Scheduled for Sept. 8-12, Super Boat International’s new-for-2016 race in Port Jefferson, Long Island, N.Y., has been scrubbed. The news was released in a letter from 2015 Superboat-class world champion Billy Mauff, who lives in the area and was spearheading the efforts to bring an SBI event to the venue, that was sent to SBI head John Carbonell and distributed to SBI competitors via email today.

Wrote Billy Mauff of WHM Motorsports, “This race undoubtedly would have been a win-win for all involved.” Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

A veteran offshore racer and owner of the WHM Motorsports team, Mauff cited strong opposition from the Village of Port Jefferson Mayor Margot Garant and Councilwoman Jane Bonner “who have both gone out of their way to obstruct all of our efforts to bring what would have been a great event” to the area, despite what he described as overwhelming support from local business owners.

“This race undoubtedly would have been a win-win for all involved bringing in millions of dollars in revenue to Long Island businesses, bars, restaurants, hotels, wineries and other establishments, as well as for the mom-and-pop shops that survive on their seasonal revenue from tourism and limited events such as this,” Mauff wrote. “I cannot express how deeply disappointed we are in the shortsightedness of Mayor Garant and Councilwoman Bonner’s unyielding opposition to the event.”

Mayor Garant could not be reached for comment when this story went live.

Set for Aug. 26-28 in Mentor, Ohio, SBI’s other new race for the season is “super solid,” according to a source close to the organization. That event will follow the next SBI contest, the Aug. 5-7 Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind.

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