85 Sarasota was rough as crap. That was the first year for the two race format.

Though it's not in the 80's as chewiekw had requested, I will put in my vote for the 2000 St. Pete Worlds as well. It was incredible racing and an even more incredible week-long atmosphere that hasn't been paralleled since.

F-2 Start:

lot of big racing in michigan in the 80s". Popeyes first superboat ever to race 4 engine 50ft cat.

i remember race #1 F-1. We had Oatey on one side and Fury on the other we could high five each other we were so cose. All the way thru turn one.

I remember that one well. The first two races were postponed due to bad weather and BIG water....when we finally got the green light to race, 15 "A class" boats headed out the inlet. 2 turned back and of the 13 who started, only 2 finished. Snakebite came in 2d (broken throttle) behind Mark Tangas' 30 ft'er who won in grand style. That was Some race. The Trump Princess (a majorly big yacht ) sat in the center of the race course, and you would loose sight of her between the huge swells.