Thanks to a Boaters Revolving Fund grant—commonly known as a Marine Organizing Committee or MAC grant—organizers in Englewood Beach, Fla., have nailed down a solid piece of funding for the Offshore Powerboat Association World Championships. The event, which was cancelled in 2020 in response to pandemic safety restrictions, is set for November 18-21 and is the lynchpin of the annual Englewood Beach Waterfest happening.

With V-bottom titles on the line, the Offshore Powerboat Association World Championships return to Englewood Beach in November. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“We secured funding for many county services and on-water operations,” said Ray Labadie, a member of the Englewood Beach Waterfest organizing group and OPA’s point-person in the Southwest Florida community. “They include the crane for the raceboats, the safety helicopter and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s water-safety teams.”

“Normally, we would have to pay this out of our own funds,” he added.

The savings are significant for the organizers. The grant covers $44,000 worth of event expenses totaling $51,500. The remaining $7,500 balance is being covered through matching funds.

American Power Boat Association world championships in the all the V-bottom classes this year will be decided during two days of competition at the Englewood Beach contest.

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