Penalty Reversed: Team AMSOIL Awarded Second Place at OPA Worlds

After breaking down early during Saturday’s Nationals/Worlds point chase event at the Offshore Powerboat Association 2014 season finale last weekend in Solomons, Md., Team AMSOIL had to stomach even worse news after Sunday’s race for World Championship points. Though throttleman Bob Teague and driver Paul Whittier in the 36-foot Skater Super Cat-class catamaran finished the race ahead of its two competitors in the class class, the team was penalized and knocked down to third place for hitting a turn buoy.

Upon further review, Team AMSOIL took second place in the Super Cat class during last weekend’s OPA event in Solomons, Md. Photo courtesy/copyright Tim Sharkey/Sharkey Images.

After reviewing Sunday’s events in the Super Cat class with OPA officials today, OPA president Ed Smith has rescinded the penalty on Team AMSOIL, which moved the team up to second place in the class for OPA’s 2014 World standings. (Cleveland Construction, which finished the races on both days, retains the World title in the class.)

“After concurring with race control and course officials, it was determined that the turn buoy had broken loose, causing Team AMSOIL to hit,” said Smith. “The disqualification decision has been reversed, and second place has been awarded to Team AMSOIL in Super Cat class for the OPA World Championships.”

Related Story: Solomons Wrap-Up—OPA National and World Champs Crowned