Pining for the “good old days” of offshore powerboat racing is an exercise in futility. What we have now is what we have now—and it’s not going to change anytime soon. The lack of return on investment for teams and their backers, compounded by dwindling fan interest, pretty much assure it. Overall fleet size at Super Boat International and Offshore Powerboat Association event likely will be the same this year as it was last year.
There’s good news to be found in the sport—if you’re willing to look for it. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
As for what happens on the racecourse, that will unfold in earnest with first SBI event of the season May 18-21 in Cocoa Beach, Fla., and the first OPA race of the year happening in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., on the same weekend.
But perspective and attitude play huge roles in how we all view things, and I like to at least try to stay positive.
You could say, for example, that SBI lost a race this season by knocking the Marathon, Fla., contest off its schedule. Or you could say that a lightly attended—at best—and not particularly viewing friendly event was eliminated. SBI teams have one less option, that’s true, but they also have one less event to drain what are, at least for most players in the game, limited resources.
and then