RIVIERA BEACH (November 2017) – At the 37th Annual World Championships in Key West, FL (November 6-12, 2017) two local Riviera Beach offshore race teams claimed world titles.
Shadow Pirate, owned by Nick’s Creative Marine Offshore Race Team, won the Superstock Class World Title. This 32’ Doug Wright catamaran boat weighing 4,300 pounds and reaching speeds of 120 mph captured its first world title by dethroning the former world champion. This father-son team of Nick Scafidi at throttles and Austin Scafidi as driver overcame a spin out in turn three on the last day of racing and patiently clawed their way back before overtaking its competitors.
To say that their victory was an upset is an understatement but Nick Scafidi kept the faith. “To win a world title you have to be patient over the three days of races. On Day One we came in third but we felt we should have been better. On Day Two we definitely improved our position in the boat and by Day 3 we were ready to win. It is an unbelievable feeling to beat the best of the best.”
Miss GEICO, owned by AMF Riviera Beach, LLC, won the Unlimited Class World Title. This 47’ Victory catamaran boat weighing 12,400 pounds and reaching speeds in excess of 180 mph captured its ninth world title by also defeating the former champion.
On Day One Miss GEICO lost a propeller and had to settle for fifth place. With its back against the wall and the team had to win out to claim the tile. Throttleman, Steve Curtis, and Driver, James Sheppard, came up with a strategic race plan with Crew Chief, Gary Stray, that worked to perfection as Miss GEICO won both Day Two and Day Three to claim their world title.
It is unprecedented to have two Riviera Beach race teams that practice out of Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach capture their respective World Titles against competitors from all over the world.
Both teams have only a couple days to savor their victories before travelling to the 2017 Englewood Beach Waterfest Racefest on Nov. 17-19. The three-day festival will host the world championship races for the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) racing series.
Both Shadow Pirate and Miss GEICO are the 2017 OPA National Champion and hope to continue their season long winning streaks by concluding its racing season with the OPA World Title. The race teams are ready and prepared to take on the fastest boats in the world and offer the spectators in Englewood a full weekend of world-class racing action.
The third-annual event kicks off Friday evening with a race boat block party on Dearborn Street. Racing action begins on Saturday and continues through Sunday with three heats of races each day along the shores of Englewood Beach. More than 60 teams will compete across 11 separate classes of watercraft. Given their list of racing accomplishments and recent wins in the OPA racing series, both teams are hopeful to add another world championship title in Englewood.
For more information on the Miss GEICO Racing Team, visit http://www.missgeicoracing.com.
For more information on the 2017 Englewood Beach Waterfest Festival, visit http://englewoodbeachwaterfest.com.