Lisa Capitelli
(May 30, 2008) Beachgoers are in for a treat this Sunday when 50 to 60 sleek powerboats are expected to race though the ocean.
After a six-year absence from the resort, the once annual Offshore Powerboat races came back to Ocean City in 2006.
The event was discontinued in Ocean City in 2000 because of a lack of sponsors, after an eight-year run each October n Columbus Day weekend. The 2006 event drew 34 competitors-enough for organizers to bring the Offshore Powerboat Grand Prix back again in 2007.
“It’s getting better every year,” Begovich said. “It’s growing into one of the premiere events in racing.”
This year, GEICO is sponsoring a three-race series, “The Miss GEICO Triple Crown.”
The first is the Ocean City event followed by races in Patchogue, N.Y. (Aug. 23-24) and Point Pleasant, N.J. (Sept. 6-7).
The series offers the largest amount of prize money in offshore racing history, said Gary Goodell, a representative of the GEICO Offshore Racing Team, in a press release.
“The Miss GEICO Triple Crown Racing Series will be the largest and the most anticipated racing series in the United States and the largest crowds in offshore racing are expected,” he said.
On Sunday, powerboats will race along the coast of the resort from Fourth Street to 40th, close enough for spectators to feel and hear the speed of the vessels from the beach.
Participants in the event, which is also one of the Offshore Power Boat Racing Association’s national races, will compete in heats that take them counterclockwise on a rectangle course, 500 to 1,000 yards offshore.
Before the race, fans are invited to Sunset Marina in West Ocean City this (Friday) afternoon and all day Saturday to see the boats up close in the dry pits.
“It’s a great family outing,” Begovich said. “We welcome fans to come check out the boats.”
Many of the drivers will take their boats out for a test run to get a feel for the course on Saturday between noon and 3 p.m.
On race day, boats will leave Sunset Marina behind a pace boat to the starting area. The boats will race in different categories depending on size, power and speed. The first race is set to begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by the second at 2 p.m. Each race will last about an hour.
Teams will race to accumulate points in each of The Miss GEICO Triple Crown events as they compete for more than $200,000 in prize money. Points will also count toward the title of 2008 National Champion Race Team.
The race will be broadcast live on ESPN radio from the Commander Hotel on 14th Street.
An awards party is set for 6 p.m. on Sunday at Sunset Grill.
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