U.S. Offshore Powerboat Tour races in Ocean City Marylan

Ocean City, Maryland -- The Geico Offshore Grand Prix Powerboat Tour comes to Ocean City for some exciting racing action. The event features both professional and amateur powerboat racers with some of the fastest boats in the world competing in a variety of classes in the ocean just off the Ocean City Maryland beach.

Larger boats will run an eight-mile course; smaller boats will race a four-mile course, according to racing organizers. The race can be viewed along the beach from the boardwalk to approximately 49th Street.

Last race nearly 40 boats participated in the Ocean City Maryland race.

Where will the races start?

The races will take place between 10th Street and 30th Streets. The boats will race from directly off the beach in close proximity. The length of a race is determined by classes that seperate the different types of boats. There is an anticipated 30 (or more boats) for the Sunday Pro.

What are the dry pits and the wet pits? The Ocean City Inlet Parking Lot will be designated as the "dry pit" area. This is where the boats are put on display and where crews make adjustments and go through checklist before putting their boats in the water. There will be a small donation to access this area that goes to the M.S. Society. The wet pits are the marinas where the boats are docked prior to the race. The hot pits are the refueling and crane area where the boats are lowered into the water, this will be in West Ocean City.

                                            A FULL WEEKEND OF ACTIVITIES:

Friday May 30th, 2008
All Day                            Arrival of Race Boats; Viewing in Dry Pits-Sunset Marina at 12911 Sunset Ave.
7:00 AM-10:00 AM       Dunker/Swim Tests in Sunset Marina Pool
1:00 PM-4:00 PM          OPA Registration-Sunset Marina
2:00 PM-5:00 PM          Boat Inspections-Dry Pits
6:00 PM-7:00 PM          Drivers Meeting-Coast Guard Station; 610 S. Philadelphia Ave-OC
7:00 PM-10:00 PM        Meet the racers party-Secrets Bar; 117 49th Street-Ocean City (wristbands required)

Saturday May 31st, 2008
All Day                            Race Boats on Display in the Dry Pits; Crane in Operation 12:00-4:00 PM
7:00 AM-10:00 AM        Dunker/Swim Tests in Sunset Marina Pool
9:00 AM-4:00 PM          OPA Registration-Sunset Marina
12:00 PM-3:00 PM        Race Boat Testing
12:00 PM-4:00 PM        Race Control Operational; Channel 78
5:00 PM-6:00 PM          Volunteer Meeting-Commander Hotel; 1401 Atlantic Ave.
6:00 PM-10:00 PM        Racers Party-Commander Hotel; 1401 Atlantic Ave.

Sunday June 1st, 2008
All Day                            Race Boats on Display in Dry Pits; Sunset Marina, 12911 Sunset Ave.
7:30 AM-8:30 AM          Racers Physicals at Coast Guard Pavillion-Inlet
9:00 AM-10:00 AM        Drivers Meeting-Coast Guard Pavillion-Inlet
9:00 AM-4:00 PM          Crane in Operation
10:30 AM                        Course buoys set
11:00 AM-4:00 PM        Race Control Operational-Channel 78
12:00 Noon                    Course Support Fleet on station
12:30 PM                        1st Race of 2008 Geico Offshore Triple Crown
2:00 PM                          2nd Race of 2008 Geico Offshore Triple Crown
6:00 PM                          Awards Ceremony - Sunset Bar and Grill-Sunset Marina


CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
The lettering on the boat describes its class designation

Class A: 26-30 in length speeds 70-80 mph. 
Class B: 30-38 feet in length. 80-100 mph. Two big block inboard engines. 
Class C: Catamarans 28-30 feet. 100-108 mph. 
Class P: Pro Stock catamarans 30-38 feet with three outboard engines 
Class M: Modifieds. 115 mph. Catamarans and single-hulled. 
Open : Top of the line class! 35 feet plus. Speeds 135 mph.
         Any engine configuration over 1000 horsepower each. No letters, only numbers on the boat.

What an incredible weekend for Ocean City, Maryland and the Offshore Powerboat Racing National Grand Prix! The weather gods could not have been more cooperative with beautiful puffy fall clouds and sunny skies. The air temperatures were in the seventies and with water temperatures near, people swam in the ocean as super powered race boats zoomed by.

The race course located close to shore proved a variety of racing conditions. The ocean swells were greater on the first and second turns located on the inlet side of the course, launching many of the 'Cats' like rockets as they hit the pedal to the metal on the straight-a-way. The north outside straights proved challenging, but even more spectacular for the crowd was the inside lane just a few hundred feet from the beach. The thunder of super powered boats could be felt a couple of streets back from the beach!

The event was equally exciting as one of the leaders in the race near the third turn spun out and sank close to shore. As crew members were rescued the white hull of the R&R Racing Catamaran pointed sky ward like a huge white monolith. Not fun to the racing team, an eye catcher for all. Numerous other boats found difficulties like the famed Gifford Racing vessel as it spun out and or had mechanical problems on the second turn.... although they didn't finish, they had accumulated enough points to hold on to and win the title in the Open class.

A combination of two races, Saturday and Sunday, finalized a five race season that begins in April. Based on a total number of points in ten different classes.

National Titles
Sport A Class: Mountain Dew boat, Jim Arvis owner and driver. Open Class: Gifford Racing. Modified National Crown: R&R Racing. Other national titles went to Priority (Vee modified), Instigator, Extinguisher, Lilly Jack (Pro Modified), and Imagine That (Sport B).

Sunday's class winners: Riveted (Open), Priority (Vee Modified), Extinguisher (Pro A), Defender (Pro Stock), Instigator (Pro B), and Accurate Marine (Super Stock)


The following are statistics for a Pro Class vessel that you will be seeing. Rocket "Popeye's" This vessel is in fully commissioned state and is capable of being campaigned on the offshore racing circuit. The engines represent state of-the-art and there are two new spare engines. The cockpit has the feel of an F16 fighter. She held for 10 years the World Record for the fastest kilo at 138.512 mph.
 

NAME: POPEYES #13 - LOA: 35’ - TYPE: Catamaran offshore power racing 
- BEAM: 10’ 10 BUILDER: Cougar Marine - YEAR: 1985 - MODEL: Cougar Cat 
- HULL MATERIAL: Plywood with resin coating - DESIGNER: Birkett for Cougar Marine 
- ENGINES: 500 cubic-inch 950 hp1991 fuel injected and supercharged 
- Type: Lightning Marine - Spare engines new also fuel injected and supercharged 
- SPEED: (Approx.): 138 mph 6500 R.P.M. 
- Fuel: gasoline/aviation 
- Bulkheads: 10 - Aluminum Decks: Kevlar over Plywood 
- Fastenings: nails; epoxy glue; Kevlar fiberglass 
- Vessel Reconstructed and modified on 1991 
- TANKAGE: 6 tanks - Capacity: (APPROX.): 600 gallons 
         Location: centerline between cockpit and engines

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