The Bright House 2011 Clearwater Super Boat National Championship is Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.
CLEARWATER – The Bright House 2011 Clearwater Super Boat National Championship will speed into downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach on Sept. 30 for a three-day festival of speed.
The “fastest show on water” will involve super boats equipped with F-16 canopies reaching speeds up to 180 mph just off the shore of Clearwater Beach Sunday, Oct. 2 as racers vie for the title of national champion.
An estimated 65,000 race fans turned out a year ago – many on an estimated 2,500 boats in the Gulf of Mexico next to the 2.5-mile race course.
Race teams consist of a two-person team – a driver who controls the boat’s steering and a throttleman responsible for operating up to four engines capable of producing more than 6,000 horsepower.
Extreme speeds and rough water make it impossible for a single person to steer and operate the throttles. The best race teams hone the partnership between driver and throttleman down to a science, and incorporate the most advanced technology into their machines to generate optimum speed.
Baystar Race Village opens Friday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. Spectators have the opportunity to see the boats on display, meet the drivers and participate in many family activities.
Blast Friday will kick off the festivities with a super boat block party. The party begins at 5:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Cleveland Street in downtown Clearwater. Blast Friday will feature a parade of boats and then a concert featuring Orleans, the 1970s band best known for its hits “Dance with Me,” “Still the One,” and “Love Takes Time.”
There will be food and beverage vendors as well as activities for kids, and a chance for fans to meet the drivers and get photos with the boats.
The race and all non-VIP activities are free.
A VIP race experience is available for purchase for an adult admission price of $100 per person and $25 for children 16 and under through the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce. The VIP race experience offers VIP race viewing, parties, and much more.
The Super Boat races were brought to Clearwater by Frank Chivas of the Bay Star Restaurant Group and Former Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst of Bright House Networks.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to three local charities – the Clearwater Community Sailing Center, Sailability, and the Make a Difference Fishing Tournament.
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