Race week kicked off in Key West on Nov. 6, when powerboats paraded down Duval Street, showing off sleek lines and huge horsepower.
Organizers from Raceworld Offshore switched gears on Nov. 7 and brought a winning powerboat team to Key West High School, where the crew spoke with students.
The Missouri-based Performance Boat Center team, led by throttleman Rusty Williams, driver Myrick Coil and crew chief Andy Sanders, discussed the boat’s power and potential as well as the logistics of traveling more than 100 mph on the water.
Coil explained his role as driver as “the guy who steers to make sure we’re going where we need to go,” while throttleman Rusty Williams controls how much power to give the vessel at various places in the race course. Crew chief Andy Sanders keeps everything running.
In answer to a student’s question, Coil said they enter the boat through a hatch in the roof, “but there’s also an escape hatch in the bottom of the hull, in case we flip over, but don’t jinx us,” he said.
The Raceworld Offshore Key West World Championships take place this week in Key West, where races are scheduled Friday and Sunday, Nov. 11 and 13. The full schedule also includes a street party Friday evening at Duval and Greene streets and a concert at 5:30 p.m. Saturday featuring Eddie Montgomery, Brian Kelley and John Daly at the Key West Amphitheater. Visit raceworldoffshore.com for more information and for the best race-viewing options all week.
