Offshore Powerboat Season Kicks Off In OC

OCEAN CITY -- The grand spectacle of offshore powerboat racing returns to Ocean City this weekend with the arrival of the first leg of the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) summer-long series around the country.

The OPA series gets underway this weekend with the Ocean City Grand Prix, the first of seven events at locations all over the country. Dozens of high-powered offshore powerboats will converge on the resort area starting this afternoon for a series of events onshore and off throughout the weekend culminating with two races just off the coast of Ocean City on Sunday afternoon. Phil Houck, owner of the Bull on the Beach and lead sponsor on the event, said this week he expects a big turnout based on early registration.

“We’re expecting about 50 boats,” he said. “It’s the first race of the year and it will be nationally televised, so just about all of the competitors will be out for this one in Ocean City.”

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