Race Profile: 2008 Key West World Championship

If you have never been to a real offshore boat race, then I highly recommend this New York Times Article from last November, profiling last year's Super Boat International Key West World Championship. It's not perfect, but it does provide just a little idea of the color, excitement and danger that attracts both racers and spectators to offshore racing:

"Their sport, once dominated by tycoons who raced far out to sea beyond view, was refashioned in the 1990s to draw spectators and advertisers. Courses were designed to run laps passing 100 feet from the shore."

PHOTO CREDIT: Richard Perry/The New York Times

The article makes it plain: At this level, the sport takes a big heart, big bucks and maybe most of all--big balls. But I have to say that this type of coverage by a major media source like the Times is a good thing for offshore racing. The photographs accompanying the article are particularly fine, as evidenced by the examples included here.

PHOTO CREDIT: Richard Perry/The New York Times

Certainly Key West provides a perfect backdrop for all of this action. The 29th Annual Key West World Championships are scheduled for November 8th through the 15th, 2009.