10.28.08 -Water Sports Roundup: A Quick Guide to Power Boat Racing

By Ted Sensenbrenner
Photos courtesy of Jamie Russell

As the summer heats up, so does competition everywhere. Richard Petty of NASCAR fame stated there is no doubt about when the first automobile race took place; it was the day the second car was built. For the most part, recreational boaters aren’t racers. But officially, each one of us alike has a competitive edge – when another boat draws near, our tendency is to ease the throttle forward.

For reasons of safety and sanity, the real competition is best left to professionals, or at least those with larger maintenance budgets, a knack for anything mechanical, and stock in OPEC. “Official” racing can be found in many places from large lakes and rivers to the ocean. The best view of power boat racing may be from behind the wheel, but since that often comes with a hefty price tag and a few skipped heartbeats, there may be a better option for you.

Many different classes of boats are raced all over the country. A great way to learn more about them from either a racer’s or spectator’s perspective is to visit the American Power Boat Association’s (APBA) website at apba-racing.com. The APBA is the official sanctioning body of power boat racing since 1903. It is responsible for creating a level playing field for participants in each of the 13 power boat classes sanctioned by the organization.

The APBA also offers a comprehensive calendar of racing events for all classes including classic boats, outboard powered craft, hydrofoil and hydroplane, and even jet and turbine powered craft. To the uninitiated, power boat racing may seem like just a raw display of muscle. However, it combines human skill and intense focus with the taming of a tightly wound engine, often in extreme conditions.

Seasoned spectators typically have team favorites. They cheer for drivers the consider heroes and patronize the loyal sponsors. Many teams also offer their gear on their websites. The lucky fans can even get posters and autographs of the participants in the staging area and wet-pits at the local races.

Besides the competition and the chance to watch some pretty exciting action, racing power boats has also contributed enormously to the development of safety features, engine performance, and overall hull design on the very boats we use recreationally. Examples include trim tabs, engine room fire suppression and easy to read instrumentation. Offshore power boats are even experimenting with alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, for cleaner and quieter performance (see Miss GEICO Racing).

Tips for watching Power Boat Racing

From the water:
Anchor only in areas designated by the event organizers and never anchor by the stern. If rafted up, avoid engine idling or running a generator – deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas can build up quickly and unexpectedly. Lastly, minimize your speed and wake when approaching and leaving the racing area.

From the shore:
In most places, event organizers are required to get a special permit if racing within 1,000 feet of shore, so consult the event’s website to see if there is a designated viewing area. Typically, a race announcer will make play-by-play calls and offer other related commentary over a sound system to help spectators follow the action.

Going green – Miss GEICO, the world’s fastest biodiesel power boat, can reach speeds over 200 mph.

For some really cool race action videos, merchandise, fan zone and a sneak peak at the new 50’ Miss GEICO, visit www.missgeicoracing.com.

Racing takes place close to shore, so you don’t even need a boat to catch the action.

Miss GEICO Statistics:
Model: 44’ Marine Technology, Inc. (MTI) Catamaran
Materials: Carbon, Kevlar, S Glass, blood, sweat and tears
Engines: Turbine Marine Cobra Attack Helicopter engines
Horsepower: 1850 horsepower a side totaling 3700 hp
Top Speed: Classified (but faster than Grandpa’s outboard)