The 5th Annual Monster Energy St. Petersburg Powerboat P1 Grand Prix in Tampa Bay, Florida, proved to be a dramatic event for the two Bermudian boats competing. While one team faced an early mechanical issue, the other was running at the front of the pack in what was their best run of the year. The event also served as the decider for the prestigious Monster Energy P1 Offshore Triple Crown.
The first start in the Super Stock Class was aborted due to mechanical issues with the 32-foot Doug Wright, S-12 NUFF SAID / Team Bermuda, crewed by Luis Martins and Andy Stoneham. When the green flag finally went up for the second time, Say Less MF jumped out to an early lead, quickly separating themselves from the fleet for the 8-lap race.
Meanwhile, drama unfolded further back in the pack. A near collision occurred when Northwing ran off course and made an aggressive move to return, nearly hitting Team Nautical Ventures, who would later pull off the course on the fifth lap.
The Bermudian boat S-25 GL Construction / S-25 Team Bermuda, with driver Steven Bridges and throttleman David Selley, was having a superb run. They were running at the front of the pack, in contention for a podium finish and expertly navigating the mayhem that ensued behind them.
Both Bermudian teams will take away valuable experience from the event, with GL Construction’s strong performance being a positive sign for the remainder of their season.
