Two of the most dedicated competitors in offshore powerboat, the Rum Runners cockpit pairing of Fran Vellutato and Mike McColgan had the kind of season that demanded induction into the 2021 American Power Boat Association Hall of Champions. And that was exactly what happened to the Bracket 600-class teammates last night in Orlando, Fla., during a fine ceremony and celebration as part of the domestic sanctioning body’s annual meeting.

In 2021, the Bracket 600-class Rum Runners team of Fran Vellutato and Mike McColgan took home every title on the table. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Not only did Vellutato and McColgan run their 1994 Larry Smith Scarab raceboat in all six races of the APBA Offshore National Championship Series—taking the checkered flag in four of those contests—during the regular season, they ran three divisional races on the Offshore Powerboat Association schedule. That was enough to earn them the Bracket 600-class national title, as well as the OPA’s Northeast Championship Series title.

From there, Vell and McColgan went undefeated in two races in Englewood Beach, Fla., to earn the American Power Boat Association/Union Internationale Motonautique Bracket 600 Class World Championship. The APBA High Points Championship for the 2021 season followed.

Flanked by APBA Offshore category chairman Rich Luhrs and APBA president Chris Fairchild, Fran Vellutato and Mike McColgan were inducted into the organization’s Hall of Champions last night.

Last night’s Hall of Champions induction was the second in three seasons for Vellutato and McColgan. The team also earned the honor in 2019.

Editor’s Note: Fran Vellutato and Mike McColgan currently are returning home and were unavailable for comment when this story went live. Their comments will be added to this story when they become available.

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