APBA Offshore

The 2004 APBA Offshore Technical and Competition Rules are posted on www.apbaoffshore.com for download. As you will see there are many exciting new developments in the rules that are designed to enhance competition and give you a greater opportunity to guide the destiny of your chosen sport. Highlights include:

Technical Rules –

1. International Super Cat and Super Cat Light classes – In an effort to re-create a common specification between the premier UIM and APBA Offshore classes, APBA Offshore has boldly taken the initiative through the new International Super Cat and Super Cat Light classes. To encourage international participation, and attract those competitors to the United States the rules allow any drive system to satisfy their preference for shaft drives and rudder systems. These classes shall be offered at every APBA Offshore sanctioned event in 2004 along with the US version of Super Cat which shall remain unchanged from 2003 except for the elimination of shaft drive boats altogether. The intent of the rules is to encourage every team to convert to the UIM specification by the 2006 season.

2. Elimination of Shaft Drives from Super Cat – No shaft drive boats shall be eligible to compete in the U.S. version of the Super Cat class, however, they shall be eligible to compete in the UIM classes, which shall be offered at at all APBA Offshore sanctioned events in 2004.

3. Super Cat Light Drive Rules – The rules have been amended to allow crashboxes on boats using the #6SSM and Imco 4x4 drive systems. Weights for boats using the #6SSM drive have been reduced to 8350lbs.

4. Super V Drive Rules – The rules have been amended to allow crashboxes on boats using the #6SSM and Imco 4x4 drive systems.

Competition Rules –

1. Professional Membership Class – A professional class of membership has been created to give the members a direct say in how APBA Offshore is managed. These members will have the right to elect a representative to the 3 person company board of directors that will operate and manage the business of the company. They also shall elect an Offshore Racing Commission to manage the racing side of the sport including the promulgation, amendment and enforcement of technical and competition rules. The fees generated by these memberships shall be used exclusively to produce television and to an annual high points fund for the professional teams, thus giving these members a financial stake in the outcome of the business and an incentive to ensure it is operated and managed in the best interests of the sport.

2. National Championships – The system for determining the national champions for the Super Series and Factory Series classes has been overhauled to increase competition and generate season long excitement for the fans and participants. Beginning in 2004 the national champions will be determined by a one race shootout among eligible teams. To determine the eligible teams, for example, if a total of 50 Super Cats attend the 5 races leading up to the National Championships Event, yielding an average of 10 boats/race, then the top 5 boats in terms of accumulated points over those races (or 50% of the 10 boat average per race) are thus, eligible to compete for the National Championship.

The 2004 GMC Pro Grade Championship Series schedule shall be released on January 4, 2004. The season shall commence in Sarasota, Florida on May 14-16, and includes stops in Savannah during the Fourth of July holiday, Milwaukee in August and Ft. Lauderdale in September. The National Championships shall be held in St. Petersburg, Florida the weekend of October 15-17 and communications are underway to return to Key West for the annual APBA/UIM Offshore World Championships.

Flashwave

It's spelled out in the Competition Rules. Look for the RED type.

Jim

BRUCE SEROFF

I thought A class was coming back. anyone have input????

Ron P

I'm missing something here. Am I reading that there will be two new classes this year? UIM SUPERCAT and UIM SUPERCAT LITE? It reads like Tommy Bahama with it's shaft drive will no longer be allowed to run in Superboat but instead will move over to UIM Supercat.

Did I get that right?

UIM specs? don't they allow multi speed trannies?

Do we really need two new classes?

GrinandBarrett

Ron,

It looks like they want to make it so the superboats can goto europe and race and the UIM boats from overseas can come over here and race in our races. Then by the 2006 season the APBA SC & SCL will convert to the UIM specs.

Matt

Ron P

I better go read some rule books.

GrinandBarrett

Mike,

Why did USA Offshore stop haveing at least one class that used the same criteria as UIM? Was it that we don't use the same technology here or visa-versa or some other reason?

Matt

outer42

now to point something out all the boats that ran super v with the bravos have to rerig ther boats for the six. you need what 50 hp to run through a #6 verses a bravo. if you decide to keep the bravo in rough races you're more likely to blow a drive. How is this leveling the field. This is all for four races or possible four races?????? they post possible key west are they kidding,with the new group let them in after this year????

GrinandBarrett

When did the rule change?

GrinandBarrett

What happened to these rules?http://www.biggerhammer.net/offshorepage/apba/