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Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Off For 2025

Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Off For 2025

Launched in 1985, the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix is a no-go this year. Powerboat P1 USA/P1 Offshore officially has pulled the event from its calendar citing budget concerns and conflicts with ongoing real estate and infrastructure development projects in the Southwest Florida city.

Approaching its 60th anniversary, the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix has been canceled for 2025. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

According to a press release from Powerboat P1, the race producer/promoter will “revisit opportunities” for the event next year.

“We are incredibly grateful for the many years of support and partnership from Visit Sarasota, who has been instrumental in the event’s long-standing success as a presenting sponsor,” said Thomas Covington, the head of operations for Powerboat P1 USA. “Because of this support, Sarasota has become a premier destination in offshore racing, and we deeply value everything Visit Sarasota has contributed, making this an iconic event for the community and a highlight of the race season.

“We feel scaling down the event would not do justice to the legacy Sarasota has built over the years,” he added.

Once a key fundraiser for Suncoast Charities for Children, the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix was a longtime fixture of the July 4 holiday week in the area. Thanks to a date change to September and a pair of hurricanes that followed, it was the final regular-season event of the 2024 season.

But as the city of Sarasota has grown and its demographics have shifted, community interest in hosting the race has steadily declined.

Sarasota has long been a hotbed for offshore racing talent.

Suncoast Charities for Children separated itself from the Sarasota races in 2021 and P1 Offshore took on full-time production duties. The executive director for the nonprofit Suncoast organization, longtime Sarasota resident Lucy Nicandri, was pivotal to planning the annual event for decades, and it flourished under her direction.

“It was bittersweet to hear the news, after being involved in some capacity of organizing the event ever since 1987,” she said. “The Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix began as a way bring an economic boost to the area during the slow, hot summer and raise money for charity.

“The Sarasota landscape has experienced significant changes over the years, and I fully respect P1’s decision based upon financial and logistical challenges,” she added. “After all, the only thing that remains constant is change.”

Lucy Nicandri (far left) was the event’s key organizer for years.

A veteran offshore racer and fellow Sarasota local, Billy Glueck offered a similar take.

“It does not surprise me,” Glueck explained. “The overall interest in keeping the race going has met opposition from many different angles throughout the years, but especially as of late. I do not pretend to know all of the details on what has happened, but I know that it seems to have been on the horizon for a while.

“It will not surprise me if it doesn’t come back at all,” he continued. “It makes me very sad. The Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix was a long-running event. For many people in the community, it was truly something to look forward to every year. It will be missed.”

Still, some optimism for the event’s return remains.

“While it’s disappointing to pause the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix in 2025, this event has been a cornerstone of our community for nearly four decades, bringing excitement, economic impact, and international recognition to our destination,” said Pete Harvey, the director of sports for Visit Sarasota County. “We understand Powerboat P1’s decision and appreciate their commitment to maintaining the event’s high standards.

“We support their commitment to maintaining the event’s high quality and look forward to its potential return in the future,” he added.

A slew of well-known and successful offshore racers, from the late Joey Gratton to current Mod V-class driver Steve Kildahl, have called Sarasota home—and Sarasota Bay their home-water—during the years.

Said Glueck, who lives in Sarasota and throttles for the Bracket 200-class OC Offshore Racing team. “For many people in the community, it was truly something to look forward to every year.”

“It’s definitely unfortunate as the race has such a long history in the sport and the fans really love the races every year,” Kildahl said. “Over the years there have been many bumps and hurdles making it more difficult to put on and with all the construction currently in the pit area and still recovering from a horrible hurricane season, I understand the decision.

“My dad is the only racer to compete in every event so it’s tough to not see it on the schedule,” he added. “But I hope it will return once the infrastructure is in place. Everyone loves Sarasota, minus the heat, so I believe we will be back.”

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The post Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Off For 2025 appeared first on Speed on the Water.

Source: https://www.speedonthewater.com/sarasota-powerboat-grand-prix-off-for-2025/

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