Hurricane-Hit Sponsors Still Backing Beckley In SBI Key West Worlds

With the primary sponsors of his 30-foot, outboard-engine-powered Skater offshore racing catamaran based in hurricane-battered Houston, Texas, and the Florida Keys, Ryan Beckley was worried that he might not have backing for the upcoming Super Boat International Offshore World Championships in Key West, Fla. But the veteran Superboat Stock-class throttleman, who finished second in national championship point this season, said all of his sponsors are returning to support him and driver Ricky Taylor in the three-race Key West event next month.

Despite the challenges created by a pair of hurricanes, all of Beckley’s Houston- and Key West-based sponsors are returning for the SBI World Championships.

“They’ve actually all been with us before rotating on the boat, but we were concerned because several of our sponsors got hit by huge hurricanes,” said Beckley. “But they’ve all come back with Curry Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, which co-oped their sponsorship with Tropic Air Conditioning and Supply and Supply and Ruud Air Conditioners, as the primary sponsor.

“From Key West, we also have Hy-Tech Solutions, Florida Keys Electric, Five Brothers Grocery and Crisis Management Poker Run Team,” he continued. “And from Houston, Blake Brothers Racing also is back as a sponsor.”

Beckley said he is confident heading into Key West and—barring significant mechanical issues during the SBI season finale—the Offshore Powerboat Association World Championships the following weekend in Englewood Beach, Fla.

“Our boat is running better than it ever has,” said Beckley. “We changed some things, including making some changes on the bottom. Our boat is 10 years old and it’s running better than ever.”

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