Formula Provides Pace Boat Honors at the Don Aronow Memorial Ocean Race

Formula’s brand-new 2009 382 FAS3TECH® served as the official pace boat for the Offshore Super Series tour stop in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida on June 20-21, 2008. This event on the OSS tour also was a memorial event for the legendary Don Aronow with an offshore race to Bimini, Bahamas, and back—the way the competitors of his era used to do—I can remember it well. The event also turned into a offshore reunion for racers of the 70s and 80s it was a great chance to see old friends and reminisce about old racing days.

The race weekend started off with an old landmark, Sunday’s Restaurant, going up in an unexpected blaze on race morning. Many race events and meetings were held there. Shortly after the fire department responded, twenty two boats started the Bimini event in 30 second intervals, racing against the clock, twenty finished the 54 mile trip across the open ocean waters including a classic Formula 233, complete with a stand up crew holding on to grab rails, they were beaming from ear to ear after returning. The fastest time recorded was a 44 MTI—named Mercedes, completing the entire run in 1 hour and 4 minutes, over a 100 MPH average.

Sunday dawned with clear skies and 2-3 foot swells along the Miami Beach shoreline where two Formulas, our 382 performed it’s pace boat duties along with a local 353 owner helping out as well. Our thanks to Robert Zarco and his 353 crew for their assistance, we really appreciated their help. All of the races ended safely and just in time to avoid the usual afternoon thundershowers that Miami is famous for.

We thoroughly enjoyed this activity filled race weekend and had the opportunity to see and share race stories with many old race friends. The Offshore Super Series plans to return to the Sunny Isles area next year and negotiations are ongoing to see if the Aronow memorial will become an annual event as well.

Wishing you safe boating !

Vic Spellberg

Formula Director of Sponsor Promotions