Image Of The Week: Clearwater Flashback

Though the long-gone battles between the Miss GEICO and Spirit of Qatar offshore racing teams were mostly good-natured wars of words that never translated to much on the racecourse, the two boats did occasionally find themselves in the same general area. And just seeing those two magnificent catamarans in close proximity on the water was a treat for fans.

Once up a time in Clearwater, Fla. Photo courtesy/copyright Jay Nichols.

Case in point? The Jay Nichols image above from the 2013 Super Boat International Clearwater National Championships in Southwest Florida. Forget that Miss GEICO was running piston power—it’s turbine engine-equipped cat burned to the waterline during a testing session the year prior—and that Spirit of Qatar (the boat’s real name was Al Adaa’am 96) was running turbine power. None of that mattered.

Because the Miss GEICO and Spirit of Qatar pairing was all about the show. The thinking behind it may have been unrealistic, but at least it was big.

Both teams are out of the offshore racing world, as is the photographer who captured them in the same rare frame eight years ago, in Clearwater.

But they won’t be forgotten.

Catch all the action from this Sunday’s Race World Offshore Clearwater Hooters National Championships this Sunday live on the Race World Offshore Facebook page. The first race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

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