Powerboats to race this Sunday off the Jersey Shore

Powerboat racers are descending on northern coastal Ocean County today as they prepare for the Point Pleasant Beach Offshore Grand Prix on Sunday.

40 powerboats will compete in races between Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head that begin at noon.

Albiet much smaller, it’s a revival of a world famous race, which Point Pleasant Beach began hosting along the New Jersey Offshore Powerboat Racing Association decades ago until the recent years.

“There is probably no single race more famous than the Benihana Offshore Grand Prix. This race was known as the Indy 500 of Offshore Racing and was held in Point Pleasant Beach during the 1970s,” according to Offshore Powerboat Association. 

During the 1970s, the race was over 200 miles long, running 80 mile laps from New York’s Fire Island to Seaside Heights. But this year’s event will run along a four mile oval “as close as the beach as possible,” the Offshore Powerboat Association says. 

“Since the beach drops off quickly, the boats usually run within 150 feet of the surf. Even the outside leg can be clearly seen from the shoreline,” according to the organization’s site. 

While racing is slated for Sunday, events begin today, including a block party, race boat pit areas open to the public, and a street boat parade. Visit here for more information.