Sustained High Winds Cancel Shoot-Out at Desert Storm

LakeracerLLC has announced that Desert Storm Shootout has been canceled for 2011, due to high winds on the lake and the fact that the weather conditions may extend over the rest of the weekend. The US Coast Guard and other public safety agencies in the area deemed the conditions too dangerous for high speed operation.

PHOTO CREDIT: Citydata.com.

The local weather forecast for Sunday is the same as today; boaters on-site have reported high sustained winds with severe gusting throughout the day Saturday. Nevertheless, safety always comes first - and the decision was a good one. Even though the shoot-out was cancelled, everyone at Havasu says Desert Storm was still a first-rate event. Here's hoping a new shoot-out champion can be crowned next year--for now, JBS Racing gets to retain their bragging rights!

How to Catch the Action at Havasu...Even if You're Not There

Desert Storm 2011 is in full swing at Lake Havasu, AZ -- as hundreds of high performance boats have descended on LHC for one of the country's biggest, baddest poker runs and high speed shoot-outs. We told you about the action earlier this month, but if you weren't able to make it to the lake (like us) you can still check out what's going on this weekend at a couple of great places on the Internet.

PHOTO CREDIT: OSO member Rivergirl.

First, I'd stop by Offshore Only forum...take a minute to register (it's free) and take a look at The Official 2011 Desert Storm Poker Run Picture Thread. There are lots of great photos from the lake, the street party and more...including some of the hottest boats around.

PHOTO CREDITS: River Dave's Place.

Alternatively, you can surf over to River Dave's Place, another popular West Coast forum, and watch their livestream, which will be available during the weekend. Be sure to take a look, and check out the forums, too; I'm sure plenty of boaters who are on site at Desert Storm will be posting. Crack a Corona and imagine you are there!

OSS Race Season Continues to Take Shape

We told you about the upcoming OSS race coming up in Biloxi...and the organization's 2011 season continues to take shape as they have released their 2011 schedule. OSS will be joining Powerboat P1 USA at several venues, including classes within the P1 format under the sanction of the American Power Boat Association (APBA) and the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).

“Whereas we are still working on a couple sites, we realized we had to get at least this partial schedule announced....we look forward to announcing the other sites very soon and appreciate everyone’s patience.” said Michael (Mike) Mares, OSS Board Chairman.

PHOTO CREDITS: Screamandfly.com.

2011 OSS Racing Schedule


May 12-15 Smokin’ the Sound Biloxi, MS.
June 10-12 TBA
July 8-10 Detroit, MI.
August 18-20 Morehead City, NC.
Sept. 2-4 TBA
Sept. 16-18 Hoosier Offshore Classic, Lk Monroe, Bloomington, IN.
Oct. 12-16 TBA

Boat Apps: Miss Geico app Keeps Fans up to Date on AMF Offshore

There's probably no team more visible or more respected than the crew from AMF Offshore Racing and the Miss Geico team. In addition to being a major sponsor for series like OPA, Miss Geico is probably the most recognized boat in offshore--and they are known for bringing that extra level of excitement to every racing event in which they they attend.

That's probably why one of the first apps I added to my iPhone was the Miss Geico app, from appmii. Like the iTunes store description says, it allows team fans to interact in a whole new way, making friends, checking out exclusive content and staying on top of everything the team is involved in, as well as offshore racing in general.

In addition to lots of photos, audio and video clips - located in a Media section, there's some integration with Twitter and Facebook as well. It's a pretty neat app, and a nice complement to AMF's current website, which is also very cool. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't point out that the app links to Events and News currently include no content; hopefully that will be remedied as the 2011 racing season continues. To get the app, go HERE, or upload directly from your phone.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for April 25 - May 2

Another Monday is here...so it's your chance to review the new issue of The [B3] Powerboat Weekly. You can read about Unlimited Hydroplane Racing in Detroit, Legendary Marine in Destin, FL, HORBA, and Lakeside Marine's Easter specials. Thanks to all our Twitter partners who help make it happen!

Make Plans Now for Jacksonville River Rally Poker Run

The Poker Run season is well underway, and you may want to start planning for one of the best. It happens June 9th-11th, as the Florida Powerboat Club returns to to the River City, Jacksonville, FL, for its 2011 run. Known for incredible parties on and off the water, this year's Jacksonville River Rally promises to be a memorable time, and is highly recommended. Jacksonville Landing once again provides the perfect backdrop for dining, entertainment, poker run displays and awesome party action.

PHOTO CREDITS: Allen Chester.

The event's Headquarter Hotel will be the Jacksonville Hyatt Regency Riverfront. To book now, you can call the FPC office, at 954-545-1414 or DOWNLOAD the registration form. You can also contact Jackie Jones for alternate accommodations choices at: fpcevents@gmail.com. For general information, call Bill Pyburn at (904) 388-6637.

PHOTO CREDIT: OSO Member Swede.

Proceeds will benefit Camp Amigo - the Children's Burn Camp of North Florida. Here's a brief rundown of the schedule:

Thursday, June 9, 2011
12:00pm Docking will be available (Jax Landing Docks & Metro Docks) Shuttle bus available (Carey) 904-349-1217
11am—7pm Check in and Registration (The Hyatt Hotel)
9pm —?? Join us at the Ivy Bar for our Meet & Greet Party

Friday, June 10, 2011
8:30am-6:30pm Check in and Registration (The Hyatt Hotel)
9:30am Mandatory Captain’s Meeting at Hyatt Hotel
7am-9pm Shuttle bus available (Carey) 904-349-1217
11am Depart dock and enjoy the fun run and lunch, at the Sand Bar - South of the Shands Bridge on the St. Johns River
7pm-9pm Wings, beer, and refreshments at the Jacksonville Landing
7pm—2am Live entertainment center stage at the Jacksonville Landing

Saturday, June 11, 2011
7am–9:30am Late Registration (The Hyatt Hotel)
8:30am Mandatory Captain’s Meeting at Hyatt Hotel (FOR CAPTAINS WHO DID NOT ATTEND FRIDAY’S CAPTAIN’S MEETING)
7am—10:30am Shuttle bus available (Carey) 904-349-1217
9:30am Depart dock for start of the Poker Run
10am/approx Fast Track Start (for boats 100+MPH)
10:10am Start of Poker Run (for all other boats)
12pm—3pm Lunch at Outback Crab Shack
3pm— 6:30 pm Shuttle bus available (Carey) 904-349-1217
5:30pm Return to Docks
6pm-7:30pm Enjoy cocktails and card playing at Mavericks upstairs at the Jacksonville Landing followed by:
7:30pm Dinner

This Time it's Boats and Bikes as Cigarette Racing Teams up with Ducati

One of the star attractions of the Miami International Boat Show was the introduction of Cigarette Racing's new 42X Ducati Edition. Launching a collaboration between two legends of marine and motorcycle performance, the two companies unveiled the new model on Cigarette Racing Team’s home turf in Florida.


It's clear that the result of the collaboration is truly impressive; the 42X Ducati Edition delivers awesome performance an stunning good looks. Featuring 2,200 hp from a pair of staggered 1,100hp Mercury Racing engines, the livery of the model is pure Ducati, in white with Ducati red racing stripe. Combine that with a brilliant white interior boasting red accents and a specially designed stereo from JL Audio--and you've got a head-turning package that will deliver the maximum in speed, style and entertainment capacity. How does 120 mph sound? Pretty damn good in a luxury boat of this size.

PHOTO CREDITS: Cigarette Racing Team / Ducati.

"We are very proud to announce our partnership with one of the worlds greatest high performance, design and lifestyle brands--Ducati," says Skip Braver, CEO of Cigarette Racing Team. "The relationship between Ducati and Cigarette Racing allows two incredible high performance brands to showcase our passions together in complimentary ways. Ducati was the only motorcycle brand that fits the performance and lifestyle expectations of Cigarette’s customers.”

We have to agree, this is another great-looking project, and a great compliment to last year's project with AMG. You have to wonder what other partners Cigarette will team up with in the future...

Fast Boat Primer - Two Hot Minutes from Boating Magazine

It's no secret that in terms of the magazine and publishing industry, performance boating is going through some lean times. Some magazines covering the sport have disappeared altogether. Others are thinner, with fewer ad pages. We can hope that as the economy picks up things will get better, but in the interim, some of the mainstream boating magazines are picking up the slack...

Which brings us to the most recent issue of Boating Magazine, which includes several features about offshore powerboats and racing; if you haven't seen it on the local newsstand, stop by and pick it up. Also of interest is this brief video that the magazine posted on their website...it's only about two minutes long, but it's a slick introduction to the world of high speed powerboating.

West Coast's STRUT Marine Aquires Pfaff Racing Engines

For a long time, Paul Pfaff Enterprises of Huntington Beach, CA. has been recognized as one of the country’s premier builders of offshore performance boat engines. Founded 40 years ago by Paul Pfaff, the company has designed and built custom, high performance marine engines for some of the fastest championship offshore powerboats.

Now the company will be entering a new era, having been acquired by STRUT Marine, one of Southern California's leading full-service shops for offshore high-performance boats. The purchase includes Pfaff’s entire facility for building and testing engines, as well as the company’s performance parts store.

“The completion of this acquisition represents a significant step forward in the future growth of STRUT Marine," says company GM Tommy Gaut. "Joining forces with Paul Pfaff enables us to offer first-class, gold-standard service without compromise for our select clientele.”

PHOTO CREDITS: STRUT Marine / Paul Pfaff Enterprises.

As the 2011 offshore racing and poker run circuits get into full swing, you'll probably have a chance to check out STRUT Marine’s 47-foot, custom-made Outerlimits Offshore Powerboat. It's a real looker. Check out their Facebook page HERE.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for April 18 - 24

Another week is here...so it's time to check out the new issue of The [B3] Powerboat Weekly. You can read about FPC's Naples Poker Run, Signs of Recovery in the Boating Industry, Class 1 Powerboat Racing, and more. Thanks to all our Twitter partners who help make it happen!

German-Made Spider Powerboat Packs Turbodiesel Power in a Compact Package

Every once in a while we like to check out what performance boat manufacturers are doing in other parts of the world, and we recently came across this outstanding example from German manufacturer Spider Powerboats. The German-made Spider 24V may remind you of a wild psychedelic acid trip, but even if it does, you can bet are it will be a FAST trip. Certainly the paint job and some of the detailing are very creative and original, but the technology and hardware are impressive, too.

PHOTO / VIDEO CREDITS:  Spider Powerboats.

This 7.3m, 1800kg boat packs plenty of power into a modestly-sized package...and what power it is--a single, beefy turbodiesel that can propel this little beast up to 85mph. With a 200L fuel capacity and a price of about 86,000 euros, it's not a bad deal, either.

Spider also makes this boat with a 8.1L V8 for about 10k less. Both models feature a SARO Tunnelprop drive for efficient power, an advanced, double-step hull, Gaffrig controls and Auto-meter gauges. To see the boat at speed, check out the YouTube video below:

While this boat would look great on a place like Havasu, you can see in the power and the details that the approach is a little different from what we typically see over here in the US. The differences are subtle, yet interesting.  To see more, head over to the Spider Powerboats website. But better polish up on your German, first.

One Big Bad Outboard: The Seven Marine 557

A lot of offshore performance boaters still refer to them as "eggbeaters," but there can be no doubt that for some applications--and for overall ease of maintenance, outboards may be the best way to go. One of the bigger stories at the 2011 Miami International Boat Show was the new monster outboards from Seven Marine. This 557 HP engine brings a whole new meaning to the term outboard power...but what else would you expect for a $70,000 price tag? They are especially good-looking engines, too; in fact, the red and black pair pictured here would serve nicely as the official [B3] versions!

The new engine is based on 6.2-liter V8, with an all-aluminum, supercharged GM powerhead that is basically the same engine used in a Cadillac CTS-V. It has closed cooling and a computer-controlled disc-clutch transmission with hydraulic shifting sourced from ZF Marine. The design is somewhat radical as well; the V8 powerhead mounted is horizontally, rather than in the usual vertical orientation.

PHOTO / VIDEO CREDITS: Seven Marine.

Reportedly the 557 will run on 89-92 octane pump gas, and other than the stainless steel exhaust and special computer programming, it's basically stock. The company is currently making some alterations to the design which will make the engine's final drive ratio more flexible. Sea trials are underway, and hopefully we will see this monster out on the water soon. If the design is successful, it may turn out that this egg-beater will be a world-beater...

In Print: Classic Offshore Racing Programs

With so much information available on the Internet and our unending fixation on modern web-based technology, it's still nice to see some fine examples of old-school offshore racing memorabilia. Old offshore racing programs are not only collectible, they're just fun to look at while we reminisce about the past. That's why it was such a delight to see this thread on Serious Offshore [SOS] recently started by forum member Bobcat. If you're interested in seeing an interesting and nostalgic blast from the past, then I'd suggest you check this thread out.

Most of the programs that he and some other members have posted are from Offshore Racing's heyday, back in the 1970's and 80's. There are a number of cool program covers from races like the Key West World Championships, The Northport 200 in Michigan, the Marathon FL Challenge, Lake St. Clair races, Trump Castle World Championships and many more, including some international offshore examples from Cowes and Guernsey in Great Britain.

It's really a great thread, and I'd like to personally thank those individuals who took the time to scan and post these great old program covers. They say to know where you're going, it's always good to know where you've been; seeing these covers is a great way to get a glimpse into offshore racing's exciting past. Take a look!

The Boat License: A First Step Toward Fun on The Water

Those of us who enjoy high performance boats know it's all about fun: the fun of owning a fast boat, sharing good times with friends, visiting new places and coming back at the end of the day with lots of great memories. But the important key here is coming back at the end of the day.

It seems that every boating season is marked at one time or another by tragic stories of operators who got a little careless, didn't understand the rules of navigation, or simply never took the time to understand what it takes to operate a boat safely. That's even more important with high performance boats, because speed magnifies the dangers and makes the margin for error so much smaller.

This is precisely why having the proper safety instructions, and obtaining any required boating license is so important. Offshore performance boaters sometimes have an undeserved reputation for being reckless and rowdy - but in truth, our group has always been supportive of strong safety measures.  That includes proper training, responsible behavior and protecting our passengers with quality safety gear. Fortunately, ensuring safety on the water with solid training is easier than ever....especially with resources like BoaterExam.com

Exam Time

Those of us who are older--or who have been boating for many years--often take our boating "rules of the road" for granted. But laws and requirements can change, and it's important to keep on top of changes, so you're always compliant with state and federal regulations.

But training is even more critical for younger boaters, as most states now require younger operators to obtain a Boater License or Boater Education Card to operate a boat legally on the water. In Florida, anyone born after Jan. 1 1988 needs one. In Wisconsin, it's 1989...in North Carolina, 1985...and in Ohio, anyone born after Jan. 1 1982 operating a boat over 10hp must have a Boater Education Card [BEC].

Online training courses like those offered by BoaterExam.com are not only convenient, comprehensive and fully-approved by state agencies, they are amazingly affordable. In fact, the online study guide and chapter quizzes are FREE - you only pay when you pass the course.

Best of all, these courses are actually FUN, and they are a great way to get younger people interested in boating safety and responsible operation. I sat through local Power Squadron training prior to purchasing my first high performance boat, and while it was okay, the classes took 6 weeks, traveling back-and-forth was a hassle, and the content seemed a little dated. If I'd had a great online option like this available,  I definitely would have used it; in fact, I'm planning on reviewing the online course as a pre-season refresher.

So, if you need to get qualified as a boat operator in your state...or want to introduce a son or daughter to a world of fun and fast boating...be sure to check out a top-notch education program like BoaterExam.com.

This Sponsored safety post courtesy of www.boaterexam.com.

Available Now: [B3] Powerboat Weekly News for April 11-17

One of the things we've been happy about is the [B3] Powerboat Weekly News - which we set up to gather some of the more interesting happenings around the performance powerboating world. We've been publishing this for some time - now we will also start featuring the latest issue in a weekly post every Monday.

This week's edition covers news about the 2011 OSS Season, "Jimmy Buffet Day" in Florida, Boating Magazine's 2012 swimsuit model search, UIM Class 1 News and much more. Check it out HERE.

New Boat News: Latest from Skater & Sutphen

In the economic climate of the past two years, almost any news is good news - and it's especially good news to see some of our most respected boat manufacturers producing more great work. With a new boating season (for most of us Northerners, anyway) just kicking off, we wanted to share some nice examples of high performance boating by Skater and Sutphen.

SUTPHEN PHOTO CREDITS: OSO Member CMC.

This slick little Sutphen 21 SS is the latest creation from Rich Sutphen Jr.. Reportedly heading to Canada, this sharp looking boat features classic offshore lines and a simple yet effective GT- style paint job that reminds me of a Shelby Mustang.



This unit features a 6.2 Mercruiser and should be capable of speeds up to 75mph or more. It definitely looks great on top of that Myco trailer, and while it's not the biggest boat on the water, the clean looks, Sutphen name and top performance will win the respect of just about anyone.

Next we want to share some photos of Skater's latest 488 V-Hull, which is fresh out of the paint booth and ready for rigging. Of course, Skater is best known for their incredible Cats, but their V-Hulls have demonstrated wave-crushing performance and are keeping up the same standards that the manufacturer is already known for.

SKATER PHOTO CREDITS: OSO Member Tborisch.

You have to love this paint scheme (I'm particularly partial to any combination of black, red and white) and it looks great on this boat. Don't have any information on what the power will be for this boat, but you can bet it will be impressive.



Since Skater and Boatcustoms (also working on this boat) are sponsoring the Boyne Thunder Poker Run this year, you should be able to check out this beauty on Lake Charlevoix this July. Skater is set to have at least three boats there, as that run is shaping up to be one of BT's best ever. Mark Your calendar!

JBS Racing Demonstrates Boat with New Sponsor

JBS Racing has always impressed us with their boats - and they are at it again. This year the boat features a new paint scheme to highlight the team's new Sponsor, Tumbleweeds Southwest Grill. Here's some video footage of the team running their boat at Tumbleweed at The Waterfront in Louisville, KY.

VIDEO: Courtesy JBS Racing.

Of course, you'll notice that the space for running this fast is a little tight, but the boat is nowhere near its top speed, and great precautions were made to clear out the area as the run was taking place (it's still very early in the season, so not a lot of boats are out on the river yet. No doubt this is a great way to get people excited about offshore racing - hats off and best of luck to JBS on their 2011 season!

Campaign is On to Increase Daytime Speeds on Lake Winnepesaukee

As we have noted before, New Hampsire's largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee, has been the subject of much controversy since the establishment of an arbitrary speed limits of 45 mph. One group, Safe Boaters of New Hampshire, has worked tirelessly to rid the lake of these limits.

PHOTO CREDITS: Boatinglocal.com.

There is currently a bill that has already passed the State Senate that would increases the daytime limit to 55 mph. While this proposed bill doesn't repeal the limits completely, high performance boaters feel it is a step in the right direction.

The group just started an email campaign to the NH House of Representatives, and is looking for as many emails as possible to support this bill. To accomplish this task they have set up a email system on their website that will allow supporters to simply click a button to send an email to every member in the House.The goal is to to show that Boaters who use the water safely do not support arbitrary limits. Visit www.sbonh.org to let your voice be heard.

Video: Blast From Our Powerboat Past - 1990 Miami Race on ABC

No one would like to see powerboat racing come back to mainstream awareness than we would; in fact, a big part of our mission is to make the average boater...or the average person, for that matter...aware of the fun and excitement that performance boating has to offer.

Back in the day, offshore powerboat racing was truly a high profile sport, where well-known businessmen and TV/ movie stars hit the waves in an awesome show of power, speed and glamour. If you want a look back, then check out this video, posted on Vimeo by John Carbonell. Featuring Don Johnson, star of Miami Vice, it gives you a great glimpse of where the sport was at one time.

1990 Miami ABC Network Show from John Carbonell on Vimeo.

Will we ever see anything like this again? We can only hope. Once you get past the helicopter tour and Johnson's intro - the action really picks up. ABC sports does a great job of covering the race, and the footage is absolutely first-rate. Check it out!

Open House at Powerboat P1 USA

If you've wanted to find out more about this new P1 USA Superstock racing series, mark your calendar for April 15th, when P1 USA will be open its doors to guests from the boating and race communities. Tours and a chance to come along and demo the all-new P1-28SS Panther at its North American HQ in Greenville, NC are available for all those interested in finding out more about this exciting series and its revolutionary new boat.

P1 is offering a chance to check out the P1-28SS Panther production line at the factory before seeing how it performs on the water. The North American crew will also have a full mock race course set-up for eager fans to experience SuperStock racing first hand. Sounds like a great opportunity!

PHOTO CREDITS: Powerboat P1.com

Open house schedule
Friday, April 15th – P1 Offices
Guests arrive
Reception/dinner

Saturday, April 16th – Liberty Manufacturing Facility
Factory tour
Demo rides
Lunch

If you're interested in attending, e-mail Azam.Rangoonwala@powerboatp1.com or call the P1 USA office at +12524930138

Meeting Up with an Italian Beauty

I was recently on Twitter when I saw a link to Eris Propellers' blog, which took me to a nice story about enjoying boating with the family. The story itself was rather brief, but what really caught my eye was the photo that accompanied the story - a very slick concept boat, the Archidiavolo, from Italian boat builder Cantieri Di Sarnico.

PHOTO CREDITS: Cantieri Di Sarnico.

There's no doubt that this is a real beauty - and the black-and-white color scheme really makes the most of its sharp Italian lines. It's hard to tell from the image, but according to other sources on the web, the multi-hull is based on a very unique 3-point design, which can be seen at left in an old photo of the Arcidiavolo I, which originally saw action back in the 1970's. To read more (use Google Translate, it's in Italian) check out the story of the original vessel HERE. It may not have been much to look at, but there can be little doubt the new version would turn a lot of heads!

Hudson River Spring Fun Run - May 7th & 8th

Want to have some fast fun without blowing a huge wad of cash? Then you can join a group of NY powerboaters for this family-style fun run that's FREE and open to anyone. The fun starts on Saturday, May 7th, when boats will be leaving Cannonball Marina in Stony Point, NY at 11am, heading south to see the NYC skyline and Statue of Liberty. Later, the plan is to return to the marina, where boats can be loaded back on the trailers and everyone can grab a late lunch / early dinner at a local restaurant.

PHOTO CREDITS: OSO member Nordic95.

On Sunday, May 8th, the plan is to start the morning at about 11am, where boats will be heading North to the Steel House restaurant in Roundout Creek for a raft up and lunch. As noted previously, it's planned to be a family style event - wives and kids are welcome and boats of all sizes and speeds are encouraged to join in the fun; in fact, stopping points will be set up along the way so everyone can wait for the slower boats.

To find out more, check out THIS THREAD on Offshore Only - contact member Nordic95 so he can get a headcount for the event as soon as possible.

Tiki 101: Great Introduction to Tiki Drinks & Culture

If you like boats and enjoy spending a lot of time near the water--whether it's under a palm tree at a warm ocean beach or sitting at a dockside bar on a cool Northern lake--you can probably appreciate Tiki culture. The exotic island imagery, and certainly the cocktails it has inspired are a great compliment to life on the water. After all there's nothing quite like a good MaiTai or Zombie after a fun day on the boat.

But where did the idea of "Tiki" come from? There are lots of books and articles on the subject, which has been covered here before. But I came across a great video on the New York Times website that provides a brief and effective summary of what it's all about...

While it's inspired by island culture so very far away, the essence of Tiki is uniquely American, in the same way that Jazz music is. So, next time you've tied the boat up at the end of the day and are ready to cool off, try something a little more exotic and see where Tiki can take you...

West Coasters and the Country's Big Guns Head Out to Havasu for Desert Storm 2011

It's that time again - Spring is here and so is Desert Storm. Once again, Lakeracer LLC and Teague Custom Marine have joined together to bring together a collection of many of the most significant performance boats across the nation to Lake Havasu, Arizona. The action takes place from April 27 -30...here's a brief run-down of the week's events:

Wednesday begins when the Arizona Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Havasu For Youth Organization, LakeRacer and the Platinum Powerboat Club present the second annual Desert Storm “Putin on the Wish”! Owners will provide rides in high performance powerboats and help raise funds to help these charities continue their work! Wednesday night, there's an open house party at the newest Lake Havasu Boat dealership, Oregon Custom Marine.

PHOTO CREDITS: younewstv.com.

Thursday the excitement continues with a down town Street Party, opening at noon. All participants and Sponsors are invited to display their boats on McCulloch Boulevard; display and vendor booth areas will be open to the public. Last years Street Party was spectacular and over 14,000 people turned out , and registration / check in for the poker run and shootout will be available at the time.

PHOTO CREDITS: The Nautical Inn.

Friday morning the Poker Run takes off from The Nautical Resort, with registration, drivers meeting and a parade through the London Bridge Channel beginning the run. With 3 card stations in the morning, Lunch catered at the Nautical Inn, 2 card stations and a helicopter photo station in the afternoon, there is lots of fun boating action! There's also a huge Pool Party at The Nautical that night, where the cards will be opened and the winners recorded.

Saturday morning begins with registration and check in for the Desert Storm Shootout. The Shootout Course starts off in Thompson Bay and runs two miles south on the Arizona side. Set to run all day with a break for lunch, it's where the fastest boats in the west will make their mark. Spectators have a great view from Rotary Park Beach. Saturday night awards are handed out for top speeds in each class and the new King of the Desert will be crowned! Dinner will be served and loads of prizes given out including the winning hands of the Poker Run, at a huge outdoor party at the Nautical Resort. Here is a video covering some of the sights and sounds of Desert Storm 2010 - courtesy YouTube user havasupowerboats.

If you've never been to Desert Storm, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. For more information on the event, head over to the official website HERE.

Blogger Offers Awesome New Ways to View and Enjoy BigBadBoat

We're always trying to discover new ways to make our content more interesting and accessible, from providing an improved mobile site that's easier to read on the iPhone to audio posts from Odiogo and more. Thanks to Google and Blogger we can offer another site enhancement that will make it easier and more enjoyable to read BigBadBoat on the iPad or other tablet viewers.

Blogger's Dynamic Views allows you to access the website in several different ways, including Flipcard View, Mosaic View, Sidebar View, Snapshot View and Timeslide View. These views require modern browsers such as Internet Explorer 8+, Firefox 3.5+, Chrome or Safari. Many elements of these views will not work should you have an older browser. Here are what a few of them look like:

ABOVE: Flipcard view.

ABOVE: Sidebar view.

ABOVE: Mosaic view.

In all views, search is available in the upper right hand corner. Clicking on the ">" arrow in the very top left of the header bar will slide the header bar across and allow you to choose different views for the current blog as well as type in a new blog URL.

As you can see, these views lend themselves really well to reading on tablet devices like the iPad or any tablet PC. To read more about these views and how they work, check out this article: All about Dynamic Views for Readers.