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Sarasota is the second longest-running US powerboat race, after the Key West Championship. Compared to Cocoa Beach, Sarasota is a more technical course. Cocoa Beach is long and narrow, running up and down the beach, with two 180 degree turns. Sarasota has varying degrees of right turns and a leftward dog-leg on the backward stretch. Although the water at Sarasota looks calmer, there are often holes, or variations on the seabed, which create voids on the surface. These can cause unexpected flights or hits, so are difficult for drivers to anticipate.
The water will suit the Class 1 and Super Cat for top speeds. The light chop will be less likely to upset the bigger hulls and will be enough to keep traction high with the hull skimming the surface.
Super Stock has the most entries among the bigger boats and is one of the most competitive offshore classes for this reason.
Mod V teams will also be highly competitive. Sarasota will definitely be a driver's race for these boats if the water remains relatively calm. The varied turns in calm waters can cause "chine walking" with their V hulls. "OK, so what is chine walking?" Chine walking is caused when a high-performance V-Hull starts to lift out of the water. In certain circumstances, as speed increases, the actual part of the hull in contact with the water becomes reduced, and the boat starts to rock from one side to another as it tries to balance the remaining hull in contact with the water. This gives the drivers more work to do. Boat set-up and trim also play an important part.
https://p1offshore.com/Race-info/Sarasota/2023/86693
The water will suit the Class 1 and Super Cat for top speeds. The light chop will be less likely to upset the bigger hulls and will be enough to keep traction high with the hull skimming the surface.
Super Stock has the most entries among the bigger boats and is one of the most competitive offshore classes for this reason.
Mod V teams will also be highly competitive. Sarasota will definitely be a driver's race for these boats if the water remains relatively calm. The varied turns in calm waters can cause "chine walking" with their V hulls. "OK, so what is chine walking?" Chine walking is caused when a high-performance V-Hull starts to lift out of the water. In certain circumstances, as speed increases, the actual part of the hull in contact with the water becomes reduced, and the boat starts to rock from one side to another as it tries to balance the remaining hull in contact with the water. This gives the drivers more work to do. Boat set-up and trim also play an important part.
https://p1offshore.com/Race-info/Sarasota/2023/86693
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