Offshoreonly.com - APBA Offshore in Port Huron

The locals are pretty excited about it. This is from the Times Herald newspaper -

Powerboat race can be a plus for Port Huron
June event should aid tourism

OUR VIEW
Port Huron ought to be a stop on the powerboat racing circuit. For the first time in almost a decade, it will be.

Next month, the APBA Offshore Pro Grade Series is bringing powerboat racing back to Port Huron. The race from June 10 to 13 is free. More than 70 competition vessels will be on display downtown in the McMorran Place parking lot before they take on a 5-mile course in Lake Huron north of the Blue Water Bridge.

From June 4 to 6, Algonac will host the North Channel Offshore Challenge. St. Clair's Great Lakes Silver Cup Series will feature offshore powerboat racing on July 31 and Aug. 1. St. Clair's Blue Water International Hydrofest 2004 races are scheduled for Aug. 20 to 22.

Suddenly, St. Clair County is brimming over with boat races. The Port Huron Offshore Grand Prix is a welcome addition.

Preceding the traditional Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race, this event should lend a welcome boost to Port Huron's summer tourist industry.

Besides giving powerboat race fans something to look forward to, it also may attract more recreational boaters to the city's marinas. The Municipal Marina, once closed, is struggling to make a comeback. The Grand Prix should bring more boating customers to its docks.

The best news may be that Mackinac Boat Week won't be the only major highlight of Port Huron's water recreational season. The powerboat races could open up a whole new venue. Clearly, they put the city's maritime image to good use, but they assert that heritage in a different way.

Port Huron is re-creating itself. The city is strengthening its tourist appeal and it's tapping its best natural resource -- water.

There are seven stops on the APBA offshore racing circuit. Port Huron should make the most of its inclusion.

With powerboat racing apparently on the rise, its Port Huron presence should be an important tourist contribution. The Grand Prix is the latest signal the city is taking full advantage of its water recreational potential. Powerboat racing should further secure its place on Michigan's tourism map.

Originally published Tuesday, May 11, 2004