Boats have gotten faster over the years, but lap speed records have been similar over past 10 years.

Sarasota 2007 6.5 miles

1 Budweiser Select 120.6 Superboat Unlimited
113 Gieco 116.2 Turbine
Cintron 101.4 V unlimited
Reliable Carriers 95.1 Superboat

Bahamas 1998 10 miles

10 Big Thunder 129.1 Superboat Unlimited
Drambuie On Ice 138.8 Superboat
Alcone 138.8
Body Guard 104.0 Super Stock
Performance Marine 87.3 V limited { single }
Fountain F2-71 90.7 Manufacture 2

For complete list of SBI Speed Records and Champions
http://www.superboat.com/docs/2008%20Record%20Book.pdf

Faster for a moment doesn't really mean much fast for a lap is doing it.

Bud broke some of those world records last year in KW, i don't think it is updated yet. they average 118.9 for all 3 races and averaged over 120 on friday.

I think more than anything, it shows how much longer the laps used to be than today with the shorter courses and tighter (and more) turns...

let crc, bud, geico, etc on some of those old courses, and those records would all fall.

although the 147 lap by planetman is impressive....

I think one reason my be that the courses have gotten smaller...I remember when the Sarasota race was 13 miles long in 2001....and the Key West race was over 12 miles long in 2001...it seems today with 2 to 2 1/2 miles being the longest leg it sure dosn't give the big boys time to open it up and stay there....

Looking at the race coures today vice 10 years ago....its like NASCAR's short track racing to the Daytona tracks big differance in lap speeds...

But from a fans stand point its better...you don't ahve to wait every 3 to 4 minutes to see a boat go by.....

I have a different take. Like modern fighter jets have exceeded human limitations. Extreme boats are doing the same. A shoot out in a controlled situation is completely different from an offshore race course with its varying conditions. Boats apparently are not going to race at speeds faster than already reached. Faster boats do not mean faster or better racing in offshore.

I agree with the faster boats part might not be as exciting...because again the F1 and F2 days seem to be the show...but with 4 turbines coming out...it will be interesting to see how big of a show that will be....
I don't remember a lot of boats years ago doing 170+ on a streight away in a race like Geico is doing in some races....

But the one thing I like is the big water races....it takes out who has the fastest boats and levels the playing feild even with boats that are 6 + mph then others...the big water takes the speed and throws it out the window...and really puts the test on the driver and throttleman and how good they really work together....

Anybody know what the course record is for the real Key West course? I mean the one where you actually went to Sand Key and turned left.

I think it is way too difficult to have a lap record when the lap lengths keep changing. The difference in NASCAR is that the length of each track stays the same. Come to think of it, so do the conditions. Offshore racing, and I mean something other than a closed inshore course, has conditions that change second to second. All of the records listed on the SBI site were set after the format was changed to short course racing. I think the kilo record is a better judge of all out speed. I would love to see the newer 150+mph boats race in a long course true offshore race. I think given the chance, they would actually do very well. I also don't buy that the fans need to see every bit of a race course to stay interested. The heyday of the sport was back in the 80's and you saw each boat go by 2 or 3 times.

Here is a couple old record lists.







The previous year 1986 the course actually went around Sand Key.

I never saw a course record for Key West pre GPS days.

If you notice, those are all kilo and straightaway records. You just can't make any kind of comparison on a true offshore course 1 year to the next. You could have the winning open class boat average 40mph or 140mph on the same course. The difference would be conditions. Personally, I would consider the 40mph more of a record because those had to be some huge seas to battle through.

BTW, that map is awesome. That leg from 1 to 2 was the best.

The first is course average. The map from 86 goes around sand key and east much further. I just haven't scanned it yet.

Well thats some big numbers....but now with Bud Light doing 190+ and CRC and a few other over 170...thats 45 mph + faster...it is 22+ years later...but I think the limit is being reached....other then turbine...that 200 mph mark today is still tough to beat in a piston boat....and I don't know if Reiggies # will be beat in a Vee....a least I don't see any manufactures going after it....its been a few years since anyone has tried....but your right...its good for a speed run and a shoot out.....but in a true race....there lucky to see 130 in 4 to 5 footers.....