offshore powerboat racing marathon florida

7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix to Speed into Marathon April 26-28

Powerful offshore powerboats racing at high speeds near the world-famous Seven Mile Bridge are to show their muscle Friday through Sunday, April 26-28, when the 7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix roars into the Middle Keys. 

The challenge is the second annual Race World Offshore (RWO) powerboat race to take place in Marathon as part of the American Power Boat Association’s Offshore National Championship Series. It serves as the opening event for RWO’s 2024 season.

Race teams are to come from around the United States, Bermuda and as far away as the United Kingdom to compete in Marathon.

Eleven classes of boats are to participate in the challenge, with the largest classes racing Sunday — including the Super Cat that can achieve speeds of up to 140 mph — on a course that provides spectators an adrenaline-inducing, close-up viewing experience.

A free-admission opening event, set for 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, 11710 Overseas Highway, is to welcome race teams and fans.

Races are to take place Saturday with the smaller class vessel race brackets taking to the water from 1:30-4 p.m.

Sunday is to feature four races beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending with the 3:30 p.m. Super Cat competition. 

The pedestrian-friendly Old Seven Mile Bridge is to be the primary viewing area for spectators, with 90% of the 5.6-mile counterclockwise race course viewable from the span that parallels the contemporary bridge. According to race organizers, the old bridge will be open to the public with free admission, with one section reserved for VIP viewing. 

Race World Offshore plans to set up its VIP hospitality area below the northeast end (Marathon side) of the Old Seven Mile Bridge. VIP guests will be allowed to park at Sunset Grille, 7 Knights Key Blvd., and walk under the bridge.

Free general-admission parking is to be available at Marathon Community Park with shuttle service to Sunset Grille. There will be no general-admission parking at Sunset Grille or on-site at the entrance to the Old Seven Mile Bridge. VIP ticket holders will receive a parking pass at will call. 

Race fans can enjoy free admission to the dry pit area at San Pablo Catholic Church, 550 122nd St. oceanside , to view high-speed boats and meet race teams and crew from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Wet pits, located at Suntex Faro Blanco Marina, 1996 Overseas Highway , are to be open to the public Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Events culminate Sunday evening with an awards ceremony and an after party, with the final location to be determined. 

Race schedules, VIP tickets and information: raceworldoffshore.com/marathon

Marathon visitor information: fla-keys.com/marathon or 1-800-262-7284 

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POWERBOATS ARE COMING BACK TO MARATHON IN 2023

For the first time since 2016, powerboat racing is set to return to Marathon in 2023.

The announcement comes courtesy of a June 21 press release from Race World Offshore (RWO), the same organization responsible for Key West’s popular powerboat races, announcing the inaugural 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix on April 28-30, 2023.

As an officially sanctioned race in the American Power Boat Association’s (APBA) National Series, the race will be the first of the 2023 season, which will return to the Keys for its conclusion in Key West in November.

Although some boats are known to stop in Marathon during poker runs and on their way to Key West for the annual races, Marathon has not hosted an official offshore race since 2016’s Super Boat International Marathon Super Boat Grand Prix.

“I’ve lived in Key West for 30 years, and I have to tell you, of all the stuff we put on Facebook and all the things that we do, we’ve gotten the most comments and most everything for this event than anything we’ve done, which is unbelievable,” RWO president Larry Bleil told Keys Weekly. 

Though RWO has looked to return to Marathon for several years, the completion of the Old Seven Mile Bridge finally provided the possibility for a new near-shore viewer-friendly course. According to RWO, it has obtained permission to set up VIP tents and viewing areas along the old bridge.

“I didn’t really want to do it until we could have a good spectator area,” said Bleil. “Now that that’s done, you couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Though course details have yet to be finalized, Bleil says the general idea is for the boats to run east along the north side of the Seven Mile Bridge from Pigeon Key before eventually making a 180-degree turn off of Tranquility Bay resort and heading back toward the center of the bridge in a prolonged all-out straightaway.

In addition to securing course permits from the U.S. Coast Guard, race organizers will coordinate with the city of Marathon for land-based activities. As they do in Key West, RWO plans to coordinate with Turtle Hospital founder Richie Moretti to survey the course from the air and make sure it is cleared of turtles and other wildlife that could be harmed by the high-speed races. Depending on their class, Bleil expects most boats to reach speeds of 120 to 165 mph if the race days yield calm conditions across the course’s longest straightaways.

Locations of dry and wet pits for the racers will be announced in the coming months, along with sponsors and a host hotel for the event. If the social media frenzy around RWO’s press release is any indication, the event should draw a large crowd of locals and visitors in Marathon.

“We’re excited to see the races come back,” said Marathon city manager George Garrett. “Economically it will be a boon to the city’s businesses, particularly the hospitality industry and everything associated with that. … We’d love to have the powerboat races become another signature event for the City of Marathon.”

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” said Bleil. “I thought, ‘Man, once (the bridge) is finished, we need to do a race along there.’ … It’ll give a new perspective as people can stand on the bridge and sort of look down onto the boats. … It’ll be just a great, great view.”

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2nd Annual 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix APBA National Series Race

April 26 @ 8:00 am - april 28 @ 5:00 pm.

Race Day Viewing & Parking

Raceboats will navigate a new course in the Gulf of Mexico, close to shore, that allows fans the ultimate experience as teams race alongside the recently renovated 7 Mile Bridge. A unique twist, VIP tents and race day viewing has been granted to RWO on the 7 Mile Bridge.

Free General Admission

Racing is scheduled for Saturday, April 27th and Sunday, April 28th. VIP tickets are good for both days of racing and viewers can also watch all races from the 7 Mile Bridge. Please note important details below to help plan your day!

• Free Parking available at Marathon City Park and will shuttle to Sunset Grille.
• Pigeon Key Shuttle will operate from 9:30-4:30 (or at the conclusion of the last race) to transport viewers to and from the race site.
• There will be no general admission parking access at Sunset Grille or onsite at the 7 Mile Bridge.
• VIP ticket holders will receive a parking pass at will call.

The 2023 hospitality experience is set and excitement builds as we get ready for the season’s first National Series race of the year. Our VIP experience includes viewing from under the tents on the water’s edge. All this located just at the foot of 7-Mile Bridge. Also accessible will be viewing from the Grand 7-Mile Bridge, high atop the race course.

There will be two action packed days of qualifying, testing and racing. The World’s biggest boats are coming to Marathon.

Feel like you are part of all the action as you relax and enjoy this hospitality experience, while in a front-row seat with the two day VIP package.  CLICK HERE  to purchase your tickets now!

SIGN UP NOW: contact us at [email protected].

Official Sponsors

Marathon Hotel Sponsors

We are so grateful to all of the sponsoring hotels for this event. Without their support, we would not be capable of accommodating all of our guests who share the same passion for racing we do. Click on any of the logos to book your stay for the first race of the 2023 season!

Key West’s  Conch Republic  Days features a myriad of fun-filled family friendly events (many free) held at some of the island’s most unique and historic venues.

The celebrations honor the 1982 founding of the island nation of the Conch Republic (Key West and the Florida Keys) formed in response to actions by the US Border Patrol when the US Government put up a federal blockade in Florida City.

7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix – Race Course

Event Schedule

2024 proposed events. Schedule subject to change.

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7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix Wrap Up: Wild Weather, Eight Laps and Five Crashes

When the 65 offshore powerboat racing teams and fans in Marathon, Fla., awoke this morning they were greeted by an ominous message: “Tornado watch for the Southern Keys.”

The inaugural 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix proved that no matter how much we prepare, Mother Nature is still in charge. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix .

That set the tone for a day of racing that was going to challenge the officials from Race World Offshore and the American Power Boat Association in ways they had never imagined. After two boats in the 450R Factory Stock class flipped or blew over in barely two laps of competition on Sunday afternoon, officials put an end to the carnage by canceling competition for the rest of the day. The decision was made by RWO and APBA officials with input from the United States Coast Guard.

“It was a matter of safety and the decision of the Coast Guard,” said RWO president Larry Bleil.

“And common sense,” added APBA Offshore chairman Rich Luhrs.

The first race of the 2023 APBA offshore national series, the 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix was backed by Performance Boat Center and M CON offshore racing. Sixty-five teams showed up in Marathon, Fla., and there was a buzz of positivity about the upcoming season in the air. There were nine boats registered for the Super Cat class. Mod V and Super Stock both had double-digit entries and the 450R Factory Stock fleet felt like it was growing by the week.

Saturday’s pole-position qualifying round was all fans would see of the Super Cat class this weekend.

While the bracket classes and the Super Cats had chamber-of-commerce conditions for racing and pole-position qualifying on Saturday, Mother Nature had other plans for Sunday. Winds gusting well over 25 mph and rain whipped across the course all morning and by the time the two boats had incidents in 450R Factory Stock, the race officials and the Coast Guard had seen enough and called off competition for the weekend.

No Sunday Picnic The 450R Factory Stock race started with six catamarans powered by Mercury Racing 450R outboards. Three of the boats were Marine Technology Inc. 39-foot catamarans and three were 38-foot Doug Wright cats. The lanes were determined by a blind draw and the 38-foot Doug Wright catamaran, Doug Wright Powerboats, with throttleman Ricky Maldonado and driver 18-year-old Logan Adan, was on the outside in lane six. To the team’s left on the inside were John Tomlinson and Taylor Scism in the 39-foot MTI, Marine Technology, Lee Murray and Edwin Scheer in the 38-foot Doug Wright, Hank’s Saloon , and the 39-foot MTI, GC Racing, with driver Willie Cabeza and throttleman Gary Ballough. Also on the inside, were throttleman Nick Imprescia and driver Ian Morgan, who are new to the class, in the 39-foot MTI, 151 Express.

When the boats headed toward turn one, it appeared on video footage that Doug Wright Powerboats started to move to the inside from lane six. Marine Technology and Hank’s Saloon both turned right through Doug Wright Powerboats’ roostertail to avoid a collision.

Marker 17 Marine led for much of the Mod V race until the team’s 29-foot Outerlimits donated a Bravo XR drive to the sea floor.

In the he-said, he-said that was sure to follow, Maldonado said, “I left everyone plenty of room.”

Murray, an offshore racing veteran returning to the sport after a lengthy absence, didn’t mince words. “They didn’t maintain their lane,” he said of Doug Wright Powerboats.

Apparently the ABPA agreed with Murray because the results released after the race showed that Doug Wright Powerboats was disqualified. That gave the win to Tomlinson and Scism in Marine Technology followed by 151 Express and Hank’s Saloon . GC Racing rolled after trying to cut under Hank’s Saloon in a turn and Ballough said it was simply a racing incident.

When the red flag flew, Murray and Scheer caught a gust of wind and stood their boat straight up before coming down on the transom and flopping backwards, landing upside down. Both escaped the incident unharmed and, despite the carnage, said they were pleased with how the boat ran and that they just needed some more props to work with from Mercury Racing.

Enjoy more images from the inaugural 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix.

A few hours earlier, Sunday started with the nine teams in Mod V and the seven teams in Bracket 500 taking to the 5.6-mile counter-clockwise course. The Mod-V boats were supposed to run eight laps with the bracket boats running five.

After multiple delays for weather, when the green flag finally flew, the Mod V boats charged toward turn one with Brian Forehand and Vinnie Diorio in the 29-foot Outerlimits, Marker 17 Marine , leading followed by owner/throttleman Stephen Kildahl and driver Steve Kildahl (his son) in the 29-foot Extreme, Boatfloater.com. They were chased by the 30-foot Phantom, Fastboys , the 30-foot Extreme, Sun Print , and the 29-foot Extreme, LSB Rev-X Oil .

Racing was tight in the Mod V class contest.

Marker 17 Marine came past the finish line in the lead followed by Boatfloater.com , Fastboys, Sun Print and LSB Rev-X Oil. In the Bracket 500 race, the 30-foot Phantom, TFR/XINSURANCE, with throttleman Micheal Stancombe and owner/driver J.J. Turk, led the way followed by throttleman Craig Belfato and drive Elijah Kingery, in the 29-foot Warlock, Bulletproof , and another 29-foot Warlock, Hammerheads/SRQ .

The first red flag for the first race on Sunday flew when Marker 17 Marine’s drive came off the boat and launched skyward. The boat slid backward to a stop causing every team behind it to take evasive action. Soon after, the 29-foot Zero Tolerance, TM Farnsworth Motorsports/Hancock Claims running in Bracket 500 had an incident between turns one and two that spit out driver Ervin Grant and throttleman Rob O’Connell, but they were OK after the race.

Sun Print flew to victory in the rough and rowdy Mod V contest.

This left Sun Print leading the Mod V race to the checkered flag followed by Boatfloater.com and LSB in third. The Mod V race wasn’t without more incidents. When a red flag was thrown during a squall, the 30-foot Phantom, Laticrete , slowed so quickly that it caught the Shocker team off guard. In a text to speedonthewater.com, Shocker owner/driver Chris Colson said that he didn’t expect Laticrete to chop the throttles and that he had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid hitting other boats. That caused Shocker to roll. Colson and throttleman Ray Evans were OK.

Because of multiple delays caused by weather, the Bracket 500 teams were sent back to the pits. First went to TFR/Xinsurance followed by Bulletproof and Hammerheads/SRQ .

Saturday In The Park In a stark contrast to Sunday, Saturday brought beautiful weather that let to most of the Bracket-class boats running in relatively calm conditions.

Throttleman Chad Woody and driver Billy Shipley led flag to flag in the 35-foot Fountain, Team Woody . For the record, they were running in Bracket 300. In the Bracket 200 class, the 41-foot Apache, Predator , continued its winning ways with its new 1,100-hp Express engines, taking top honors over the 39-foot Velocity, GNS Motorsports, the 38-foot Phantom, OC Racing , and the 42-foot V-bottom, Cigarette Justice League.

Team Woody took top honors in the Bracket 300 class on Saturday and team owner Billy Shipley joined Todd Swofford and speedonthewater.com offshore racing correspondent Eric Colby for much of the Race World Offshore livestream broadcast on Sunday.

In Bracket 400, the 34-foot Phantom, MSR Racing, took the win followed by its sistership, Simmons Racing, and a canopied Phantom, Rollin’ Dirty.

In Bracket 600, the 26-foot Corsa, Gerard Marine, took top honors followed by the 24-foot Reindl bat boat, Reindl/Ultimate Boat Racing , and the 26-foot Joker, Freebird , with newcomers Ryan Stahlman and Reef Dellanos.

In Bracket 700, the 21-foot Superboat, Jackhammer, didn’t break out and won the race followed by the new entry TFR/XINSURANCE and the 22-foot Velocity, Dees Nuts.

Of the two classes that didn’t race on Sunday, the purse for Super Stock was distributed evenly among the 11 boats that registered for the class and each team earned 45 points. The nine boats in Super Cat earned half the points they would have earned for winning the race based on their finish in the pole-position qualifying time trials.

The Predator Apache continued its winning ways in the Bracket 200 class.

The second race of the 2023 APBA Offshore Series and the first of five races in the Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 World Championship Series, Thunder On Cocoa Beach (Fla.) produced by Powerboat P1 , is set for May 18-21.

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Powerboats will roar into Marathon for the 7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix, set for Friday through Sunday, April 28-30, during the Conch Republic Days celebration.

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Boat racing returns to Marathon

Racing set to return to marathon with inaugural 7-mile offshore grand prix.

• Apr 26, 2023

MARATHON — Powerful offshore boats racing at high speeds near the Seven Mile Bridge will show their muscle during the 7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix Friday through Sunday, April 28-30.

The contest is the first powerboat race to take place in Marathon since 2016 and serves as the opening event for Race World Offshore’s 2023 season, with teams coming from around the United States and as far away as Australia and the United Kingdom.

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Watch: Racers thrown from powerboat during Offshore Grand Prix in Florida

Officials deemed the race safe to run after a tornado watch expired in the early afternoon, but the wind-churned waves and gusts proved too much for the powerful speedboats..

Watch: Two racers thrown from boat in Florida Keys Offshore Grand Prix

A spectator caught 2 separate boat accidents Sunday on camera during the 7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix boat race off Marathon, Florida. A boat flips over in the first section of video. The second section shows 2 racers ejected from the boat before it flipped over.

MARATHON, Fla. – Several boats flipped over on Sunday, cutting short the 7-mile Offshore Grand Prix boat race off Marathon, Florida . Spectators watched as two racers were thrown from their watercraft.

After a beautiful day 1 race day on Saturday, day 2 started out under a Tornado Watch . Organizers postponed the rounds of racing as winds gusted to 40 mph as several rain squalls moved through. The NWS canceled the watch in the early afternoon for the Florida Keys, but the bad luck never left.

Spectators watched and took videos of the wild races between weather delays. Speed on the Water Magazine reported five crashes during the abbreviated day. Video shows the choppy water launching the powerboats into the air.

File: A photo of a powerboat racing in the Portuguese Grand Prix under smoother circumstances.

(NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP / Getty Images)

DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWS CAR TOSSED INTO THE AIR LIKE TOY DURING TORNADO IN FLORIDA

One of the boats flips up on a gust of wind and then comes crashing down on its transom before landing in the waves upside down. Boats have no steering out of the water, and these boats clearly were out of control. Racers behind the tossed boat scrambled to avoid a deadly collision. Speed on the Water reported that the two men in the boat were not injured.

The 27-foot-long boats seen racing weigh about 5,000 pounds and can hit speeds of 75 mph, according to Team Farnsworth . Any small piloting mistake could be tragic for the racers.

The Coast Guard finally suspended the race after the chop and speed threw the two racers out of a boat, seen clearly on video. The boat then wavered and spun, narrowly missing the ejected driver and throttle man. Another boat, trying to escape harm’s way, also came close to the ejected men.

Take a look at the black dot above the lead boat. That is one of the 2 men being thrown out of the cockpit.

(Bing Zirkelbach via Storyful / FOX Weather)

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Neither man was seriously hurt. One reported a minor foot injury to Speed on the Water. The magazine states that two other boats flipped over as well.

A Florida law firm calls offshore racing "the sporting world’s most hazardous competition," with a death rate of 85% of those in accidents. The firm claims at least one racer dies every year while racing.

Florida Keys Marathon Race 2024

Florida Keys Marathon Race 2024 . Christopher peterson's eyecons at birdcage cabaret. 4 florida keys races and marathons.

More than 2,500 runners and walkers crossed the finish line in both races combined at the 2024 running of florida’s key west half marathon and 5k, which takes runners on a. Fresh keys seafood, live music, boat & art shows, and more!

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Benson kipruto wins men’s race in a course record.

Race World Offshore (Rwo) Is Gearing Up For An Exhilarating Marathon Race Set To Take Place From April 26Th To April 28Th!

Seen here in key west races throughout 2021 and 2022, the deafening sounds and incredible speeds of powerboat racing are set to return to marathon with the.

March 17, 2024 8:00 Am.

It was a kenyan sweep in the men’s race:

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More than 2,500 runners and walkers crossed the finish line in both races combined at the 2024 running of florida’s key west half marathon and 5k, which takes runners on a..

Usa women's half marathon key.

Find Easily Marathon Races By City, Month And Race Type.

The date for the 43nd annual 7 mile bridge run will be on april 13, 2024.

Come Sea What It's All About!

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Key West World Championship Results & Standings

Points totals, current standings, september 22nd – 24th, 2023, april 28th – 30th, 2023.