
"This is another brilliant example of how London is cementing its reputation as the best place in the world to stage top class sporting events," he added.
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