WORLD CLASS OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING RETURNS TO KEY WEST

A year ago, when it was announced offshore powerboat racing’s world championships were being taken to New Jersey in 1989, a pall hung over Key West, site of the competition for eight consecutive years.

But world-class racing, including a majority of the sport’s top drivers, is returning to the Southernmost City Wednesday and Saturday for the $100,000 Bud Light Battle of the Seas.

Although not a regularly scheduled race, the American Power Boat Association granted Key West’s Conch Republic Offshore Power Boat Racing Association authority to hold the special event there, since no other national race took place in the Lower Keys all year.

Many of the drivers who raced in the world championships in Atlantic City, N.J., have decided to come to Key West because they were disappointed by racing conditions on shortened storm courses up north. Only two of three scheduled races took place because of poor weather.

More than 80 entries from the United States, Japan, Italy, England and Trinidad are expected, including last year’s Superboat World champion Don Johnson, Pro Class 1989 World Champion Pete Markey, national champion Charlie Marks and Al Copeland of Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken fame.

Monaco’s Stephano Casiraghi, the husband of Princess Caroline, also will return to race in the Pro Open Class. A year ago, Casiraghi walked away from Key West with the World Cup in the Open Class and took top honors in Union International Motonautique I at Atlantic City. Other open entries include Joe Mach’s Dirty Laundry and John D’Elia’s Special Edition.

An experimental format, which includes dividing the field into Pro and Semi Pro divisions and a smaller race course that optimizies spectating opportunities, will be used.

The Pro Class division will consist of American Power Boat Association Superboat and Open classes as well as UIM I and II classes, will run a course on Saturday that includes nine laps through spectator areas in Key West Harbor. The semi-pro division includes APBA Pro Stock and Stock competitors, as well as Sportsmen classes A through D.

The Semi Pros, who plan to compete on a 90-mile course Wednesday and over 108 miles Saturday, will begin at 10:30 a.m. both days. Pro Class boats should start at 1 p.m. each day and run 108 miles on Wednesday and 163 Saturday.