Here’s some news that’s got the whole powerboat racing community buzzing – and it’s happening right in our backyard! The Englewood Beach Waterfest, heading into its 11th year this October 10-12, just landed the biggest prize in offshore powerboat racing: hosting the APBA Offshore World Championships.

From Local Event to World Stage

This isn’t just any racing event – we’re talking about the last event of the American Power Boat Association Offshore World Championships, recognized by the Union Internationale Motonautique organization. That’s the international governing body for powerboat racing, folks. Englewood Beach just went from hosting a great regional event to being the season finale for the world’s top powerboat racers.

The event also serves as the season finale for the APBA National Championship Series, which started with Thunder On Cocoa Beach and the inaugural New Orleans Grand Prix. So all the top racers will be coming to Southwest Florida to settle the championship.

A Testament to Community Resilience

What makes this even more impressive is the incredible comeback story behind it. Ray LaBadie from the organizing committee explained how they’ve been working on this designation for months, even while dealing with “total devastation left by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.”

The storm surge was unprecedented – five feet of sand inside most beachfront homes along both the Charlotte and Sarasota County portions of the beach. But instead of giving up, the community rallied together. The county commissioners and community service director gave their full support to make sure this event could happen.

Recovery in Action

The south side of beach parking opened in early May, and all beach parking and pavilions will be completely open by July 23. That’s not just recovery – that’s preparation for hosting a world-class event just months after devastating hurricanes.

As we’ve been saying to clients in our chairs all year, Southwest Florida knows how to bounce back. Englewood Beach is proving that in a big way.

What This Means for Our Area

Two full days of racing for all classes, two cranes serving competitors, and a $45,000 purse for the weekend. The Super Stock-class owners group voted to add this to their schedule back in May, showing the confidence the racing community has in Englewood Beach as a venue.

This kind of event brings racing teams, fans, and media from all over the country – maybe even internationally. That means hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and yes, even barbershops will see visitors who might never have discovered our area otherwise.

Community Pride and Gratitude

“The Englewood Beach Waterfest organizers and the entire community are delighted and grateful to be awarded the APBA world championships,” LaBadie said. The gratitude extends to sponsors like North Myrtle Beach RV Resort and Dry Dock, who have supported the event for four years.

This is what makes these events special – it’s not just about the racing, it’s about the whole community coming together to create something memorable.

Perfect Timing

October is beautiful weather for Southwest Florida, and having the world championships as the season finale means all the top racers will be here competing for the ultimate prize. The timing couldn’t be better for showcasing what our area has to offer.

For racing fans, this is like having the Super Bowl of powerboat racing right in our backyard. For the community, it’s a chance to show the world what Englewood Beach is all about.

From Hurricane Damage to World Championships

The transformation from hurricane devastation to hosting world championships in less than a year is remarkable. It shows what’s possible when a community refuses to stay down and works together toward a common goal.

APBA liaison and Offshore Racing Commission member Ralph Young has been working on this designation for months, and his efforts are paying off in a big way for Southwest Florida.

Looking Forward to October

Mark your calendars for October 10-12. Whether you’re a powerboat racing fan or just curious about what world-class competition looks like, this is going to be something special.

The roar of high-performance boats, the excitement of championship racing, and the pride of watching our community host an international event – it’s going to be a weekend to remember.