Fastest boats are on the Emerald Coast

Okaloosa Island – A simple notation on the side of the CMS Castaway No. 3 tells the story, “World record, 161.47 mph.”

Yes, the fastest boats on the water have made their way to the Emerald Coast for the 2006 Merrick World Cup Classic.

The different governing bodies; Offshore Super Series, Offshore Performance Association and Pacific Offshore Powerboat Racing Association will crown their world champions in the waters of the Gulf. CMS Castaway No. 3, out of Merritt Island, is driven by Mitch Miller with Bob Bull at the throttle.

“Bob’s been racing about 10 years and I’ve been racing eight years,” Miller said. “We’ve been racing together about three years.”

“We used to race against each other and we noticed how competitive the other was so we decided to team up.” Miller and Bull competed against one another in the Super V class. Now they race in the super cat class.

A strong wind blew off the Gulf as teams were setting up camp in the Race Village at the Emerald Coast Conference Center, and across the street in front of The Boardwalk and Gulfarium.

If the winds continue and cause rough seas, Miller said the faster boats will only top out at around 100 mph. But the weather cooperates and the seas are flat, spectators can expect to get a glimpse of boars powering across the Gulf at 140 mph.

At those speeds it’s no wonder that operating a boat is a two-man job.

“These boats go so fast you have to have two people,” Miler said. “One of us steers and the other operates the throttle.”

Even with the two-man teams, dangers still abound.

In the first turn of the first race of the year, Miller and Bull flipped their boat. Miller said the crash was only the second of his career. “An accident like that slows you down for a few races until you get comfortable again,” he said.

Perhaps the hardest part of powerboat racing is getting the boat ready for the race.

“You have to get the right set up for the boat just like in NASCAR,” Miller said. “We have six sets of props we can use, depending on the condition of the water.”

The CMS Castaway No.3 has been in 14 races this year, but this week’s race is the one for which all the teams are shooting. Miller believes his boat will be in the hunt along with Live Bait, owned and driven by a local racer Gary Nichols.

“Live Bait is a boat that handles well, and might be the team to beat,” he said. Miller’s also looking for tough competition from J.D. Byrider and Reliable along with several other top boats.

“We feel like we have on of the top teams, but we’re up against the best of the best this week,” Miller said. “Everyone has great equipment.

“It should be a real dog fight.”