KEY WEST: Wake Effects Wins Superboat Unlimited World Championship
Wake Effects, a 48’ MTI with owner/driver Rusty Rahm and throttleman Jeff Harris, stole an early lead held by Team CRC/Spooled Up Racing to give Rahm and Harris the World Championship—with a half point lead.
Team CRC, a 42’ MTI featuring owner/driver Mike DeFrees and throttleman Jay Muller, finished in second place at the Key West World Championships, while UAE-33 Team Victory, a 41’ Victory driven by Salem Ali Aladidi of Dubai and throttled by John Tomlinson, finished third. (Tomlinson pulled double-duty as throttleman of Superboat competitor Performance Boat Center/Jimmy John’s.)
Zabo Racing, a 42’ Victory driven by Ugur Isik and throttled by Miles Jennings, finished in fourth place.
The three remaining Superboat Unlimited boats racing today were out of the running for one reason or another. UAE-3 Team Victory, a 40’ Victory piloted by driver Steve Curtis (of Miss Geico fame) and Elsa Mohamed Abdul Rahman of Dubai on throttles, flipped and landed upside down in Turn 1 early in the race. They were both OK. Meanwhile, Huski Chocolate and Lucas Oil Silverhook each suffered mechanical problems.
Mathematically, the field of seven big boats competing on Sunday each had sufficient points to take the World Championship in Superboat Unlimited class, depending on the positioning of their competitors.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
