Ocean Cup Sets Five-Event Itinerary for 2023

 

From; SpeedBoat.com Jan 3, 2023

For those wishing to have their boat racing abilities tested on all levels, Ocean Cup has five opportunities to set world records sanctioned by the APBA and UIM in 2023.

Success will be measured by the pilot’s navigational skills and ability to understand wind, waves and swells, as well as their vessel’s maintenance and seaworthiness. Courses are navigationally challenging crossing open ocean, out of the sight of land, and each is more than 100 miles.

Here's the 2023 Ocean Cup events calendar:

May 4–7 (to be confirmed)—Miami around the SS Sapona Shipwreck (Bimini Bahamas). 106 miles.

June 1-4—Palm Beach to West End (Bahamas) and back. 111 miles

Aug. 17–20—San Francisco around Farallon Islands. 138 miles.

Sept. 14–17—San Francisco to Marina del Ray to Long Beach. 435 miles.

Sept. 28–Oct. 1—Pacific Airshow, Huntington Beach around Catalina Island. 112 miles.

The Pacific Airshow is presented in a four-day format:

Day 1: Arrivals and VIP Pilot Dinner Party.

Day 2: Briefings, Inspections, Meet and Greet, and Media Opportunities.

Day 3: World Speed Record Attempts, Awards, and Closing Party.

Day 4: Departures.

Ocean Cup competitions are for the bold and adventurous, having the skills and desire for a man and his machine challenge in the open ocean. Every team must be prepared for any and all eventualities with regard to their own safety and be prepared to be effectively on their own until help, from whatever source, can arrive. Pilots are required to hold sea survival and first-aid certificates.

For more information, please contact:

Ronald Saja (561) 301-7283, email Ronald@OceanCup.com

Simon Trumper (949) 678-0138, email Simon@OceanCup.com

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;

DOMINANT RACE 2 WINS FOR FENDI RACING AND AQUASPORT

Sunday, 19 October, TERRACINA (Italy): Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella produced a breath taking performance to take their first win together in C1 at the team’s home Grand Prix, with Aquasport’s Daniel Cramphorn and Nico Huybens producing a totally dominant performance to win in V1.

Lining up in first and second at the start, Victory and LFF10 delivered a sensational opening lap with Fendi and Carpitella stealing the advantage from the pole-sitters immediately and leading them to the first turn, then holding them off in a nail biting run to the start-finish line as the two closed on each other and just inches apart going into turn one of lap 2, LFF10 coming out in front.

WINS FOR VICTORY AND CHAUDRON – TEAM ABU DHABI CRASH OUT

Sunday, 7 September, IBIZA: Victory and Chaudron produced the stand-out performances of the afternoon and dominated race 2 of the Mediterranean Grand Prix, cruising to emphatic victories in their respective classes in a dramatic race that was red flagged after Abu Dhabi crashed out at the first corner, both Faleh AL Mansoori and Rashed Al Tayer emerging unscathed from the upturned boat.

It was a bitter blow for Al Mansoori and Al Tayer on their debut Grand Prix outing in their new boat, and after going second quickest in qualifying earlier in the day were running in second spot behind Victory at the first turn when they hooked and went over.

VICTORY CRUISE HOME TO WIN RACE 1 – TOMMY ONE WINS IN V1

Saturday, 6 September: Thirteen boats lined up for the first race in over two decades with Class 1 catamarans and V1 monohulls running side-by-side, with Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi carrying on from where they left off and last raced together in 2011, cruising to an easy victory in race 1 of the Mediterranean Grand Prix to win by a massive 49 second margin.

The Victory duo who earlier in the day shared the pole position spoils with LFF10, led from the start and were never challenged, going on to complete the 13 laps in 35:41.85s.

Despite matching the winners in qualifying Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella could not match the sustained pace of the leader’s, but looked comfortable in second spot when they suddenly hit trouble on lap 9 and stopped.

From third place at the end of lap 1 Guido Cappellini and C1 rookie Mikhail Kitashev held off an initial challenge from Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski in Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar before opening out a comfortable advantage to move into and take second spot following the exit of LFF10.

The Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar crew in turn faced a race long challenge from Faleh Al Mansoori and Rashed Al Tayer in Team Abu Dhabi’s new MTI, who passed them on the final lap to take the chequered flag in third, only to be hit with a 25-second post-race penalty for destroying a turn buoy, handing the podium spot back to Isiklar and Zaborowski, the Abu Dhabi duo dropping to fifth behind LFF8-Polimersan.

The performance of the day came in V1 from the Tommy One crew of Maurizio Schepici and Stefano Bonanno who powered their way through the field from a long way back in fourth spot, first passing Bernico-New Star, then the early race leader’s Chaudron before setting their sights on and overhauling the pole sitters Antonio and Giuseppe Schiano in Karelpiu, to take the win in 36:33.39s.

CLASS 1 AND V1 SET FOR MEDITERRANEAN GRAND PRIX IN IBIZA

Monday, 1 September: The Spanish Island of Ibiza is all set to host the heavyweights of world powerboat racing when they take to the waters off Playa D’en Bossa for the Mediterranean Grand Prix on 5-7 September.

For the first time in over two decades catamarans and monohulls will race alongside each other in the UIM Class 1 and V1 World Powerboat Championships, with an anticipated 14-boats lining up as the revised new-look Championships format debuts in Ibiza and Class 1 returns to Spanish waters for the first time since 2006.

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.

Outerlimits Kilo Marks Officially In The APBA Record Book / Speed on the Water

The American Power Boat Association finished reviewing and approving the paperwork yesterday from the Special Event Outerlimits kilo runs in late April, and the records are officially in the books. (For more information, see the Related Stories below.) That's the word from Mark Wheeler, the president of the Eastpointe, Mich.-based organization. To that end, the APBA posted the following press release to its website this morning

"Two APBA Special Events Straightaway Speed records were established in Washington, N.C. on April 29, 2014. Both records were set using Outerlimits boats powered by Mercury engines and Mercury stern drives. More; Outerlimits Kilo Marks Officially In The APBA Record Book

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

2014 Consolidated Offshore Powerboat Racing Season Schedule - Update

A quick update to the consolidated 2014 U.S. offshore powerboat racing season with races from organizers such as Super Boat International (SBI) and Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) and P1 Superstock USA.  Also, we cannot forget the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, where you can you see a boat like My Way run 224 mph.  

Have a race event you want listed, send it to us and we will add it to the list!

	April
Apr 11-13	SBI - Charlotte Harbor Super Boat Grand Prix	Charlotte Harbor, FL
Apr 25-27	OPA - Biloxi's Smokin' the Sound – Divisional	Biloxi, MS
Apr 26-27	P1 -  Daytona Beach, FL	Daytona Beach, FL
	May
May 2-4	OPA - Lake Hopatcong Grand Prix	Lake Hopatcong, NJ
May 16-18	SBI - 5th Annual Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix	Cocoa Beach, FL
May 17-18	P1 – Stuart Florida	Stuart, FL
	June
June 5-8	OPA – Lake Race, Lake of the Ozarks, MO NEW	Lake of the Ozarks
June 7-8	P1 – Jacksonville, FL	Jacksonville, FL
June 20-22	OPA - Atlantic City Offshore Grand Prix	Atlantic City, NJ
	July
July 4-6	SBI - 30th Annual Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival	Sarasota, FL
July 12-13	P1 – Tampa, FL	Tampa, FL
July 25-27	OPA - St Clair River Classic Offshore Powerboat Race	St Clair, MI
	August
Aug 1-3	SBI - 6th Annual Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix	Michigan City, IN
Aug 8-10	OPA - International Offshore Powerboat Race	Port Huron, MI
Aug 16-24	Lake of the Ozarks Shootout	Lake of the Ozarks
Aug 20-24	SBI - 11th Annual Thunder on the Gulf	Orange Beach, AL
Aug 20-24	SBI - 1st Annual Pensacola Grand Prix	Pensacola, FL
Aug 22-24	OPA - Great Race on the Sea	TBA Long Island, NY​​
Aug 23-24	P1 – Cocoa Beach, FL	Cocoa Beach, FL
	September
Sept 5-7	24th Annual New York Grand Prix – Tribute to 911	New York, NY
Sept 12-14	OPA Nationals  - Solomons Offshore Grand Prix	Solomons, MD
Sept 20-21	P1 – St Cloud, FL	St Cloud, FL
Sept 26-28	6th Annual Clearwater Super Boat National Championship	Clearwater, FL
	October
October 3-5	OPA World Championships	Ocean City, MD
	November
Nov 2-9	34th Annual Key West World Championship	Key West, FL

OPA racing comes to Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks (LOTO) is one of the biggest destinations for families in the Midwest for water sports and general relaxation from the hustle and bustle of their work weeks. Missouri is known as the "Show Me" State and the fine folks of LOTO have gone to the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) and said "Show Me some racing!!!" On the weekend of June 6-8, OPA has obliged and will bring their brand of offshore racing to the site known simply as "Lake Race".
​
"We are excited to be able to come in and be the producer of the Lake Race. Having the opportunity to work with promoter, Alvin Heathman, and his wonderful staff in order to put this together has been a pleasure and we look forward to racing at LOTO", commented Ed Smith (Smitty), President of OPA.
​
The Lake Race is presented by Mountain Dew and Formula Boats of Missouri. The action kicks off Thursday June 5 with the teams arriving to the race village and the Lake Race Props and Hoses Poker Run, continues with the Lake Race Street Party on the Historic Bagnell Dam Strip on Friday, finishing up with racing on Saturday and Sunday.
​
“Lake Race” is the 2nd stop on the OPA Racing National circuit. Lake Race schedule will contain 2 days of racing. All classes are schedule to run both days. OPA Racing Class prize purse is $35,000. In additional to the regular class racing, the “Run What you Brung” will be ran which has an additional $40,000 purse that will payout up to 5th place.
For more info on the Lake Race go to www.oparacing.org . ​
​RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG

This class has a $40,000 purse that pays back five places and races for two days with the combined points determining the finishing order. If you own a Canopy Vee or Canopy Cat with 30 plus feet, you are able to compete!

• 1st Place - $18,000
• 2nd Place - $10,000
• 3rd Place - $6,000
• 4th Place - $4,000
• 5th Place - $2,000

With the tortoise and the hare style racing, you don’t have to be the fastest to win, you have to be the most reliable for the Saturday and Sunday.

RESULTS: OPA Smokin' the Sound Offshore Powerboat Race

It was an exciting racing season opener this weekend for the Offshore Powerboat Association on the pristine Gulf Shores of Biloxi, Mississippi as racing action took place along Casino Row as boats raced in four different classes to include the Run What You Brung class, providing excitement for all. 

If you missed this race, we to see you at the next OPA event for the Lake Hopatcong Grand Prix in Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Super Stock
1st - S-1 Top Stars
2nd - S-111 SOS Venezuela
3rd - S-11 WSMParts.com

Super Vee Lite
1st - 4 Octane
2nd - 21 Pirate

Class 4
1st - 404 Simmons Marine

Run What You Brung
1st - S-111 SOS Venezuela
2nd - S-11 WSMParts.com
3rd - 113 Miss GEICO
4h - 4 Octane
5th - 21 Pirate Racing
6th - 404 Simmons Marine
7th - Cat Can Do

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

P1 Superstock: P1 counting down to launch of record championship season

USA Superstock
New venues, rising competitor numbers, increased TV coverage and a new commercial partnership underpin series expansion on both sides of the Atlantic

P1, the world’s biggest marine motorsport brand, has announced a record race season this year for its SuperStock powerboats and AquaX personal watercraft series in both in the USA and UK. A 70-race international calendar will get underway at Daytona Beach on the weekend of April 26/27 and the 6-event USA season will include Jacksonville for the first time, with another high-profile venue to be announced later this month.

The expansion of the USA race programme has attracted 10 SuperStock teams, including 2013 champions Andy Biddle and Tracy Blumenstein, and some 50 AquaX riders. P1 launched its AquaX series in the USA last year with just 7 competitors battling the Daytona surf, and next weekend the fleet of jet skis will have the water to itself with the SuperStock boats not starting their season until the middle of May in Stuart.

TEAM GASSE WINS CHARLOTTE HARBOR SUPER BOAT GRAND PRIX -SBI

By SBI on April 15, 2014 

Englewood Beach, Fla. (April 16th, 2014) The Super Boat International (SBI) season kicked off in high gear with the first race taking place on the Gulf Coast of Florida at Englewood Beach with Team Gasse winning the Superboat Unlimited Class. With 30 boats competing in the inaugural Charlotte Harbor Super Boat Grand Prix event, the fans and teams were wowed by the turn out and excitement of offshore racing.

Super Boat’s season opener normally starts in May but it came early this year as the teams were out in full support of the new event and venue. Team Gasse Racing came back strong this year with owner, Tor Staubo and throttleman, Johnny Tomlinson maintaining second place most of the day, then as team CMS ran out of fuel, Team Gasse surged ahead for first place and victory in the first race of the year. “What a great day. I am so excited and proud of our team for what we accomplished here today. This race site and all the local people are just so awesome,” comments Staubo.

Team STIHL took top honors in the Superboat Class with team Broadco, WHM, Cleveland Construction, and Auto Nation Racing For Cancer rounding out the field in finishing order. JR Noble of Team STIHL remarked, “we are very excited with our win and, what is even more exciting was, racing next to Broadco deck to deck. That was so much fun! I am really looking forward to the next race. I think all the Superboats are excited about the season.”