Marathon 2024, April 26th - 28th, by Race World Offshore

MARATHON EVENT SCHEDULE, April 26th - 28th, 2024
Presented by Teasers
Race Times, Parties & More!

Thursday, April 25th
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Dry Pits Open - Early Arrivals
Dry Pit 1- 550 122nd Street (San Pablo Church)
Super Cat, Stock 450, Super Vee
Dry Pit 2 - 7280 Overseas Hwy (South End Airport)
Mod V, Super Stock, All Bracket Boats

Friday, April 26th
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Registration RWO Trailer Marathon Airport
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Inspections (EZ Pass Required) RWO Trailer Marathon Airport
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Dunker Testing Coconut Cay RV Park - 200 Aviation Blvd
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Fueling – Official Fuel of RWO RWO Trailer Marathon Airport
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Welcome Party Racers & Fans Aquarium Encounters - 11710 Overseas Highway

Saturday, April 27th
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM Physicals (Bracket Classes Only) City Hall | 9805 Overseas Hwy (Parking Limited)
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Mandatory Drivers Meeting TBD (Parking Limited)
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Fueling – Official Fuel of RWO RWO Trailer Marathon Airport
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Cranes & Ramp Open Crane 1 (Public Boat Ramp) & Crane 2 (Pigeon Key Tours)
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Final Registration City Hall | 9805 Overseas Hwy (Parking Limited)
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Offshore Testing On Race Course
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM Inspections (EZ Pass Required) RWO Trailer Marathon Airport
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Pigeon Key Shuttles Marathon City Park to Sunset Grill
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Open Harbour to all boat traffic
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Race 1 Bracket (4, 5, 7)
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Race 2 Stock 450
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Offshore Testing
6:30 PM - RWO Racer Party Overseas Pub & Grill | 3574 Overseas Hwy

Sunday, April 28th
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM Physicals (Sunday Racers) City Hall | 9805 Overseas Hwy (Parking Limited)
8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Chapel Service
8:15 AM - 8:30 AM Mandatory Drivers Meeting
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Fueling – Official Fuel of RWO RWO Trailer Marathon Airport
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Cranes & Ramp Open Crane 1 (Public Boat Ramp) & Crane 2 (Pigeon Key Tours)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Race 1 - Mod V / Super Vee / Bracket 2 & 3
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Open Harbour to all boat traffic
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Race 2 - Super Stock
2:30 AM - 4:00 PM Race 3 - Super Cat
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Awards Ceremony Sunset Grille (7 Knights Key Blvd, Marathon, FL 33050)

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New Course Direction and Start

MARATHON RACE COURSE - The RWO Grand Prix race course is a clockwise course with a total distance of approximately 5 miles. The finish line is adjacent to the 3rd turn and race teams will mill to the south of turn 5 in preparation for race starts.

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7-MILE OFFSHORE GRAND PRIX TO SPEED INTO MARATHON APRIL 26-28

Powerful offshore boats racing at high speeds near the world-famous Seven Mile Bridge will show their muscle Friday through Sunday, April 26-28, when the 7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix roars into the Middle Keys.

The challenge is the second annual Race World Offshore (RWO) powerboat race to take place in Marathon as part of the American Power Boat Association’s Offshore National Championship Series. It serves as the opening event for RWO’s 2024 season.

Race teams are coming from around the United States, Bermuda and as far away as the United Kingdom to compete in Marathon.

Eleven classes of boats will participate in the challenge, with the largest classes racing Sunday – including the Super Cat that can achieve speeds of up to 140 mph – on a course that provides spectators a close-up viewing experience.

A free opening event set for Friday, April 26, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters will welcome race teams and fans.

Races will take place Saturday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. with the smaller-class vessel race brackets taking to the water. Sunday will feature four races, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending with the 3:30 p.m. Super Cat competition.

The pedestrian-friendly Old Seven Mile Bridge will be the primary viewing area for spectators, with 90% of the 5.6-mile counterclockwise race course viewable from the span that parallels the contemporary bridge. According to race organizers, the old bridge will be open to the public with free admission, with one section reserved for VIP viewing.

Race World Offshore plans to set up its VIP hospitality areas on and below the Marathon end of the Old Seven Mile Bridge. VIP guests will be allowed to park at the nearby Sunset Grille and walk under the bridge.

Free general-admission parking will be available at Marathon Community Park with shuttle service to Sunset Grille. There will be no general-admission parking at Sunset Grille or on-site at the entrance to the Old Seven Mile Bridge. VIP ticket holders will receive a parking pass at will call.

Race fans can enjoy free admission to the dry pit area at San Pablo Catholic Church to view high-speed boats and meet race teams and crew Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. .

Wet pits, located at Suntex Faro Blanco Marina, will be open to the public Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Events culminate Sunday evening with an award ceremony and an after-party, with the final location to be determined. Race schedules, VIP tickets and information are at raceworldoffshore.com/marathon.

https://keysweekly.com/42/7-mile-off...n-april-26-28/

Race World Offshore, LLC
Official Offshore Powerboat Sanctioning Body
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Race World Offshore Hosts the APBA National Series Season Opener: The 7-Mile Offshore
Grand Prix in Marathon, Florida

Marathon, Florida - April 22, 2024 - Race World Offshore, LLC (RWO) proudly announces its
hosting of the highly anticipated APBA National Series season opener: the 7-Mile Offshore
Grand Prix in Marathon, Florida. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Florida Keys, this
thrilling event promises to showcase the best of offshore powerboat racing and solidify
Marathon's status as a premier destination for marine sports enthusiasts.

The 7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix, slated to take place on April 26th - 28th, 2024, will bring
together top-tier racers and teams from across the world to compete in a high-speed showdown
on the open waters of the Florida coastline. Spectators can expect heart-pounding action,
adrenaline-fueled races, and a festive atmosphere that celebrates the spirit of competition and
camaraderie.

President of Race World Offshore, LLC, Larry Bleil, expressed his excitement about hosting the
season opener in Marathon, stating, "We are thrilled to kick off the APBA National Series with
the 7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix in Marathon, Florida. Bringing Race World back to Marathon for
another thrilling weekend of high-speed racing is something we've eagerly anticipated. It's not
just about the competition; it's about the community coming together to celebrate our shared
passion for offshore powerboat racing," Bleil continued.

As the premier sanctioning body for offshore powerboat racing in the United States, Race World
Offshore is committed to upholding the highest standards of competition, safety, and
sportsmanship.

In addition to the thrilling races, spectators can look forward to a variety of onshore activities,
including local parties, food vendors, and opportunities to meet the racers and teams.
Races will begin on Saturday, April 27, at 1:30 PM and Sunday, April 28, at 11:30 PM. To view
more details, visit raceworldoffshore.com/marathon-schedule.

For more information about Race World Offshore, LLC and the 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix,
visit www.raceworldoffshore.com/marathon.

I haven't asked Larry why they changed the direction.

Probably because last Year the Wind was Honking out of the South....and a Boat flipped going into it.....This Year the Wind is Honking out of the East....And the same Manufacturer will flip again.

Hopefully won't affect Sunday's Race....:leaving:

The island will block most of the wind, if they raced on the ocean side it maybe an issue.

TOMORROW
SAT 04/27
HIGH 82 | 75 °F18% Precip. / 0.00 in
Mostly cloudy and becoming windy. High 82F. Winds E at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.

"Throw Your nose in the air like You just don't care"

Weird

Marathon FL
Marine Point Forecast

Today - E wind around 10 kt. Sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
Tonight - ENE wind around 15 kt. Partly cloudy. Seas 1 ft or less.
Saturday -E wind around 15 kt. Mostly sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
Saturday Night - E wind 15 to 20 kt. A slight chance of showers after 8pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
Sunday - E wind around 15 kt. A slight chance of showers. Seas 1 ft or less.
Sunday Night - E wind around 15 kt. A slight chance of showers. Seas 1 ft or less.

They show the wind speeds, but they show the seas almost flat because of the island blocking.

20-30 mph wind = 1' or less??
Must be LOTS of blockage.

Yep, weird

Live Feed

https://www.youtube.com/@raceworldoffshore6036/streams

Friday not much going on. Boats and teams arriving and setting up in the pit areas.

One of the boats was the new Victory. It has a different profile due to the sides being angle cut so the boat would fit in a shipping container.

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Then, at the end of the day, there was a meet and greet set up for the fans to meet the teams at the Florida Keys Aquarium Encounter. Cool place

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They had lots of tanks and direct contact shallow tanks for people to touch Ray's and stuff.

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There was a nice buffet there, and a lot of small bars set up all around.

Larry had to give a short speech. The Conch Republic brought this trophy, which will be presented to the team who had the best time at the races. and portrayed that.

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Today was testing first and last, with a couple races thrown in the middle.

Some shots of both.

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Oops, wrong side. We don't think he hit bottom though.

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The 450 Class Winners getting the checkered.

The 450 Class tried a new starting procedure to try to figure out a way to end the mess at the first corner where classes are supposed to hold their lane all of the way through. That works when there are only four or five boats in the class, but as the main classes grow, and the numbers are getting above a dozen boats projected, it doesn't work. If you had to hold your lane, and are in lane 10 or 12, the race is pretty much over. Think of it as a non staggered start in a 440 track race.

So, they tested a modified version of the UIM Class 1 start. So far, the feedback is really positive, but they want to tweak it a bit more. Good news!

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After the 450 race was over, and testing reopened for an hour until 430, one of the last couple boats out went over on what was probably their last test lap.
New team, both okay.

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A few minutes earlier

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On other notes:

Farnsworth blew a motor in testing at the end of the day. They are done. Brand new motor too.

Vinnie blew a motor in testing in the earlier test session. When I left the pits last night they had just finished installing a backup motor, but still had to hook it all up. They will hopefully run today.

Dirty Money had a starter gear come off an engine and lock up a motor. They were almost done replacing it when I left the pits. They should run today.

A very interesting day.

First race, Mod V, Super Vee, and Bracket Classes 2 & 3

Super Vee was a run away by Hancock.

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Class 2

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Class 3

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Mod V was tight between these guys for several laps.

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Eventually El Bandido won it.

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Third was the new team which purchased Will Smith's last 32 Phantom.

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And fourth. Boatfloater didn't quite have the setup today.

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