Proving that Mother Nature always has the last word, http://speedonthewater.com/in-the-ne...our-beat-fleet

Thanks for the great coverage Matt.

When we spoke yesterday, I was disappointed, but in the last 24 hours I have had several emails and some wonderful phone conversations. Despite the meager turnout, there really is a great deal of interest in doing real open ocean racing.

One person who called me explained that there really is a group out there that truly understands what we are trying to do. He asked if I would come to watch or be interested in competing, in some new "Unlimited Hydroplane Racing" The boats would be a 16 foot long hydroplane design and the engines would be a single outboard of no more than 200 HP. Oh.... and the races would be no longer than 2 laps. WhAAAT? Well, he went on to explain that the style of Offshore Racing that the sport was founded on is no longer being done, but if there were an opportunity to start that style up in a way that regular people could get into and grow over a few years, he felt that both he and his friends would like to do it. The Unlimited Hydroplane Racing that he described, can no more be compared to the real Unlimiteds that run today, than what is termed Offshore Racing today, can be compared to what Don or Odell or Jim Wynne or Brownie did, when the sport first started. It is still racing and it is close and competitive, it just isn't the same.

Once again, the goal of HORBA has always been the same. 1.) Save as many of the old race boats as possible. 2.) Create venues where they can be raced or seen by as many people as possible. 3.) Educate the public about the real history of the sport.

So back to the drawing boards. We hope to create some regional races. In the summer in the Northeast and the Great Lakes and in the Spring and Fall in Florida.

The distances will be much shorter, but they will all be held in Open Ocean waters and involve Navigation to get around the courses.

Class A 43 - 55 feet / No less than 110 miles race distance /1-2-3 place awards
Class B 36 - 42 feet / No less than 110 mile race distance / 1-2-3 place awards
Class C 30 - 35 feet / No less than 80 mile race distance / 1-2-3 place awards
Class D 18 - 29 feet / No less than 80 mile race distance / 1-2-3 place awards
Class H - Historic / No less than 60 mile race distance (All Historic sizes run together for Participant Awards)

It looks like we are heading in the right direction with our idea for shorter courses for now.

A friend of mine from Europe contacted me and let me know that Cowes is doing the same thing, because of the same low turnout they were experiencing.

If that is the case maybe we could set up a real international circuit like the old days...... where the guys who could afford it, would race both here in the States and over there at Cowes later in the season.

With every dark cloud comes a silver lining. The best Open Ocean racing years may be yet to come. Stay tuned........

The Sound would make a great location...except when there's no 8 footers Usually there's enough slop to make it interesting without jeopardizing an event.

This is a short clip from our run, shortly before we turned back. We didn't need to run 40= more mile in these conditions....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmdfXGH9JDg


Longer event video coming soon...

We would love to have a race in Lake Erie. Could go around the islands, maybe Cleveland to Toledo or somewhere in between. Actually, Sandusky would make for a cool venue, run down to Cleveland and back?

We have to cut this back to make it as simple as possible.

What that means is that for a few years, all the races have to start and end in the same location

Cuts down on support crews and trucks needed.

Ideal candidates would be two buddies who pick up a used Apache 41 or Top Gun and over the winter put together drives and engines. Come race season, they tow it to the races with a pickup and launch from the ramp.

During the race they are right on with navigation and they run the engines at a pace that allows them to live and finish.....and they win their class!!!!

Or tiger... jus sayin lol... do the bimini run again.

Offshoredrillen=B&G Big&Goofy you could not make it on a flat day the end!Worst then Fester!Write a book story tales are us!!Hot air balloon

Charlie don't give up on the Around Long Island just yet , I want another shot to run and finish it. Hoping you will still do it next year.

Chris