Offshore In 2024, Outlook Overview

[Serious Offshore]

UIM, APBA, P1, RWO, and OPA are the organizations which collectively control offshore racing in 2023. Now we also have AOPC stepping in to try to correct some of the negatives that have happened over the past two years and get everyone to work together to create a highly marketable product.

The UIM Class One Offshore race season ended at St Petersburg in September with the 222 team taking the championship.

The APBA Offshore race season in 2023 ended on a positive note with the turnout at the RWO/APBA Worlds in Key West. The following week, at the OPA Worlds in Englewood, there was a smaller turnout than in previous years, and the many spectators we spoke with were upset with the lack of big boats. Unfortunately in our Serious opinion, that is an example of what could be an upcoming downturn to the sport that we have witnessed too many times. We hope that everyone can work together to make sure that does not happen.

We will try to bring you up to date. We are sure there will be more information coming out soon, and especially at the APBA Annual Meeting in Orlando on the 24th through 27th. There has been an ongoing battle between those in charge of the different organizations, the differences in rule books, and the personalities involved.

Here is the current information as we know it

[Serious Offshore]

The new AOPC club release:

[Serious Offshore]

The 2024 OPA Racing Schedule

[Serious Offshore]

The current APBA Championship release schedule. (As of 12/30/2023).

These confirmed races, (per the APBA release), are as follows:

Marathon, Florida 4/26-28/2024
Cocoa Beach, Florida 5/17-19/2024
Ocean City Maryland 6/7-9/2024
Sheboygan, Wisconsin 8/9-11/2024
Sarasota, Florida, 9/13-15/2024
Clearwater, Florida 9/27-29/2024
St Petersburg, Florida 10/18-20/2024
Key West Florida 11/3-10/2024

[Serious Offshore]

The overview of the upcoming season, as released by the APBA Offshore Chair Rich Luhrs, on the 30th of December:

APBA Offshore Racing

The APBA Rule book states that all National Series Races must be produced by one of our two partners, P1 and RWO, or both.

These organizations have been supportive, respectful, cooperative with both the APBA and the UIM. They have worked diligently to create professional, dedicated and uniformly best in class Safety and Officiating teams. In addition they, alone, have invested significant time, capital, and resources to continually upgrade scoring technology, racer experiences, and fan base attraction through Worldwide TV Broadcasts, and best in class live stream coverage. They have worked closely and cooperatively with me, Chris Fairchild, and APBA staff in providing on time sanction requests and fees as required, proper registration procedures, medical testing and recording, thorough pre and post-race inspections and paperwork processing and a positive teamwork approach. In short, both fine organizations have stepped up, worked hard, and earned their status as National Series Race Producers.

Currently, we have received properly submitted sanction applications for 7 Races from these recognized APBA Promoters. These submissions begin to address the desire for non-Florida race sites in the summer months and spreading the National Series footprint. These confirmed races are as follows:

Marathon, Florida 4/26-28/2024
Cocoa Beach, Florida 5/17-19/2024
Ocean City Maryland 6/7-9/2024
Sheboygan, WIsconsin 8/9-11/2024
Sarasota, Florida, 9/13-15/2024
Clearwater, Florida 9/27-29/2024
St Petersburg, Florida 10/18-20/2024
Key West Florida 11/3-10/2024

In addition, P1 is working on an additional non-Florida race site which is awaiting confirmation. This will bring to 8 the APBA National Series race count.

Currently there is a bit of gap in late June and July in which there is space for at least one event. We remain open to an added race in that time frame through either P1 or RWO promotion. The racers have requested between 7 and 9 events at various times in the past few years and we feel this fully addresses that request.

There have also been requests for Regional and Divisional events to grow the sport at the grass roots level which we fully support, and a rule change has been submitted to allow local community organizers and groups to join as APBA clubs and conduct these types of events with APBA insurance and officials. Points awards and procedures for these events are TBD and will be announced shortly and published in 2024 the rule book.

As in the past any racer may participate in any race with ANY organization. However, APBA/UIM World and National Championships, world records and Hall of Champions attainment, can only be achieved through APBA/UIM sanctioning.

We are currently working on the 2024 Rule Book for submission to the ORC and the APBA BOD. As part of this process various Survey Monkey polls have been sent to specific classes for their rule change input and choices for Class Representatives on the ORC.

We at APBA wish you all a Happy New Year and look forward to a successful 2024 season.

Warmest Regards,

Rich

[Serious Offshore]

Of note;

The Sarasota race has been moved from the Fourth of July week to September. It is also on the same weekend as the OPA Miami race event.

For the second year in a row, there are no OPA races on the APBA National Championship schedule.

[Serious Offshore]

The current big question in our feeble minds; are RWO and P1 going to work together, with both of their staffs cooperating with each other, the APBA, and the UIM to jointly manage and promote the eight races currently on the APBA Series schedule?

The second big question; will OPA become part of the APBA so their bigger venues can also be part of the series?

Stay tuned, as we learn we will update. Others thoughts are also welcome. Please remember our number one rule though, no personal attacks.

[Ratickle]

I had a chance to chat with a few different racers at the runs here in SW Florida over the weekend. To say that they are concerned about what is happening would be a gross understatement.

The most common complaint is the lack of adherence to the rules in the rulebook by those who are in charge of enforcing the rules for the racers themselves.

Second most is what are they supposed to tell their sponsors who have events they expect their teams to attend?

Third seems to be the thoughts of wasting time trying to modify boats for safety issues that don't exist, while not addressing the safety issues that are real and have caused the most recent deaths and severe injuries.

We will keep chatting with those who are involved and let you know what we hear that can be posted.

[Bobcat]

Pretty Happy the Sarasota Race got moved....Brutally hot , and it always Rains in the Afternoon!!!!

[Serious Offshore]

For those who are not APBA members, the Offshore overview in the latest APBA Propeller Magazine.

[Ratickle]

The Super Stock Class, (300's), have set their schedule. I'm sure there will be an announcement soon.

Six races, no dropped races, for the Class Championship.

- Cocoa Beach
- LOTO
- Michigan City
- Sheboygan
- Sarasota
- Clearwater

Then the Key West World's for their World Championship

[Ratickle]

They have said that some of their class boats will most likely show up at non-championship events not on their Class Championship schedule. However, if they are not on the six race schedule, they will not count for their championship.

[Ratickle]

They also said they are unsure if the 450 Stock class schedule will be the same as theirs.

[Ratickle]

And we have yet to hear from the Mod Vee's.......

[Serious Offshore]

2024 Annual Meeting Schedule as of 01.03.2024

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM REGISTRATION
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM FINANCE MEETING
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM HALL OF CHAMPIONS MEETING
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM J CLASS COMMITTEE MEETING
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM MARKETING COMMITTEE MEETING
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM CATEGORY CHAIR DINNER WITH PRESIDENT

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM REGISTRATION
8:15 AM - 9:45 AM INSURANCE PRESENTATION WITH Q&A
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM NATIONAL SAFETY AND RESCUE COMMITTEE MEETING
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM NEW CLASS COMMITTEE MEETING
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM SEMINAR - DIGITAL TIMING
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM LADIES LUNCHEON
1:30 PM - 6:30 PM
INBOARD RACING COMMISSION MEETING
OPC RACING COMMISSION MEETING
STOCK OUTBOARD RACING COMMISSION MEETING
PRO COMMISSION MEETING
MOD COMMISSION MEETING
OFFSHORE COMMITTEE MEETING
3:30 PM - 6:30 PM
SPECIAL EVENTS / RIVER RACERS COMMITTEE MEETING
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
THROWBACK THURSDAY PARTY - FREE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM REGISTRATION
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
INBOARD RACING COMMISSION MEETING
OPC RACING COMMISSION MEETING
STOCK OUTBOARD RACING COMMISSION MEETING
PRO COMMISSION MEETING
MOD COMMISSION MEETING
OFFSHORE COMMITTEE MEETING

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM REGION CHAIR LUNCH WITH PRESIDENT
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
SCORING COMMITTEE MEETING
HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM SEMINAR - Q&A MOTORSPORTS FUELS AND ADDITIVES WITH POWERMIST RACING FUELS
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM RULES AND RACE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM REFEREE & ASSISTANT RISK MANAGER MEETING
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM COCKTAIL HOUR
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
OUTBOARD, OFFSHORE, AND VINTAGE AWARDS
INBOARD CATEGORY AWARDS BANQUET

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM REGISTRATION
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM HONOR SQUADRON MEETING
8:15 AM - 9:45 AM SEMINAR - LESSONS LEARNED: TECHNOLOGY FOR EVENTS WITH BRIAN MITCHELL
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM VINTAGE & HISTORIC COMMITTEE MEETING
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM INSPECTORS MEETING
12:45 PM - 3:00 PM ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS / BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PHOTO SHOOT - HALL OF CHAMPIONS INDUCTEES
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM COCKTAIL HOUR
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM HALL OF CHAMPIONS AND SPECIAL AWARDS BANQUET

©2021 by APBA National Meeting and Convention. Proudly created with Wix.com

https://www.apbanationalmeeting.com/

[Ratickle]

Mod Vee's have said they will not have a schedule until after the APBA meetings.

There are some negotiations happening between the major players and the organizations. Some issues have to do with sponsor requirements for the teams.

[Serious Offshore]

As it currently stands:

APBA Championship
April 26-28 - Marathon, Florida (RWO)
May 17-19 - Cocoa Beach, Florida (P1)
May 31-June 2 - LOTO Powerfest, Lake Ozark, Mo. (P1)
June 7-9 - Ocean City, Maryland (RWO)
August 9-11 - Sheboygan, Wisconsin (P1)
September 13-16 - Sarasota, Florida (P1)
September 27-29 - Clearwater, Florida (RWO)
October 18-20 - St Petersburg, Florida (P1)

Class 1 Championship
May 16-19—Thunder On Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach, Fla. (P1)
May 31-June 2—LOTO Powerfest, Lake Ozark, Mo. (P1)
August 9-11—Midwest Challenge, Sheboygan, Wis. (P1)
September 13-16 - Sarasota, Florida (P1)
October 18-20 - St Petersburg, Florida (P1)

Supercat Championship (Allowed to drop one race)
May 16-19—Thunder On Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach, Fla. (P1)
May 31-June 2—LOTO Powerfest, Lake Ozark, Mo. (P1)
June 7-9—Ocean City Grand Prix, Ocean City, Md. (RWO)
June 21-23—Atlantic City Grand Prix, Atlantic City, N.J. (OPA)*
August 2-4—Great Lakes Grand Prix, Michigan City, Ind. (OPA)*
August 9-11—Midwest Challenge, Sheboygan, Wis. (P1)
September 27-29—XINSURANCE Clearwater Nationals, Clearwater, Fla. (RWO)

Stock Outboard Championship, (No dropped races)
May 16-19 - Cocoa Beach
May 31-June 2 - LOTO
August 2-4 - Michigan City
August 9-11 - Sheboygan
September 13-15 - Sarasota
September 27-29 - Clearwater, Florida

World Championship for All
November 3-10 - Key West Florida (RWO)

[Bobcat]

Geez, Who's coming to Marathon?

[Ratickle]

It is currently not looking good for some classes.

Some of the discussion today was about water depth on the course there. After the stuff by Dirty Money in Mixhigan City, where it hit the bottom in over 8' of water, makes some nervousness racing where it is not that deep.

New rule proposal was to match the UIM requirement of 4 meters minimum at mean low tide, roughly 13'.

[Bobcat]

I'll have Charlie go up there in the Checkmate to run a Lap and make sure it's OK.