Super Boat Iinternational Key West Worlds Preview

A great preview of the SBI Worlds from Matt Trulio, writer for Offshore Only

Look for Miss GEICO to repeat as the SBI Unlimited class World Champion in Key West in November. (Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.)

A month after the Super Boat International National Champions are crowned in the organization’s various classes—and that happened two days ago in Clearwater, Fla.—an entire “mini season” called the SBI Key West Offshore World Championships begins. Three days of racing off the fabled Florida city produce the world-title holders, and it doesn’t matter who won what during the regular season.

Or does it? In terms of points carried over or anything like that, no. In the SBI Key West Worlds, everyone starts from scratch. World titles are determined by the results in races Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. But when it comes to handicapping and picking favorites in each class, yes, it makes sense to look at what happened during the season.

So here’s my take on how it will play out in five classes in this year’s brand-new mini season.

Read more;

Thunder on Cocoa Beach - A First Class Event

It was obvious this past weekend that the race organizers and Port Canaveral truly knows how to have a first class event.  The 5^th annual Thunder on Cocoa Beach part of the Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix was just that.

The new venue area for the dry pits around Port Canaveral’s Exploration Tower provided a perfect location for the event and created a festival type of atmosphere where race enthusiast could walk among the race boats, chat with the drivers and crew, watch a bikini contest or listen to a band as they nibble on some food or had a cold drink.

The 5^th Annual Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix on Sunday in Cocoa Beach was even more exciting as Miss GEICO won the Superboat Unlimited class.  Winners in other classes included Instigator - Superboat Extreme, STIHL - Superboat, Sun Print - Superboat Vee, SOS Venezuela - Superboat Stock, Black Pearl - Manufacturer Prod P3, and Dare Devil - Manufacturer Prod P4.

Racers, spectators, vendors, port restaurants and businesses all applauded Thunder on Cocoa Beach and look forward to its return next year as well as more festival and events of this magnitude.  If you did not make it out this year for the races, please join us next year in Port Canaveral for Thunder on Cocoa Beach.

Unofficial Ressults: SBI Thunder on Cocoa Beach Offshore Powerboat Race

Photo: Official Miss GEICO Racing

It was exciting racing in rough water this weekend for the Superboat International Thunder on Cocoa Beach, Superboat Grand Prix with racing action on beautiful Cocoa Beach.  Miss GEICO took 1st place  overall today.

If you missed this race, we to see you at the next SBI event for the 30th Annual Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival July 4-6  in Sarasota, FL.  Complete unofficial results by class are listed below. (Click on results image)

Complete race day photos coming soon from Watermen News and Dave Crago Photography.

 

 

Thunder on Cocoa Beach - 5th Annual Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix

Thunder on Cocoa Beach - 5th Annual Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix is the loudest, fastest power boat race in Florida - www.ThunderOnCocoaBeach.com

This year's race features more world class race teams than ever before. No where else in Florida can you witness the thunder of unlimited power boat racing up close and at the beach. The party gets started on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 6pm. Join us for a night you'll always remember as we celebrate the Grand Re-Opening on the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Hotel and the invitation only Official Thunder on Cocoa Beach VIP, Sponsor & Media Reception. Enjoy an open bar, live music and a fabulous buffet.

Team Warpaint Rebuilt and Ready for Space Coast Grand Prix | OffshoreOnly.com – Powerboating Online

After crashing its 42 MTI in Key West, Fla., last November, Team Warpaint Offshore Racing is excited to have its boat back in time for next week’s race in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

Photo by Lucididee Fast Boats.

Six months after wrecking its boat in the second race of the Super Boat International Key West Offshore World Championships, Team Warpaint Offshore Racing is ready to return to action, starting with next week’s fifth annual Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

“We got the boat back from MTI right after Easter,” said Bob Vesper, owner and driver of the 42-foot Marine Technology Inc. (MTI) catamaran that he runs with throttleman Danny Crank in the competitive Superboat class. “They did a beautiful job on the boat. The damage was enough that we really needed to let the manufacturer do the work, and I’m glad we did—she looks great. Now it’s time to get her back on the water.” More; Team Warpaint Rebuilt and Ready for Space Coast Grand Prix | OffshoreOnly.com – Powerboating Online

Thunder on Cocoa Beach has huge impact on Brevard / Florida Today

COCOA BEACH – The Thunder on Cocoa Beach boat races next month promises to be faster and and more furious than last year.

And if attendance levels grow to expectations, it also should be more lucrative for the local tourism industry.

Last year, organizers estimated the four-day event attracted 80,000 spectators and had a $16 million economic impact.

This year they think the spectator number for the off-shore super boat race should be in the 85,000 to 90,000 range with a corresponding economic uptick. 

Activities for the race begin May 14 with a welcome VIP party, followed by a bikini contest and a street party in Port Canaveral's Cove area. The actual race is Sunday, May 18.

Read more; Thunder on Cocoa Beach has huge impact on Brevard

Inaugural Charlotte Harbor Super Boat Grand Prix - Unofficial Results

A great season opener on Sunday for Super Boat International racing in beautiful Charlotte Harbor, Florida. Unofficial results by class are listed below:

Production P3: 1 - Black Pearl, 2 - 2nd Amendment, 3 - The Developer

Production P4: 1 - Rum Runners, 2 - In Tone Crazy Chicken, 3 - Two Cruel, 4 - Dare Devil, 5 - Knot Crazy, 6 - Team Raven

Superboat Stock: 1- The Hulk / Redline Oil, 2 - Top Starz Energy Drinks, 3 - Porta Products, 4 - WSM Parts, 5 - SOS Venezuela, 6 - Rollin Vengeance

Superboat Vee: 1- Smoky Mountain Brewery, 2- Sun Print, 3 - Phantom, 4 - Scott Free Racing, 5 - Absolutely Not

Superboat: 1- Stihl, 2- Broadco, 3- Cleveland Construction, 4 - WHM, 5 - Autonation Racing For Cancer

Superboat Extreme: 1- Instigator

Superboat Unlimited: 1- Gasse, 2- CMS, 3- Lucas Oil Silverhook, 4- Miss Geico

 

Watch all the racing action at; http://new.livestream.com/sbi/charlotteharbor2014

Official results will be posted as soon as they become available. 

We will see you at the next SBI race for Thunder On Cocoa Beach in Cocoa Beach, Florida. http://thunderoncocoabeach.com

IOC Confirms Lisa Carrington (NZL) as Athlete Role Model / Women Other Water Sports

Sporting legends to mentor athletes at Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced Lisa Carrington (NZL), the Canoe Sprint K1 200m Olympic Champion and multiple World Champion, as one of the of 37 Athlete Role Models (ARMs) who will attend the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games from 16 to 28 August in Nanjing, China.

Carrington, who was nominated by the International Canoe Federation, will join a group of other elite competitors from the world of sport. In Nanjing, every Athlete Role Model will play a key role in supporting, mentoring and offering advice to the 3,800 young athletes who will be participating in the Games.

Rio 2016 Olympic Test Event Notice Of Race Published / ISAF | World Sailing

The Notice of Race for the Aquece Rio - International Sailing Regatta 2014 has been published.

Aquece Rio is the first of two 'Test Events' for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition and will welcome sailors across the ten Olympic sailing events from 2 to 9 August 2014. The regatta venue is the Marina da Glória with racing taking place inside and outside the Guanabara Bay.

Each ISAF Member National Authority (MNA) is entitled to enter two boats in each event and must register with Rio 2016 not later than 1 May 2014.

Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition
The Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition will take place at the Marina da Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will feature 380 athletes competing across ten events.

Racing is scheduled to take place from 8-18 August 2016 and the competition format for all events is fleet racing.

Regatta Information

Opportunities for all as the US 52 SUPER SERIES kicks off at Quantum Key West | 52 Super Series

Unstable, unsettled breezes have marked the final days of practice for the US 52 SUPER SERIES fleet on the azure blue water of Key West. Finding a pattern to the changes in wind pressure and direction has been equally difficult for the six TP52 teams whether they are the reigning champions or the newcomers to the circuit.

With a continued series of small low pressure systems set to roll across the south of the country, the first few days the first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta of the season, Quantum Key West, are likely to see more of the same: winds which are hard to decipher, challenging to predict and varying in strength and direction over each race day.

Qatar Marine Sports Federation Signs Agreement With American Cigarette Racing To Build Vip Boat

DOHA (Qatar): Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani confirmed in Doha today that the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) has signed an agreement with Florida-based Cigarette Racing to build a VIP boat to support the Spirit of Qatar Team’s 2014 American racing programme.

Transat Jacques Vabre: Off and Racing

The 11th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre started under grey, drizzling skies in light winds at 1300hrs (local) off Le Havre’s Saint Adresse beach. The 44 boats, 26 Class 40s, six Multi 50s, 10 IMOCA Open 60s and two MOD70s broke the start line in eight knots of W’ly breeze in very choppy seas, heading three miles to the France Info mark before heading down the Channel towards Itajaí, Brazil. The Class 40 fleet are required to make a weather stop in Roscoff, 190 miles from Le Havre to sit out a big low pressure system which would have hit them in the Bay of Biscay at the weekend. They should arrive in Roscoff tomorrow afternoon.
 

Before heading out to the open sea, the 44 boats had to pass the France Info buoy, three miles from the start line. The order are buoy was:

- MOD70: 1-Edmond de Rothschild, 2-Oman Air - Musandam
- IMOCA: 1-Macif, 2-Maître Coq, 3-Safran, 4-PRB, 5-Bureau Vallée, 6-Votre Nom autour du Monde, 7-Team Plastique, 8-Initiatives Coeur...
- Multi50: 1-Actual, 2-Arkema, 3-FenêtréA Cardinal, 4-Maître Jacques, 5-Rennes Métropole Saint-Malo Agglomération, 6-Vers un monde sans sida
- Class40: 1-SNCF-Geodis, 2-GDF Suez, 3-Dunkerque, 4-Watt & Sea, 5- BET 1128, 6-79 Matouba, 7-Mare ...

Al Adaa’am 96’s Sheikh Hassan And Steve Curtis Head For Clearwater Super Boat Showdown - QMSF

 

CLEARWATER (USA): Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis will take to the waters for the last time competitively before the Key West World Championships in November, when they take part in this weekend’s 5th Annual Bright House Clearwater Super Boat National Championships, round eight of Super Boat International (SBI), in Florida.

A minor technical issue prevented the racing team from the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) from entering their new turbine racer, Al Adaa’am 96, in Sarasota in late summer, but the eagerly awaited first appearance in New York at the start of September did not disappoint and the Mystic boat, powered by Whispering Turbine engines, crushed the opposition and lapped the rest of the field in a one-sided debut.

Miss GEICO Strategy For Beating Qatar Turbine Cat: ‘Out-Turn Them’

With the Miss Mary Mac turbine-powered 48-foot Marine Technology, Inc., officially out for Super Boat International National Championships this coming weekend in Clearwater, Fla., the battle of the fastest boats in the SBI field likely will be between the piston-powered Miss GEICO catamaran and Al Adaa'am 96, the new turbine-powered 50-foot Mystic cat. The 50-footer made its debut at the recent SBI event in New York City.

With its twin 1,800-hp T-53 turbine engines, the Qatar-backed Mystic driven by Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and throttled by Steve Curtis comes into Clearwater with a 300-hp edge over the 44-foot GEICO cat with twin 1,650-hp turbocharged Mercury Racing engines. But the GEICO team's throttleman Scott Begovich and driver Marc Granet believe they can neutralize that advantage in the turns.  Read more; Miss GEICO Strategy For Beating Qatar Turbine Cat: ‘Out-Turn Them’

Sheikh Hassan And Steve Curtis Cruise To Stunning Win In New York Super Boat Grand Prix

NEW YORK (USA): Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis gave their new turbine racer, Al Adaa’am 96, a stunning debut in Sunday’s 23rd Annual New York Super Boat Grand Prix, round seven of Super Boat International (SBI), on the Hudson River.

 

 

The powerful turbine-powered 50’ Mystic boat, which is also badged as Spirit of Qatar 96, was the class of the entire field and the Qatar Team duo cruised to a convincing overall victory.

Ali Al-Neama teamed up with throttleman Billy Moore for the first time in Spirit of Qatar 20 and reached the finish in second position in the Superboat class, which is developing into a fascinating contest between Team WHM Motorsports and Team Stihl. Team Stihl won the race on this occasion to set up a fascinating showdown at the final round of the series.

After testing was permitted on the Hudson on Saturday, teams lined up for the 23rd Annual New York Super Boat Grand Prix at 11.00hrs local time to avoid a clash with a 9/11 memorial scheduled for 1pm.

With the stunning backdrop of Manhattan Island, the field was split into two groups with the three Superboat entrants, an entry in Superboat Unlimited and Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis in Al Adaa’am 96 in group one. Four Superboat Extreme, one Vee and one Production 3 entry lined up for the second start on the four-mile course. Spirit of Qatar 20 lined up alongside Superboat category leader Team WHM Motorsports and rival Team Stihl.

Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis cruised into the lead down the first straight, as Team Stihl led the Superboat class from Spirit of Qatar 20 and Team WHM Motorsports.

Sheikh Hassan continued to pull away from the rest of the field as the 21-lap race progressed and Team Stihl maintained the advantage in the Superboat class from Spirit of Qatar 20, once Team WHM Motorsport withdrew with mechanical issues.

The next round of Superboat International (SBI) takes place at Clearwater Florida on September 27-29.

New Fountain Raceboat To Debut At SBI New York City Event

When the Superboat Vee class gets the green flag on the Hudson River tomorrow for the Super Boat International New York City Grand Prix, the field will include a new Fountain raceboat, Absolutely Not, owned and driven by Mark Gibbons. Powered by a class-specified Mercury Racing 525 EFI, the stepped hull 30-footer is the first raceboat out the Washington, N.C., boat builder since Watch Your Back, another Superboat Vee-class 30-footer built for Michael "Doc" Jansen that once dominated its competition on the offshore racecourse.

Fountain's first new raceboat in several years will compete tomorrow at the SBI New York City Grand Prix. "She came out better than I ever dreamed," said Gibbons, who lives in Long Island, N.Y., in a press release from the company. "We are super-pleased with how she did in the testing. I'm looking forward to racing her in the New York Super Boat Grand Prix—this is our home race."  More; New Fountain Raceboat To Debut At SBI New York City Event

Super Boat Racing Back To The Big Apple / Super Boat International

New York (August 30, 2013) – For 22 years, Super Boat International has traveled to New York and raced the Hudson and East Rivers for what has become an iconic event. This year is no different. On Sunday, September 8^th, teams will compete in the 23^rd Annual New York Grand Prix with the new Freedom Tower in the background and Statue of Liberty in the foreground. New York City and lower Manhattan is one of the most picturesque skylines in the world of boat racing.

Super Boat International was asked to return to New Jersey and Liberty State Park the year after the tragic events of the 9-11 terrorism attacks. Within days after the 2001 Super Boat race, the Twin Towers were attacked.  Ten months after that horrific event, the Governor of New Jersey confirmed in a letter to Super Boat International that racing should continue there as it would help raise the level of community spirit closer to levels of normalcy.

Electric Performances on Day 4 of Swatch Girls Pro France : ASP World Tour – The Association of Surfing Professionals

CAPBRETON, France (Saturday, August 24, 2013) – The Swatch Girls Pro France completed another intense day in Seignosse Le Penon, after being put on-hold all morning to wait for conditions to improve. A building, wind-blown 3-4Ft swell allowed competition to resume this afternoon and decide of the Semifinalists of both ASP 6-Star and Pro Junior events.

Malia Manuel (HAW), 20, advanced to the Semifinals of the Swatch Girls Pro France today.

Malia Manuel (HAW) 20, current World No.12 and winner of the previous 6-Star event in California, defeated fellow Top 17 member Paige Hareb (NZL) in order to advance into the semis. The stylish Hawaiian found the best opportunities in a complicated lineup to express her flawless frontside surfing and impress both judges and the massive French crowds assembled by the water’s edge.

Qatari Rally Legend Nasser Al-Attiyah Set To Join Sheikh Hassan’s Qatar Team At Key West

DOHA (QATAR): His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani today (Saturday) announced that the Arab world’s number one rally driver Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah will join the Qatar Team in November’s Key West World Championships in Florida.

 

 

At a press conference held in Doha today, Sheikh Hassan, the president of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), confirmed that Al-Attiyah will team up with his former Italian throttleman Matteo Nicolini and enter the Key West races in a Mercury-engined set-up boat. There are three races during the Key West festival, which takes place on November 3-10.

“I am delighted to welcome Nasser aboard our team as our ‘wingman’,” enthused Sheikh Hassan, who clinched the Key West World Championship title with Steve Curtis in 2012 and is hoping for a repeat in Al Adaa’am 96 this year.

Al-Neama And Al-Nasser Finish Third In Superboat Class At Sbi Race In Sarasota / QMSF

• Race debut of Al Adaa’am 96 delayed for Sheikh Hassan.
• Flash floods force cancellation of H1’s Indiana Governor’s Cup.

SARASOTA (Florida, USA): Qatar’s Ali Al-Neama and Mohammed Al-Nasser finished third in the Superboat class in Sunday’s race on a 5.3-mile course at the 29th Annual Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival at Sarasota in Florida.

 

 

 

The Spirit of Qatar 20 crew held fourth in the unofficial points standings behind WHM Motorsports, Team Stihl and JD Byrider before Sarasota and moved closer to JD Byrider in third after this excellent podium finish.

Team Stihl’s Robert Noble and Grant Bruggemann led from the start to record a sensational victory in the Superboat class from WHM Motorsports’ Billy Mauff and Jay Muller, as the two boats pulled clear of their rivals in the Superboat points standings.

His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani, president of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), and British throttleman Steve Curtis were not able to make the start of the race in their new turbine boat, Al Adaa’am 96, after a fuel leak was reportedly discovered on the new boat.