With the Super Boat International National Championships coming to Clearwater, Fla., next weekend, we thought it would be a good time to check out Jay Nichols’ images from last year’s event. Nichols shot from the shoreline, often wading into chest-deep water, to capture the event. And he came back with some intriguing angles and perspectives.

Turning in tandem—a Clearwater “local” and the J.D. Byrider Superboat Vee-class raceboat. Photo courtesy/copyright Jay Nichols/Naples Image.

What caught our eyes in this image were a pair of graceful, swooping arcs—one courtesy of a pelican in the foreground, the other provided by the J.D. Byrider Superboat Vee-class offshore raceboat in the background. Both the bird and the boat appear perfectly in control.

Heated battles are shaping up for the 2014 SBI Nationals particularly in the Superboat- and Superboat Stock-classes. (The new WHM Motorsports catamaran reportedly will make its offshore racing debut in Clearwater.) Speedonthewater.com will bring you a wrap-up from the event—as we have with every SBI race this season—but in the meantime we hope you enjoy this image as much as we do.