Always was......... You are correct-da-mundo.........

It always look like good racing during the start. However my point is that offshore races are not run in offshore conditions anymore, all of the races are being run close to shore and on short courses with flat calm water. This is what a call exciting offshore racing (Yeah, i know that i already have posted several old videos in this thread). youtube.com/watch?v=erzwo08u2kQ

Very well said.

its only 15 mins long because he lands really hard and called it quits.video is awesome

I believe that is exactly what was posted.

You can beat the subject to death and nothing will change. The sport has evolved, for better or worse, to what it is. It is different than the old days. In some ways better, in other ways probably not, depending on your view. But the current formula (at least the OPA formula) is working for the racers and judging by the crowds we pulled at Michigan City and St. Clair in our last two events, the fans don't seem to mind either. As long as the race sites continue to have us, we will put on our helmets and go at it. If you are not a fan, don't watch.

By that metric, offshore racing has never been a sport.

Fans of the run-to-the-horizon, back-in-the-day version never will be convinced there is any value in races closer to shore, though I'll will gently suggest that the final day of Key West a few years back—with a healthy Super Cat and Unlimited fleet—was as vile and nasty as anything I've seen in the videos posted here.

Fans of the "near-shore" version enjoy it, as do the those who compete in it. Why not let them? No one forces anyone to watch.

The sport will never head back "offshore." The best efforts of some truly dedicated people such as Charlie McCarthy (Top Banana) of HORBA, Brad Schoenwald and the late Larry Goldman have fallen flat. No sponsor support, no fan support and very, very little racer support. For better or worse, and my belief is for better (and I have no problem with anyone who disagrees with me), the sport has changed forever. But if you're actually into watching anything other than boats leaving and returning to the harbor, you can.

SB Racing has, in my view, said it best:

"You can beat the subject to death and nothing will change. The sport has evolved, for better or worse, to what it is. It is different than the old days. In some ways better, in other ways probably not, depending on your view. But the current formula (at least the OPA formula) is working for the racers and judging by the crowds we pulled at Michigan City and St. Clair in our last two events, the fans don't seem to mind either. As long as the race sites continue to have us, we will put on our helmets and go at it. If you are not a fan, don't watch."

It's a sport but not a spectator sport as compared to most others that have income based on fans in seats or watching on TV buying the sponsors products.

I have an opinion regarding motorsports
I owned and operated a asphalt oval stock car track from 2008 to 2016 (I bought it just before the crash, my timing has always sucked)
All forms of motorsport evolve, some of the best advancements are for safety. Often times change is dictated by revenue, ever since '08 corporate sponsorship money has been difficult to obtain (for a number of reasons, companies hold their checkbooks a little closer plus lots more ways to spend the same or less money. The internet) Event promoters must try to provide value for the advertisers which usually revolves around visibility and attendance numbers. The video footage of the old truly offshore racing is spectacular and will keep you engaged, but very expensive to produce and television doesn't have the value it once did (unless you can afford to buy airtime on a major network). Plus its difficult to sell a billboard sign out in the middle of the ocean!
Essentially follow the money, if someone figures out how to host a spectator sport that keeps people engaged and entertained as a captive audience, they will be successful.
There will be a way to get advertising value and create the excitement like in the past.
I don't know what it is, but someone smarter and more creative than I am will figure it out.
Regarding spectators, that's a whole different conversation for another day
The other reason motorsports (auto racing, I don't know if powerboat racing operates the same) evolve is, competitors. They are their own worst enemies, they want to go faster (if they didn't they would not be in the sport), and going faster means changes to the existing field, change costs money. Those that don't have the money to make those changes, rarely speak up at the meetings to stop change. They just leave quietly and park the race car and take up cocaine because it less expensive/addictive! Just kidding about the cocaine, but is is cheaper than racing and less addictive.
My first year as a promoter I was guilty of listening to the guys with the money, but I did figure it out pretty quickly.
I occasionally compete in Champ Car endurance series, it was originally showroom stock with safety upgrades, now they are stock bodied race cars.

Is it offshore racing dying? I hope not, but it is a state of evolution sometimes you can evolve at the same pace as your environment and if you can't you will go extinct.
Sorry if my opinion was a little long winded