2015 OPA Port Huron International Powerboat Race

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SCHEDULE OF SUNDAY EVENTS

Sunday, August 9, 2015
11am Race Village and Vendors in operation
8am Team Physicals - Train Depot
7:30am Course Buoy's set
8:30am Race Control Operational
8:30am Medical and Dive team briefing - Train Depot
9am Racer Meeting - Train Depot
9am - 5pm Wet Pits open, Crane lift and Ramp operational
10am Patrol Fleet Briefing - Train Depot
11am Race Patrol Fleet and Course Support Fleet on station
12pm Opening Ceremonies
12:15pm RACE 1 (start subject to adjustment)
2pm RACE 2 (start subject to adjustment)
3:30pm RACE 3 (start subject to adjustment)

Return GPS to be read immediately following completion of each race

7pm Awards Celebration - Train Depot

 

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Offshore powerboat racers take over the St. Clair River

The promotional literature on the U.S side calls it the “Port Huron-Sarnia International Offshore Powerboat Race.”

The website of the Canadian side calls it the “Sarnia-Port Huron International Powerboat Festival.”

Regardless of who gets top billing — or what it’s called — organizers said the three-day event that starts Friday on the shores of the St. Clair River is going to be a good time.

The event begins with a free concert Friday, continues with time trials and family events, including a laser light show, on Saturday, and ends with races in 10 classes on Sunday.

“We started it four years ago,” said Dave Brown, of Desmond Marine. “It’s the only international event on the Great Lakes.

“Our objective four years ago is we wanted to utilize the assets we have in both communities,” he said. “We have the incredible venue of the river to hold this event. The racers feel this is the best venue in the whole circuit.”

LeeAnn Baker is the event coordinator on the Port Huron side of the Sr. Clair River. She said viewing, and activities such as food vendors and a zip line, will be along Vantage Point, where the Black River enters the St. Clair River.

Baker said the Vantage Point Farmers Market will be part of Saturday’s activities.

“One of the things I heard from the public is, why we don’t have more food vendors down here,” she said. “We want to support what we have down here.”

Races start after the opening ceremony at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.

“It appears we are going to have about 45 boats in 10 different classes,” Brown said. “We’re going to have five Supercat Extreme boats.”

He said the big advantage for Port Huron is the Race Village — the dry pits where the boats are when they’re not in the water — is at Vantage Point.

“The Canadians come over to see it,” Brown said. “They come over to see the boats and have dinner.”

Last year, he said, a team of survey takers from the University of Western Ontario found the crowd on the Canadian side was about 30,000 people. Organizers estimate the crowd on the U.S. side at about 15,000.

The race, Brown said, “is free on both sides of the river and it always will be as long as we have anything to do with it.”

He said the drivers, crews and boat owners love sharing their sport with the fans.

“I’m just floored by the enthusiasm and passion these owners and drivers have,” Brown said.

“They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on these boats. They love it, they love meeting the public. ...

“They are so genuine and passionate about their race boats.”

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477.

If You Go

Sunday in Port Huron

•8 a.m.: Hospitality tents open

•9 a.m.: Zip line and food vendors open

•11:45 a.m.: Opening ceremonies

•Noon: Beverage tents open; races start and continue until 4 p.m.

•For more information, go to http://bit.ly/1MweHoj

http://www.thetimesherald.com/story...owerboat-racers-take-st-clair-river/31125717/

 

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The yellow Batboat rolled in the first race and RUFSTR rolled in the second race. Everyone was reported okay.

39 total boats was the unofficial count.

 

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Let's get those SVL's running!!



And the Class 6 boats:



And Class 7

 

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Gary came a tad bit close to the dock!!

 

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Getting Class 5 lined up for the start was a bit tough....

 

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Unfortunately only two Class 4 boats, but they were entertaining.

 

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