Key West attracts the 'big guns' for the World Offshore titles

by Bob Wonders on 12 Nov 2010 It has been called ‘The Superbowl’ of offshore powerboat racing and this weekend sees some of the world’s top offshore racers ‘go to war’ off Key West, southernmost tip of the continental USA.

Many of the entrants will top speeds in the region of 150mph (240km/hr) as entrants fight it out in various classes on the unpredictable waters off the Keys.

Miami throttleman John Tomlinson (‘Team CRC’) described the Key West course as 'like no other.'

'It’s a course where crews cannot allow their attention to wander, even for a second,' he declared.

'The course can be very challenging and throws up a wide variety of water conditions, from extremely rough to quite smooth,' he added.

No one doubts that offshore racing can bed dangerous; in fact, during the 1980s and 1990s at least five men have been killed racing at Key West.

However, there have been no deaths for more than 10-years.

John Carbonell, President of race organiser Super Boat International, said every accident had been ‘carefully studied.’

'Now days, we have boats with fighter jet canopies, specially contoured seats that absorb impact and onboard oxygen to keep crews surviving even when a crash leaves a boat upside down,' he said.

This will be the 30th annual staging of the Key West championships.

Prominent team owner and throttleman Peter Meyer (‘Instigator Motorsports’), a multi-time winner at Key West, is among many competitors who believe ‘to be the best, you have to win at Key West.’

Meyer will be seeking his eighth Key West title.

Boats have been arriving in Key West all week with testing and warm-up races being conducted daily.

Like all offshore events, Key West also offers entertainment on all levels, from street parties to dinner dances to concerts featuring top acts.

This weekend the action really hots up with the final event scheduled for Sunday (Nov 14).

Powerboat-World will bring all the results from the legendary race next week.