Found some old stuff that may be interesting for some people decorating their boat -cave.

HORBA ran the first open water offshore race in over 20 years in 2008, from Miami to Bimini and back non-stop. We used Haulover Inlet, (Sunny Isles ) as a start and finish area.

We have enough items to put together 5 kits, consisting of ....One original Participant decal that every boat had attached to their sides ahead of the cockpit. One race patch that was designed by no less than Brownie himself, that can be sewn on a race jacket. One race key chain with the HORBA logo on one side and the race date and information on the other side. One HORBA promotion card with the HORBA logo on one side and a full color picture of Rocky Aoki in his 35 foot BENIHANA, flying off a wave top as he was winning the Bahamas 500 race in the 70's. Cost $100.00




The decal can be seen on the side of this boat. This boat is a Formula 233 and it is the very first race boat that Don Aronow ever raced, that was built by his own company. The name he chose for this boat? The Cigarette.


Original 1963 409/409 by Kiekhaefer. Rebuilt and tuned by Innovation Marine. Original sterndrive replaced by a new Bravo 1.

In the photo from the race there were three of us on board. At the wheel is the present owner, I am in the middle and the third person is the son of the owner who bought the boat from Don. Since the boat was setup for the driver to throttle as well as drive, we split the course into three sections and we each took a turn of driving and throttling. Great memories.

I still have the extra decal you gave me as well as the key chains, i have yet to frame it as well at the checkered flag for winning my glass signed by Michael.. I'll frmae that as well in my new building.. I remember sitting with Bobby at the bar at the race track and happpend to look up and it was the apache vid where they tripped and stuffed in KW, his face lit up and broke into the story of the trim tab electrical gremlin... that and sitting in haulover with the owners of the 233 and you and just talking boats... a wonderful wknd.

this is us coming across the finish line... Also if you want a good laugh, here is a thread we documented the trip....
Assclown racing heads to SIB

Wow thats just awesome. So when is the next race? Looks like it was a great turn out. I saw there was one in 2015 around Long Island. offshoredrillin thanks for sharing the link. Looks like y'all had a blast.

Thanks for the link Rob. Definitely a great read. Thanks again.

Rob, you and Dave would have fit in very well if you had been racing with us back in the 1970’s. Thanks for your kind words and I hope to see you at another open ocean racing event in the future. Please join us on Facebook, we have a page called SEARACE that is working to get old school offshore racing going again. The page is a private group, but just apply and we will get you authorized to join. Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.

Hey Top Banana. Do you have any interior pictures of the 233? Im completely in love with that boat!

thanks all, it was a blast of a week.. it also showed that you dont have to have a "race" boat to race... thats the beauty of the long haul races... it levels the playing field.

There is only an engine box that covers the engine and tips forward for service work.

No seats and no bolsters, you simply stood up straight and held on.

There is a photo out there somewhere of the Beatles taking a ride with Don when they first came to the country, and you can clearly see the cockpit is wide open.

When it was racing back in the 60's in the center of the cockpit was a very large fuel tank,

that the driver had to stand with his left foot up on it as it came over to . Same with riding mechanic, he also stood with one foot on it on his side too.

Photo shows the family that owns and restored the boat, at a lunch stop in Tampa Bay. Wide open cockpit.

what was the reason the old race boats had open cockpits with no seats or bolsters to help hold you in??