Is the sport of offshore racing dying?
09-18-2019 | 08:09 PM
#1
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Is the sport of offshore racing dying?
I think the regulations made to bring offshore racing closer to shore by having more "spectator friendly" courses and the fact that the boats of the modern era are much lighter and shorter than what they used to be has ultimately killed the sport of offshore racing. The Supercat rules that were made ahead of the 2000 season are one of the dumbest decisions ever made in the history of powerboating, sure offshore racing has never been the best organized or a particularly professional sport but that decision has more or less killed offshore racing in my opinion. UIM Class 1 soon followed APBA and made their premier class a inshore racing series from 2003, both Supercat and Class 1 are now gone because nobody wants to see big cats running inshore races. "Offshore" racing needs to back to its roots in order to survive but i doubt the boats these days would last in rough seas. Anyway, i think offshore racing was way more spectacular back in the day when they actually raced offshore.
Last edited by Joestlaachmkr; 09-18-2019 at 08:36 PM.
09-18-2019 | 08:33 PM
#3
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Well.. all the boats made during the last 10-15 or so years are lighter, smaller and shorter than what offshore boats used to be, and they are not designed to tackle rough seas. I doubt any of these inshore boats would have survived classic offshore courses.
09-18-2019 | 09:06 PM
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Kind of funny that most races are actually ran in rougher water. They are close to beaches which brings breakers. Breakers at a beach will generally be tougher than 20-30 miles offshore. No shortage of 40+ boats going full airborne in a lot of these races. Running out in the middle of nowhere literally does nothing for the sport itself. No spectators, no sponsors, it all disappears. Supercat is a fun exciting class with a lot of boats to watch.
09-18-2019 | 10:11 PM
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if you think offshore racing is dying then you have not paid attention to what opa has had this season. most races I believe have had 60+ boats with great racing. I think there have been 10 plus super stocks, 7+ supercats, the class 1 boats have had 4-5, then look at the super v light classes with great turnouts in both of those classes and great racing as well
So the boats don't do the so called spectacular races miles offshore where no one can see them. when was the last time that happened anyway? I do agree that some of the course (key west) have been shortened too much, but overall the spectators have been turning out and have been rewarded with great competitive races
So the boats don't do the so called spectacular races miles offshore where no one can see them. when was the last time that happened anyway? I do agree that some of the course (key west) have been shortened too much, but overall the spectators have been turning out and have been rewarded with great competitive races
