SilverHook Team Sets Another Offshore Record

The SilverHook Powerboats team has done it again. Just two years after its Guinness World Record-setting Key West to Havana (Cuba) run (read the story)—a crossing of around 110 miles completed in under 1 hour, 20 minutes—veteran offshore racers Nigel Hook and Michael Silfverberg set another record last week with a flawless journey from West Palm Beach, Fla., to Freeport in The Bahamas.

The Lucal Oil-sponsored SilverHook revived the historic Gateway Marathon last week with smooth runs from West Palm Beach, Fla., to Freeport in The Bahamas and back. Photos courtesy Powerboat P1

According to a press release, the team achieved an average speed of 93.5 mph for the 200-mile round trip in a total time just under 2 hours, 10 minutes. Promoted by Powerboat P1 and sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique and the American Power Boat Association, the 2019 Ocean Cup event revived the Gateway Marathon, an iconic offshore race that dates back some 55 years.

The 48-foot Lucas Oil/SilverHook all-carbon V-bottom powered by twin Mercury Racing 1350 engines made the outward run to Grand Bahama Island on Friday and returned to Florida the following day.

“The boat raced absolutely perfectly across the 200 miles, plus the three exhibition laps we did for the thousands of Bahamians lining the beaches of Freeport celebrating their national holiday,” Hook said in the release. “It’s rarely straightforward crossing an open ocean but it was a fantastic run. It was a lot rougher than expected so the boat took a real pounding—you get adventure all the way when the Gulf Stream is at full steam! I believe we’ve laid the foundation to turn this into a grand race next year.”

Swedish co-pilot Silfverberg added: “Although there were some tough challenges with rough, quartering seas from the bow and constantly changing conditions, the boat ran superbly. I am so impressed by our team and of what we have achieved in setting new records. It was a fantastic event that I hope will become an annual one.”

Michael Silfverberg (left) posed with teammate Nigel Hook (right) and Powerboat P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwalla following the team’s successful Gateway Marathon Ocean Cup record run (click image to enlarge).

Local promoter Jamie Rose—the managing director of OBS Marine, which is the Mercury Marine distributor for Grand Bahama—also is hoping that the Ocean Cup event can be staged annually.

“It’s been a great experience,” Rose said. “It’s wonderful to see the passion and commitment shown by everyone involved. We always intended this year’s event to be a stepping stone toward inviting a number of teams to compete head-to-head in 2020 in the race to Grand Bahama.”

Powerboat P1 again joined the SilverHook team to promote the Bahamas event, and its CEO, Azam Rangoonwala, was thrilled with the outcome.

“It’s tremendous working with Nigel and his outstanding team who keep alive the true spirit of powerboat racing and add real value to the sport,” Rangoonwala said. “The Ocean Cup concept revives historic races and record attempts, and Nigel is awakening interest in these special achievements and creating ‘new history.’ I know he is already thinking about what will be next in 2020. More immediately, his attention will focus on the next round of the APBA Offshore Championship Series in Sarasota, Fla., next month where the Lucas Oil-sponsored boat will be competing in the Class 1 category.”

UIM Commissioner Jean-Marie Van Lancker was present over the two days and said that the two timing machines were sent to the APBA in Jacksonville, Fla., to be checked before the two-way run can be confirmed as new world records. Confirmation is expected within the next 24 hours.

SilverHook Team Sets Another Offshore Record

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