Race World Offshore World Championship Report
The Race World Offshore World Championship is more than a race, it’s a performance boat festival that include three days of exciting competition in Key West, Florida. Mercury Racing was on hand at multiple venues, closing out its year-long 50th Anniversary celebration.
$200,00 Raised At Speed On The Water Auction
Mercury Racing kicked off the Key West festivities at the 10th Annual Speed On The Water Bash, hosted by the high-performance powerboating news/video website, at Pickles Pub Sandbar. The event featured a live auction benefiting Samuel’s House. Auction proceeds and a matching $100,000 donation from The R.J. Noble Company raised more than $200,000 for the nonprofit organization that provides shelter for women, children and intact families in a safe and sober setting.
The auction was held outdoors on Greene Street, which was closed for the evening under a permit obtained from the City of Key West by Race World Offshore president Larry Bleil. An MTI-V 50 center console and the Class 1 Monster Energy/M CON Skater race boat formed the stage and backdrop for the event’s volunteer auctioneers, dedicated performance boaters Nolan Ferris and Todd Campbell. Mercury Racing was one of the many sponsors donating items and activities for the auction. A generous bid of $10,000 won a package of Mercury Racing merchandise including a pair of custom bar stools, a canvas tote loaded with RuMe sling bags, dock lines, chrome trailer hitch cover, and an AO Coolers 24-can cooler with CamelBak tumblers, beach towels, and more.
Celebrating 50 Years of Wide Open
The last bash of the Mercury Racing 50th Anniversary celebration was held in conjunction with the Florida Powerboat Club on Friday, Nov. 10, at the Conch Republic Seafood Company in Key West. The party doubled as the gathering point for the 245 teams entered in the 31st Annual Key West Offshore Poker Run hosted by the Florida Powerboat Club. FPC head Stu Jones reports that 231 boats made the run down from Key West in waves on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with other boats arriving from alternate departure points. The FPC run to Key West for the Race World Offshore World Championship weekend is one of the largest gatherings of offshore performance boats in the country, attracting boat owners who embrace the Wide Open lifestyle and Mercury Racing power.
Mercury Racing Powers World Champions
The Race World Offshore World Championship includes racing in multiple classes on three days over a 4.5-mile course – Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – with points earned on each day totaled to determine a class champion. There were 75 boats registered for all classes combined in the event.
Class 1 – The premier offshore racing class championship was claimed by throttleman Giovanni Carpitella and driver Darren Nicholson in 222 Offshore Australia, a 49-foot Victory catamaran powered by twin Mercury Racing 1100 Competition engines. The team also dominated this season’s UIM Class 1 World Championship hosted by P1 Offshore. Throttleman Tyler Miller and driver Myrick Coil placed second in the 438 Skater Monster Energy/M CON. Owner/driver Mike Falco and throttleman Billy Moore placed third in the Outerlimits Team DeFalco. The Mercury Racing 1100 Competition is the specified engine for Class 1.
Factory Stock 450 – In some of the closest racing of the week, Shaun Torrente and owner/driver Willy Cabeza in the 39-foot MTI GC Racing prevailed in this class for 38- and 39-foot catamarans powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards. Owner/throttleman Michel Karsenti and driver Ervin Grant placed second in the 38-foot Doug Wright Gladiator Canados. Throttleman John Tomlinson and driver Taylor Scism placed third in a 39-foot MTI TS Motorsports.
Superstock – Mercury Racing 300R outboards powered the largest class in the event, with 11 entries. Throttleman Julian Maldonado and owner/driver Reese Langheim claimed the title in the 32-foot Victory catamaran Jackhammer after sweeping all three races. Owner/driver Darren Kittredge and throttleman Casey Boaz placed second on the 32-foot Doug Wright Northwing, followed by throttleman Scott Porta and driver A.J. Bogino in the 32-foot Doug Wright CoCo’s Monkey.
Learn about the Mercury Racing Wide Open lifestyle and all Mercury Racing high-performance products at Mercuryracing.com.
