Super Boat International - Miami offshore racing hampered by big seas

by Bob Wonders on 22 Apr 2010 In February I was in Miami for the Miami International Boat Show and along with nearly 100,000 others had to run into the coldest Florida weather for 20-years!

The seas were choppy, the winds cold and blustery, the sunshine for which Florida claims fame as America's Sunshine State, non-existent. Well, perhaps things weather wise have not improved all that much off Miami Beach.

Last weekend was the running of the Miami Grand Prix, in fact the 20th anniversary of the race staged by Super Boat International. As a season opener, things could not have been worse (or rougher!).

Eight to 10' seas and continued rain squalls forced organisers to consider the safety of crews first and foremost and the race was abandoned after two laps. In what may seem a classic understatement, John Carbonell, president of Super Boat International, said the conditions made things 'very difficult.'

'Miami is always the toughest race of the year and this year was by far one of the worst as far as rough sea conditions were concerned,' he said. 'We started on time as we watched the weather to try and achieve the biggest and best window between rain showers.

'Teams in the Vee Unlimited class competed alongside stock and manufacturer P class boats, but once racing was underway we could see it would have to be called off early,' he added. Carbonell said organisers were faced with no choice. 'We stopped the race after two laps, not wanting any teams or medical staff getting injured,' he explained. 'From the consensus of teams, everyone was happy the race was called short.'

The WHM Motorsport team' owned by Billy Mauff, led the two lap race all the way on the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean course and will leave Miami with a win and points lead in the Unlimited Catamaran class. Team Instigator, owned by Peter Meyer and driven by Johnny Stanch came out triumphant in the Super Boat Vee Unlimited class.

'It was big water out there and we had our hands full,' Meyer said. 'We stalled the boat coming out of the inlet, stalled again in the milling area and stalled again on the course, they were telling us to slow down in the milling area, but if I had gone any slower I would have had rollers coming over the top of us.'

'It was one of the roughest races we have ever competed in and I'm glad it ended when it did. To come away with a win and see everyone safe... that's about all you can ask for,' he added.

Other teams, Sheds Plus (P1 Vee Class) and Rollin Vengeance (Super Stock) were equally pleased the race was called. Sheds Plus owner and throttleman Joe Ferrer predicted the race would be the toughest of the season.

'We had just taken delivery of our new boat and had not tested it,' he explained. We had no idea what conditions to expect but the boat was awesome and we made it through – probably the roughest race we'll encounter this season,' he added.

John Carbonell has come to race in Miami for more tan 20-years and is well aware of the need to keep racing both fun and safe. 'Everyone who competes is part of our Super Boat family and even though we had to shorten the race it remained fun, it remained exciting and it remained safe,' he declared.

Super Boat International (SBI) is the longest-running professional offshore racing organisation in North America. President and founder, Carbonell, produces races, kilo speed events and distance attempts across the USA. This year, SBI will recognise the 30th staging of the famed Key West World Championships and the 20th anniversary of Super Boat International Productions.