Raised in a sleepy Southern California beach-town, I developed a love for laidback life near the ocean. I grew up with sand on my feet and in my sheets. Strange as it is, I liked that sensation. It was familiar. It felt like home.
Even stranger, I still miss it.
For at least two good reasons, next month’s Englewood Beach affair is particularly important. Photo from the 2025 event by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
So I fell in love with Englewood Beach the first time I visited the place last year to broadcast the Englewood Waterfest offshore races with animated play-by-play man Mike Yowaiski.
Englewood Beach is little more than a sandy spot in the Southwest Florida road, one that was all but erased by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Yet it comes to life during the annual Englewood Beach Waterfest affair, which has long made offshore powerboat racing the center-piece of its program.
Dubbed the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championships this year, the October 11-13 event is the final stop in a season-long APBA points championship series. The APBA included last weekend’s race in Clearwater, Fla., the Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind., last month and the late-June Atlantic City Sports Grand Prix in New Jersey—all of which were produced by Key West, Fla.-based Race World Offshore.
The Englewood affair, on the other hand, is locally produced by the Waterfest board of directors. So its home-spun atmosphere is pronounced and charming.
What makes the event particularly important for racers this time around is two-fold. First, it’s the last chance for teams competing for an APBA National Championship title—not to be confused with a class-owners-established series-titles such as those in Super Cat and Super Stock—to score APBA points. Second, it’s the final opportunity for teams to notch the two APBA-race minimum required to the enter the Race World Offshore-produced Key West World Championships.
Of course, I’m eager to my rejoin once-a-year broadcast partner. I was delighted to be asked back on the air by the event organizers. And I’m looking forward to hanging out with offshore racers in what arguably, though not by much, is the chilliest venue in the sport.
But mostly, I’m just ready to get back to a tiny beach town. Bring on the sandy sheets.