Miss Geico breaks Annapolis to Baltimore record

by Bob Wonders on 31 May 2008 A couple of years back I drove from Annapolis to Baltimore, a distance of only a few miles, but with sections of heavy traffic it still took me close to an hour.

No such problems for the world’s fastest offshore race boat, Miss Geico, which covered the distance between the two cities along the Severn River and across Chesapeake Bay in 10 minutes, 31 seconds.

Marc Granet, who piloted the awesome 44’ (13.4-metres) catamaran, described the journey as 'a good safe run.'

Miss Geico topped out at 185mph (297km/hr) and averaged 160mph (257km/hr) during the run.

I was fortunate to see Miss Geico at the Miami International Boat Show earlier this year, and I can tell you, she’s worth seeing.

She tips the scales at 4762kg and is powered by two refurbished Bell Cobra helicopter turbine engines that produce 3000hp.

The engines use bio-diesel fuel, whish utilises various vegetable oils instead if petroleum products.

John Arruda, owner of Turbine Marine, which built Miss Geico, said the fuel 'smells like French fries when it burns.'

'It’s basically a renewable fuel, you can re-grow it,' he explained.

Not surprisingly, when Marc Granet ‘fires’ the engines, it sounds like a jet aircraft is about to take to the skies.

The Annapolis-Baltimore run was scheduled for a 7.30am start, Miss Geico making her way slowly up the Severn River past the US Naval Academy.

Granet was at the wheel with throttleman Scotty Begovich and Geico marketing representative Eric Vaden as additional ‘ballast’.

According to ‘The Capital’, Annapolis’s daily newspaper, the crew was strapped into NASCAR-style seats with fighter pilot helmets.

A helicopter above plotted the route using high-tech navigation systems.

A safety boat with suited divers on board followed in case of accident.

Into clear water and Scotty Begovich hit the throttles, the boat producing a tremendous ‘rooster tail’ as it disappeared beneath the bay bridge.

A news helicopter was left behind!

In just a shade over 10 and a half minutes, Miss Geico was in Baltimore.

'It was amazing,' Eric Vaden declared.

'Doing 185mph (297km/hr) is definitely a highlight in my life.'

Miss Geico team owner, John Haggin, described the run, which beat last year’s record by more than four minutes, as outstanding.

He claims he simply 'got hooked' on fast boats; 'It’s the greatest thrill you can have with your clothes on,' he says.

Sadly, heading back to Annapolis after the record breaking run, Miss Geico hit the wake of a passing container ship.

The incident snapped a drive shaft and caused the boat to lose its propellers.

'Two of the best propellers money can buy and they’re sitting out there on the sea bed,' Granet said.

Turbine engines boast a longer lifespan than their push-rod counterparts, their biggest threat being the highly corrosive salt water.

All connected with the boat say they aim to show that a 200mph-plus boat can be environmentally friendly

Miss Geico is believed to be the only turbine-powered offshore racer in the world running on bio-diesel fuel, apart from the 78 foot trimaran Earthrace that is currently in the wester Pacific,aiming to break the round the world record.

Below is a video of Miss Geico at 188 miles per hour