In a Press release, the National Powerboat Association has declared that on Wednesday, September 18th, 2013, starting at 7 am, Matthew Gordon of Greenwich, CT, will attempt to break the OFFSHORE II Powerboat Record of 3 hours and 59 minutes to circumnavigate Long Island, non-stop in his 37’ Hustler Catamaran Speed Boat. The 271 mile course was introduced in 1959, and has proved to be a tough challenge. The first race saw Jim Lacey win at 8 hours and 30 minutes in a 17’ Hunter with a only a 70 HP Mercury outboard as power.
Through the years, races around Long Island and “One-Off” record setting challenges have been an attraction for thrill seeking, affluent gentlemen of the sport. The Prestige of establishing a Record Run Around Long Island ranks high up on the bucket list for many speedboaters from North America and attracts the attention of boater’s throughout the world. This is a true test of Man, Machine, and the Elements.
Matthew is the owner of multiple business’ including “Graduation Source” and Avanti Systems. He has been an avid helmsman for over 20 years and an active participant on the National Powerboat Association’s poker run series and the Florida Powerboat Club’s poker run series…encompassing boating from Key West to Maine. His homeport is Beacon Point Marine at the Greenwich Water Club in Cos Cob, CT.
What caught Matthew’s interest was the re-introduction of the DON ARONOW MEMORIAL MARATHON AROUND LONG ISLAND, which was brought back in September of 2010 after being dormant for over 25 years, to honor one of the “Father’s of the Sport” of offshore racing and the creator of Donzi, Magnum, Formula, and Cigarette powerboats. The race produced a winner, Joe DeFusco, who completed the course in 6 hours and 15 minutes in his 30’ Sonic, and ignited interest within a fraternity of dedicated speedboat racers. Fast forward to last year’s “one-off” Record Run by Stu Hayim of Long Island, NY in his Class I MTI catamaran with 2,600 HP of Merc Power, the “Ferrari-Maserati Special”, Stu was able to establish a new open-class record of 2 hours and 11 minutes for the run and in doing so, raised close to $100,000.00 through pledges for his dedicated charity, “The Don Monti Memorial Cancer Research Foundation” of Cold Spring Harbor, NY.
In an endurance event where only 15% of the entrants are able to complete the entire course, Matthew has chosen a hi-tech, 37’ Hustler Talon catamaran equipped with twin 750 HP Cobra engines mated to B-Max outdrives. While the boat is capable of a 130 mph maximum speed, averaging 100 mph will be the objective to carry him and crew up Long Island Sound, around Orient Point, around Montauk Point, down the Atlantic Ocean, around the Rockaways, up the Hudson River, up the East River, and back on Long Island Sound to Buoy #32A, the Start/Finish Line off of Greenwich, CT. Extra gas tanks have been added to the boat to make it a non-stop event.
While Wednesday, September 18th is the target date, a window of time through September 24th has been reserved in case of inclement sea conditions. GPS transponders are placed on Matthew’s boat and a live webcast will take place at www.nationalpowerboat.com by means of Kattack Performance applications. Past event statistics are available at: www.nationalpowerboat.com/around-long-island-2.htm
