Battle of the Bay - Offshore Powerboat Racing (56k-NO!!!)

[lijk604]

Who knew this could be so much fun! Being held at Shorefront Park on the Great South Bay in Patchogue.
Here are some highlights from todays small boat races, and shakedown day for the big guys.
By the way these small boats were doing about 65-70 mph (if you believe the announcer).
Lighting was a challenge on the water as the racing was due south from the shore (like at the Jones Beach Air Show) but I did the best I could under the circumstances.
Sunday the big guys race starting at noon.













This transporter with trailer attached is 93 feet long!




Damn trash can!






Miss Geico roostertail!!!!

[Derf]

Great stuff John, I went last year and also had fun.

[Gerard]

>Who knew this could be so much fun! Being held at Shorefront Park on the Great South Bay in Patchogue.<

Did they have any chase helos photographing the race? Many (many) years ago I was in Atlantic City and they had one of these races and their
must have been at least 6 or 7 copters chasing the boats.

[Derf]

I dropped by to see the action today

>Who knew this could be so much fun! Being held at Shorefront Park on the Great South Bay in Patchogue.<

Did they have any chase helos photographing the race? Many (many) years ago I was in Atlantic City and they had one of these races and their
must have been at least 6 or 7 copters chasing the boats.

I did not see any copters in chase...but I did see this really old biplane




but stupid me, I only took my wide angle lens to take these types of shots




Sorry about the poor quality on the boat shots :borat:

[moose135]

Nice shots, guys! Fred, you seem to have all the fun! :D

[lijk604]

Great stuff Fred! I think I know which bi-plane that is too.

Did they have any chase helos photographing the race?

Yes, they actually used Rider Ave. Park for refueling the helos.
I caught the following:
N402TD - Bell407 - Air Metro Helicopters - New CIty, NY
N3002K - Robinson 22 - Republic Helicopter - Wilmongton, DE
N7183N - Robinson 44 - Reg. Pending - Bayside, NY

[mirrodie]

One of the racers was in my office this past week for an appointment. I have to check if he won.

Thanks for sharing the photos! Perhaps we'll make it next year!

[moose135]

Just saw this story:

Two people killed after speedboat capsizes
BY ERIK GERMAN AND PATRICK WHITTLE
11:47 PM EDT, August 24, 2008

Two people were killed Sunday afternoon when their high-speed racing boat flipped during the Battle on the Bay powerboat race in Great South Bay off the Village of Patchogue, Coast Guard officials said. The accident claimed the lives of Kevin Graff, of Port Washington and Phil DeJana, of Bayville, who were racing a 37-foot twin-engine catamaran, race officials said.

The powerboat was going between 90 and 100 mph when it turned over, said Paul Pontieri, mayor of the Village of Patchogue, who was at the race. Suffolk County police said they were still determining the cause of the incident, but several witnesses at the scene said the boat appeared to overturn while it made a southeastern turn on the race course.

Full story at Newsday.com

[lijk604]

Here is a shot of the boat from Friday night when the racers & equipment partied the night away along Main St. in Patchogue. RIP to those lost & their families.



The cockpit of that same boat

[Gerard]

Great stuff Fred! I think I know which bi-plane that is too.

Did they have any chase helos photographing the race?

Yes, they actually used Rider Ave. Park for refueling the helos.

Cool. Thanks for the info.