75 Teams of Race Boat Owners and Drivers Expected at the Stuart Sailfish Regatta April 20 and 21

STUART, Fla. - March 25, 2013 - PRLog -- Along the eastern seaboard, race boat owners and drivers are readying their speedboats for the upcoming 1.1-mile race in the Indian River off of the Stuart Causeway on April 20 and 21. One of the youngest drivers Brandon Kennedy, age 20, is a fourth generation racing driver who has been inducted twice into the APBA (American Power Boat Association) Hall of Champions. Brandon has been racing since the age of 14 and is now in his 7th racing season. He already holds multiple championships and holds two world-records for the fastest time in the 1.5 litre class, on a one-mile and a one and a quarter mile course. The average speed is 76 mph.

    “We’re really looking forward to coming back to Stuart,” Brandon said. “I work for my dad at his machine shop and he is also a racer as was his father and my great grandfather. I guess it is just in my blood.”  For the last two seasons, Brandon has competed in the Grand Prix class where speeds can top 170 mph. “I really like the race course in Stuart because it has long straightaways and bigger turns which lets us go much faster.”

Brandon also races Formula Enterprise cars in races with the Sports Car Club of America. As the time comes closer to April 20, the first day of racing, Brandon and his father George have their fingers crossed that their boat will be repaired and modified in time to make the trip here from Bear, Delaware. Be sure to look for Brandon in the lineup.

The race is sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association (APBA).  The regatta will be open to ten classes of inboards, outboards and new this year, the new P1 power-stock class. Some of the nation's top tier racers plus a power team of six or more Canadian Grand Prix race boats will bring even more fuel and adrenaline pumping action to the water. If you want to learn more about the various classes of boats, please visit their website at www.APBA.com.

Tickets are now available for $12 at all branches of Seacoast National Bank from Palm Beach to Vero Beach and “Chillin the Most” restaurant located on Hutchinson Island across from Jensen Beach. Discounted tickets for $10 are available online until April 5th, www.stuartsailfishregatta.com. Weekend gate entrance is $15 per person each day and children 10 and under are free. Military personnel with a military id pay just $10.

VIP tickets are limited but are available for $50 per day or $75 for a two-day pass that will include premium seating, access to the pits, lunch, snacks, cold beverages, and a full bar. The races kick off at the Pit Stop Regatta Rally on Friday night from 6 pm -10pm under the Stuart Causeway sponsored by Stuart Magazine and the Stuart Jet Center. Guests will enjoy great Italian food from Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Van Halen Tribute band, Miss Corona Light Preview Show, and the unique opportunity to meet the racers and team members.

An exciting change for spectators will be the ability to view all the racing action from the top of the Stuart Causeway; grandstand seating will also be installed. The Stuart Causeway will be closed to traffic from Friday, April 19 at 7 pm to Sunday, April 21 at 9 pm.  Beach visitors will need to travel an alternate route north on Indian River Drive to the Jensen Beach Causeway.

Lindsay Nickerson, Event Coordinator, has arranged for ample parking sites close to the race with shuttle service will be provided at no cost. The largest designated parking area is Stuart’s Witham Air Field, five minutes from the Regatta entrance.

Another anticipated attraction is Vintage Alley coordinated by Rusty Sedlak, past president of the Stuart Sailfish Regatta. The boats on display will show the evolution of race boats with vintage crafts of various types and materials. Boat racing has a rich history. The APBA Challenge Cup is among the most prestigious of motor sport trophies, and is the oldest active trophy in all of motor sports, first awarded in 1904.   This year will mark the 104th running of the APBA Gold Cup set for July 12-14, 2013 on the Detroit River.  

With increased attendance and sponsorship support, SSR plans to increase their support to the designated charities, Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast, US Sailing Center and the Maritime and Classic Boat Museum. Guests can also expect a wonderful variety of food, drink, and a free kid’s zone coordinated by The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast. There will also be a CarPro Auto Show.

Please remember that no coolers or pets are allowed at the event. The new expanded site will allow for more vendors including boats and marine related supplies, luxury auto displays and top-shelf home building suppliers.  Another new event will be the Miss Corona Light Contest, which will be open to the general public. Entry forms can be found on the website www.stuartsailfishregatta.org.          

“We encourage everyone to visit our website at www.stuartsailfishregatta.org and our Facebook page for more about race protocol, sponsorships, vendor opportunities, participating race boats and drivers,” stated Lindsay. Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina is the official race resort and will be the main hub of activity in the days leading up to and during the race. The website lists all area accommodations, many of which will be offering special race promotions and packages.      

The event is sponsored in part by the Martin County Tourist Development Council,  Treasure Coast Sports Commission and Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Stuart and Martin County’s Sailfish Splash water park. Top sponsors include EMS  (Environmental Manufacturing Systems), Southern Eagle Distributing Inc., Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, The Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina, Leighton Security and Construction, Seabreeze Publications, Goldstein, Schmitt and Wade, P.L., Pro Boats, SunDance Marine, Chillin’ the Most, Four Fish Marina, Coast 101.3 fm, Real Radio 94.3/WZZR, Land Rover, Heartland Solutions, Flint Technologies, Fluid Energy Group, Express Rolloff Dumpsters, Hi-Tide Boat and Lifts and Marine Products, 99.7 Jack fm, WSTU, WPSL and WJNX and US Paverscape.  

Other sponsors are Crossroads Environmental, Bridge Financial, Cowbunga, Cuozzo Design Group, Duffy’s Electric Boats, Marine Association of the Treasure Coast, Seacoast National Bank, Geminye Design Group, Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce, Key Lime Cantina, Stuart Magazine, Stuart Jet Center, Treasure Coast Flight Training, CarPro Auto Spa, Captec Engineering, Healthy Vibes, Tiki Tom, Marland Construction, Stuart Business Systems, Sesolinc, Chick-Fil-A, Cook Electric, All Sports Productions/Stuart Boat Show, Triton Green and more.