Safety Boats Needed Spring of 2012
The World Jet Boat Race Marathon will be held in Idaho April 13 –
22, 2012. This race will cover approximately 500 miles of
river in 9 days. The races will start on the St. Joe River
above St. Maries, move to Lewiston to race on the snake River, then
on to Orofino for the Clearwater and then to Riggins for the final
legs of this race. Additional racing information can be
observed by going to
jetboatracing.com and sorting through associated links.
Typically, WWA has provided safety boat support to the Salmon River
Jetboat Races and this year we will be teaming up with Northwest
River Runners out of Lewiston to provide safety boats throughout the
racing week in April. It is estimated that twenty safety boats
will be needed each day of racing.
As you can tell this will involve some interesting logistics with
some of the race boats coming out of New Zealand, (they have to get
them shipped to the USA, if they have not already).
Additionally, lodging and support services for the nomadic race
crews and support personnel need to be planned for, so advance
preparation is advised.
These races have created quite a bit of interest and it is estimated
that there will be upward of thirty race boats entering this
competition.
Last year we got a chance to watch one turbine powered boat
negotiate the Salmon River course and it is believed that there will
be several of them entered into the World’s. If you have not
observed one of these in action, they are impressive with top speeds
well into the 125+ mph range. Many of the other boats are
routinely in the 100 mph category on the flat water sections.
So there should be plenty of action when you throw in a few rapids
to challenge the crews’ abilities.
Please join me in the volunteer effort to support this, “only one in
the world event,” here in Idaho. If you are interested in
participating as a safety boat please contact Bob Hays at
208-880-3522