Key West Race 3
 

DID ANYONE HEAR IF THE PANTERA PEOPLE ARE OK.?WORD IS THEY FLIPPED IN THE FIRST TURN. HOPE THE BEST FOR ALL.

Yes they flipped and sunk ...no word yet on injurys...divers were in the water

was told High Risk also went over

Can we get an update......
Joe Iglio

are they ok whats the update thanks.......
andy,

no one I have spoken to really knows..but believes everyone is ok...

They were taken to the hospital. Thats all I can get.

Let' s hope it was just to be checked out and sent on thier way....

Thats what I'm thinking also. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for them.

just heard Reliable Carriers went over somthing to do with Cat can do. All are OK.

Hope everyone is ok.


Here's the Keys News article from yesterday



Race fans take in salty breeze, fast boats

BY MANDY BOLEN

keysnews.com


MIKE HENTZ/The Citizen
Powerboat race fans squeeze to the rail of the pier to get a glimpse of Saturday's winning boat, the Desantis Chevrolet. The races continue today.


KEY WEST -- The wild Wednesday weather that challenged powerboat racers and buffeted the vessels with whitecaps was a distant memory Saturday as the sun bounced brilliantly off the calmer waters of the Key West harbor.

The sleek ultrafast boats that lined Duval Street Friday night screamed past spectators who lined Mallory Square and the Hilton Pier.

"This is pretty good water for racing," said Ed Smith, who owns and races his performance series boat Traffic Light.

He was watching the Saturday race from the pier, but will be in the cockpit today navigating his way around buoys that mark the oblong race course.



Click for larger view.

MIKE HENTZ/The Citizen
Saturday's first race in Key West harbor starts out neck and neck.


Smith was familiar with many of the boats racing in the Key West Offshore World Championships as many of the same ones, including Cat Can Do, JD Byrider and Agitator, also race in the Great Lakes Silver Cup Series each year.

"We're here as fans right now to support these guys racing who really are doing a great job," said Theresa Eubanks, one of the producers of the Great Lakes race.

She and her husband, Bob, have been coming to Key West for vacation and for races for the past 14 years and were thrilled to be back in town this year.

"Key West really rolls out the red carpet for us each year, it's great," Bob Eubanks said.

Ginny Morgan sits on the board of the Great Lakes Silver Cup Series and was in Key West from Chicago.



Click for larger view.

MIKE HENTZ/The Citizen
Race fans get a different view of Saturday's powerboat races from boats inside the Key West harbor as boats circle them.


Those watching the races did not want to talk about the politics and turbulence that has surrounded the Key West races and the sanctioning body of American Power Boat Association.

But everyone wanted to talk about having a good time in perfect weather.

"It's just a fun place to be," said Elaine Motl, who produces the Power Boat Shootout in Corpus Christi, Texas, every June.

This is her first visit to Key West and her first view of the local races.

"To have the races in a place where people can see from the shore is very difficult to do, so this is just wonderful," she said.

The Celebrity Series race in which City Commissioner Tom Oosterhoudt challenged fellow Commissioner Ed Scales to a stock outboard race was canceled Saturday due to choppy water. It is tentatively scheduled for today, after the 2:30 p.m. SuperCat race.

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