Tomorrow, Thursday May 29, Miss Geico, a 44-foot twin turbine-powered carbon/Kevlar race boat will attempt to break her own Annapolis to Baltimore speed record. The boat is now at Bert Jabin’s Yacht Yard in Annapolis for prepping and a brief test run to the Bay Bridge and back.
Last June, the boat took off in bumpy conditions and broke the previous four-hour record (set by an S-2 sailboat) by about three hours and 46 minutes. The official time—14 minutes and six seconds.
The action will start very early to try to avoid the possibility of traffic and waves as the team of Marc Gannnet (driver) and Scott Begovich (throttle) push the three-time world champion boat to speeds approaching 180 mph on her way to an imaginary finish line near Fort McHenry. The official starting point is in the mouth of the Severn River near the United States Naval Academy.
Following the speed run, Miss Geico will head to Ocean City, MD by trailer to compete in the grand prix offshore powerboat races, also sponsored by Geico.
Miss Geico features a pair of biodeisel-jet-A-fueled Lycoming T-53 Cobra-attack helicopter turbine engines generating a total of 3700 hp. She has a beam of 10 feet, six inches and weighs about 10,000 pounds.
The 23-mile run from Naptown to Charm City should take little more than 10 minutes, so PropTalk doesn’t suggest trying to keep up with the boat on her way to history.
For early-rising speedboat fans, the action begins at 5:15 a.m. tomorrow at Jabin’s in Annapolis.
More relaxed boat fans might prefer to catch the action along the Atlantic beaches in Ocean City where 50 or more over-powered race boats will take to the waves in a quest for glory. The parties are equally spectacular.
This is the first 2008 stop of a six-event tour for the Offshore Performance Association’s race teams. The final race of the season is the ever-popular Cambridge event run by the Chesapeake Bay Power Boat Association September 20-21 at the Hyatt Regency on the Choptank River.
Here are the schedules for the Annapolis to Baltimore stunt and the races in Ocean City:
Annapolis to Baltimore Speed Run: May 28
5:15 a.m.—Record Review Meeting at Bert Jabin’s Yacht Yard
5:45 a.m.—Safety Helicopter Lift Off for Course Flyover
6:15 to 7 a.m.—Crew/Team Owner Media Interviews and Race Boat Preview at Annapolis City Dock
7 a.m.—Miss Geico Proceeds to Milling Area
7:25 a.m.—Commence Record Speed Run
7:45 a.m.—Finish at Fort McHenry
8:15 a.m.—Return to Annapolis
Geico Offshore Grand Prix, Ocean City, MD: May 30 to June 1
May 30
All Day—Arrival of Race Boats; Viewing in Dry Pits at Sunset Marina, 12911 Sunset Avenue
7 to 10 a.m.—Dunker/Swim Tests in Sunset Marina Pool
1 to 4 p.m.—OPA Registration at Sunset Marina
2 to 5 p.m.—Boat Inspections in Dry Pits
6 to 7 p.m.—Drivers Meeting at USCG Station, 610 S. Philadelphia Avenue
7 to 10 p.m.—Meet the Racers Party—Secrets Bar, 117 49th Street (Wristbands Required)
May 31
All Day—Race Boats on Display in Dry Pits
7 to 10 a.m.—Dunker/Swim Tests in Sunset Marina Pool
9 to 4 p.m.—OPA Registration at Sunset Marina
Noon to 3 p.m.—Race Boat Testing
Noon to 4 p.m.—Race Control Operational, Channel 78
5 to 6 p.m.—Volunteer Meeting at Commander Hotel, 1401 Atlantic Avenue
6 to 10 p.m.—Racers Party at Commander Hotel
June 1
All Day—Race Boats on Display at Sunset Marina
7:30 to 8:30 a.m.—Racers Physicals at USCG Pavilion (Inlet)
9 to 10 a.m.—Drivers Meeting at USCG Pavilion
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.—Crane in Operation
10:30 a.m.—Course Buoys Set
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.—Race Control Operational, Channel 78
Noon—Course Support Fleet on Station
12:30 p.m.—1st Race of 2008 Geico Offshore Triple Crown
2 p.m.—2nd Race of 2008 Geico Offshore Triple Crown
6 p.m.—Awards Ceremony at Sunset Bar and Grill, Sunset Marina
Hot Links
Miss Geico—missgeicoracing.com
AMF Offshore Video of Miss Geico’s 185-mph run—youtube.com/watch?v=BXv1x9LZ_dI&feature=related
Offshore Performance Association—oparacing.org
Photo courtesy of Miss Geico
There has been some debate as to whether Bread, Bologna, and Beer are really all sailors need on their boats, but if you read the Chesapeake Rambler in the June issue on page 53, you might nod in agreement. 