Flying across the water at 100 miles per hour, twin-engine powerboats running just as fast a few feet away on either side, a Super Cat driver has little room for error.
"It's a little hard to imagine," said Hugh Fuller, offshore powerboat racing's former world champion. "Just think about running the Daytona 500, but the track keeps changing on every lap."
Offshore powerboat racing has enjoyed something of a Renaissance in recent years.
Gone are the days when the boats would take off from the beach and disappear only to return a few hours later, leaving spectators scratching their heads wondering what happened.
Uniform rules and tighter specifications have increased competition, while shorter, fan-friendly courses have brought the action closer to shore.
But of all the venues in the United States, none is better suited for the big boats than the bright blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico that lie adjacent to the City of Sarasota.
Sarasota could call itself the "Offshore Racing Capital of the World." Many race teams keep their boats in this city by the sea and use it as a place to test when the rest of the country is covered by ice and snow.
The performance boat manufacturer Donzi, a company that has produced more than its fair share of national and world champions, makes its headquarters here, which in racing circles, gives Sarasota a degree of credibility enjoyed by few other cities.
When it comes to powerboat racing, Sarasota's greatest attribute is still its beaches. The miles of white sugar sand, backed by some of the world's best hotels and restaurants, make it the ideal viewing area for a world-class sporting event.
The Annual Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival takes place each summer, typically in late June/early July (and usually including Independence Day weekend).
Sarasota is the longest continuously running race site in the sport's history. It is also one of the few race sites in the country that has always raised money for charity. For over 25 years, the Suncoast Foundation for the Handicapped, Inc. has collected more than $14 million in facilities for local charities that serve physically and mentally challenged children and adults.
The boats, some 50-feet long and powered by four engines producing 4,800 horsepower, are capable of speeds upward of 170 miles per hour. Both catamaran and vee-bottom boats can carry the "super" designation.
The festivities also include contests between recreational-style craft straight from the manufacturer. These "local" classes often provide some of the tightest competition and serve as a training base, or farm league, for the larger, "professional" classes.
Spectators can get as close as 100 feet to the race boats on Lido Beach or anchor their own boats in the middle of the action in "the infield." Spectators who don't want to fight traffic out to the beach can relax and enjoy "flag to flag" coverage on a Jumbotron television screen under a large tent at Powerboats By The Bay located at Centennial Park.
The "wet pits" and "dry pits" are free and open to the public. Highlights vary, but generally include a kickoff party, a parade of boats and a Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular.
If you go:
For more details and information on the entire 24th Annual Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival log onto www.suncoastoffshore.org or call 941-371-8820 ext. 1800.
