Offfshore Powerboat Racing

[Ben Mazur]

What do you consider to be an offshore powerboat race? Can it take place on a river or lake (and I'm not referring to the Great Lakes.)

I would have thought that any offshore race should include one leg where the open sea should form a backdrop.

Opinions?

[Adam Younger]

Pretty much agree with you - as much as it can be fun racing around the cans inshore or in shelered water I think there still needs to be a combination where there still the occasional long lap / leg. Something that very few organisers seem to get right in my opinion - always seems to much one way or the other.

For me the best racing is when you are not quite running your top speeds. More skilled based and having to find your limit. Also tactics come into play more.

If it is a flat out blast on flat water then might as well go circuit racing!

[ciao]

What do you consider to be an offshore powerboat race? Can it take place on a river or lake (and I'm not referring to the Great Lakes.)

I would have thought that any offshore race should include one leg where the open sea should form a backdrop.

Opinions?

It can be be horrible in a lake, confused water etc.

"Offshore" is now a word for "I'm not going circuit racing".

I have done both, and trust me, they both hurt the same. (as I crack my neck out again)

[Rupert Munro]

Well in my non-racer view I would count offshore as something away from the inshore (well that makes sense!) so something that is a fair distance away from the shore and so exposed to the elements and the sea, not like some of the P1 races that are close to shore (they are however very entertaining and only add to the sport but its not offshore in my mind) Something that was far away from land and required you to wait hours not minutes for safety if you were to break down - the closest thing can think of is some of the legs of the RB08

[ciao]

I think organisers feel that they have to run multi lap races in view of spectators to gain / keep sponsors.
The question is this, is a 100 NM multi lap race in the solent in a force 4-5 gusting 6 easier than a Cowes to Torquay on a flat day?

[catmando]

Here in the States, SBI/APBA races almost totally in the ocean. The only lake race this year was in central Florida which is basically a "tune-up" race before the season officaially begins.

OSS has three races on lakes this year with only seven total races, but there was a change in leadership at the beginning so hopefully next year will see nine or ten races. One race was the Al Copeland Memorial on Lake Ponchartrain(a big lake which can get nasty), one was at Lake of the Ozarks(another lake that is choppy all the time), and Lake Havasu in Nevada which was an awesome event put on with the West Coast Offshore Race organization and a Poker Run.

Looks like there will be more collaboration with Poker Run organizations to bring more fans to racing. This can only help us here with four different Offshore race groups. The fourth is OPA on the East Coast, primarily New Jersey, New York and Maryland.

[jim o'toole]

I think organisers feel that they have to run multi lap races in view of spectators to gain / keep sponsors.
The question is this, is a 100 NM multi lap race in the solent in a force 4-5 gusting 6 easier than a Cowes to Torquay on a flat day?



hmmmm...


all depends if we're talking about it as a sport or an adventure ..

a sport ( usually supported by some sort of business) has participants, media, sponsors and spectators that go to make up a the event

an adventure has a a group of gallant adventurers heading off into the horizon, coming back several hours later and telling us who won.......


both have their place, neither is exclusively right


both will depend on sponsors one way or another.....and they'll want value for money


Jim

[catmando]

America now has two true offshore races; the Catalina Rum Run race from Los Angeles to Catalina Island and back, and the Don Aronow Memorial Offshore race from Miami to Bimini and back.

[Sean H]

America now has two true offshore races; the Catalina Rum Run race from Los Angeles to Catalina Island and back, and the Don Aronow Memorial Offshore race from Miami to Bimini and back.

Its no longer the "Don Aronow" race.

[Rupert Munro]

Its no longer the "Don Aronow" race.

and particular reason for the name change?

[Sean H]

and particular reason for the name change?

like everything else in offshore racing, politics.

[Top Banana]

like everything else in offshore racing, politics.


Actually it has more to do with accountability to the Aronow family who consider..."Don Aronow" a trademark.

HORBA was allowed to use that name last year and worked with the promoters of the race to put the race on as Horba presents the Don Aronow Memorial Race".

The name was not to be used without HORBA knowing how the name was going to be used and approving it before use.......that didn't happen.... and both HORBA and the Aronow family felt that they would no longer be involved with that particular race.

HORBA has permission to use Don's name again along with one of his old trophies in 2010. Miami to Key West in February 2010....the weekend right after the Miami Boat Show....winter water is usually big water.....make plans to come over and enjoy the fun, as a spectator or participant.

HORBA www.historicraceboats.com