In an exclusive interview with PRW Rankin shared his plans for the UIM Class 1 World Championships and announced that following a successful meeting with The Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism & Transport of the Cayman Islands they are all set to host a round of the World Championship in September 2023 based at the world famous Seven Mile Beach corridor.

As a kid I lived my dreams through the pages of books at the book stand in the supermarket. Now I am at the heels of one of my dreams and in full control of its reality representing the Cayman Islands at one of the largest offshore power boat racing events in the world with some of the fastest boats on the planet.

Rankin’s love with powerboat racing came about through his friendship with Andreas Ove Ugland, the 64-year-old Norwegian shipping magnate and investment banker whose offshore racing exploits won him both the Beaverbrook and Needles trophies in a phenomenally successful career.

When Ugland retired from international racing he brought that passion to Cayman when he founded the ‘Million Dollar Poker Run,’ an event that Rankin actually won the last time it took place. Two years ago, Ugland died after a short illness, two days before his 65th birthday.

Although an extremely rich man, worth hundreds of millions, he contributed immensely to local charities and worthy causes. He was a patron of various charities and institutions in Cayman, including the National Gallery. He was also well renowned as a classic car collector, and creator of the Cayman Motor Museum in West Bay. Outside the museum sits a Buzzi built Pro Vee hull that was raced by Christian Zaborowski.

Just recently Uglands wife Natalie introduced Rankin to the Zabo Racing Team owner Jan Zaborowski, Christian’s father, who was looking sell his team along with the ex-Fazza boat from Dubai’s Victory Team that had been running in the colours of Zabo Racing.

Rankin together with Jason Butcher purchased the team. Butcher did not hesitate at the opportunity to invest in a boat racing team that would allow him the opportunity of placing the Cayman Islands on the sports tourism stage. Rankin spoke about future plans that they have for the team.

We chose to call the new team 345 Racing as it’s a cornerstone brand in the Cayman and for the 2023 season it will become a two-boat team competing at the world championships. We are now planning to train local drivers to race the boat. I have spoken to our driver Miles Jennings, and he has agreed to help teach them and literally get them up to speed.

When Powerboat P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala spoke about the prospect of racing in the Cayman Islands he said,

The opportunity to race internationally is extremely attractive to Powerboat P1. The heritage of UIM Class 1 is truly global and it has always been our intention to look further afield whilst maintaining a strong presence in the USA.

Round Two of the 2022 UIM Class 1 Offshore World Championships takes place at the P1 Offshore Sarasota Grand Prix over the July 4 weekend celebrations.

Although the water at Sarasota looks calmer, there are often holes, or variations on the seabed, which create voids on the surface. These can cause unexpected flights or hits, so are difficult for drivers to anticipate. Compared to Cocoa Beach, Sarasota is a more technical course.

Cocoa Beach was long and narrow, running up and down the beach, with two 180 degree turns. Whilst Sarasota will have varying degrees of right turns and a leftward dogleg on the backward stretch.

The event, presented by Visit Sarasota County, will kick off on Friday 1 July with the traditional downtown block party giving fans the opportunity to meet the teams and see the boats up-close on Gulfstream Avenue from 6:00-10:00pm (local time). Attendees can enjoy live music and drinks and interact with the drivers in front of their race boats.

Virginia J. Haley, President of Visit Sarasota County said,

Sarasota is the second longest-running US powerboat race and for decades, the races have been a unique summer event that appeals to both locals and visitors. We recognise and thank the Powerboat P1 team for the thorough planning alongside multiple Sarasota entities, ranging from environmental groups to law enforcement, to make this event safe and enjoyable for all.

Racing will begin at Lido Beach on Saturday 2 July with P1 AquaX personal watercraft racing at 8:00am, followed by P1 Offshore powerboat testing from 10:30am-1:30pm. P1 AquaX will stage its second race before the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship teams compete for Pole position from 3:30-4:30pm (local time).

When Cole McGowan, Powerboat P1’s Director of Communications spoke to PRW he recognised that Sarasota’s longest running event generates millions of dollars in economic impact for the community annually.

As a Sarasota native, I realise the historic value this event brings to the community. We value the heritage and prestige of this event and are aiming to add new experiences for fans. This is going to be a standout year for powerboat racing in Sarasota with one of the largest fleets of race boats in recent years. I’m excited for fellow locals to experience everything that the Grand Prix weekend has to offer.

Sunday will feature a full day of racing with P1 AquaX, P1 Offshore and the high-speed Class 1 boats all in action. There will be a new P1 Village fan zone at the Lido Beach along with P1’s VIP hospitality suite, offering a catered lunch, open bar, lounge seating and televisions to enhance the race viewing experience.

Azam Rangoonwala, CEO of Powerboat P1 added

Sarasota is our biggest race of the year and we’re thrilled to be returning with Visit Sarasota County as our presenting partner. We have a powerful platform through our international television broadcasting to highlight this beautiful quintessential white-sand beach getaway to the world, and we want to encourage everyone to experience it.

The new partnership brings together two of Pratt’s great loves – business and powerboats – in a deal that sees Good Boy Vodka become the Official Vodka of P1 Offshore powerboat racing.

Pratt describes vodka as,

The liquor we gravitate to when we want something light, clean, and easy.

Pratt continued by saying

We are excited to be partnering with P1 as we grow our brand across the nation. I founded the business with a mission to support animal charities and Veterans, and our slogan ‘Every pour helps a pup’ means a portion of the proceeds from every bottle purchased is donated to foundations supporting those causes.

 

I’ve been involved with motorsports for many years and this season I joined the 345 Racing powerboat team, sponsored by XINSURANCE, to compete in the UIM Class 1 World Championship, so this sponsorship is an ideal marriage.

 

He explained that Good Boy Vodka delivers an exceptional smoothness and distinctive taste because it starts with a blend of California’s finest corn and is then six times distilled and carbon filtered.

It will make its first appearance at the P1 Offshore Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix presented by Visit Sarasota when it will be available at the ‘meet and greet’ event on Friday evening and in the P1 Village across the weekend. It will also feature at the P1 Offshore St. Petersburg Powerboat Grand Prix in September.

Powerboat P1 CEO, Azam Rangoonwala commented,

Partnerships are at the heart of our business, and we are looking forward to welcoming the Good Boy Vodka team to our two P1 Offshore events in Florida. We will be working closely with Alex to help him meet his business objectives and we wish him success in his new Class 1 racing career.

Good Boy Vodka and Powerboat P1 will cross-promote on all social and digital platforms, and the sponsorship will provide Good Boy Vodka with significant branding opportunities at the race events.

Pratt, who splits time between his hometown of Clearwater on Florida’s Gulf Coast and Southwest Michigan, is preparing for the national launch of ‘The John Daly Cocktail’ created through an exclusive partnership with the famous professional golfer.

Daly’s favourite mix of lemonade, iced tea and Good Boy Vodka will be available in a ready-to-drink cocktail for race fans to enjoy at the P1 Offshore Grand Prix events, where the brand’s new Seltzer and cocktail flavours will also be highlighted.