Clearwater has always promised spectacle, and the 16th Annual XINSURANCE Clearwater Offshore Nationals wasted no time in living up to its billing. With the sun high over Florida’s Gulf coast, Sand Key (the dry pits) packed, and the first waves of autumn swell running into the racecourse, Saturday was a day that tested engines, crews, and nerves alike.
This event is the penultimate stop in Race World Offshore’s 2025 campaign. After the twin challenges of Michigan City and Chicago on Lake Michigan’s unpredictable freshwater rollers, Clearwater marked the southern turn of the season — a gateway to the legendary Key West World Championship still to come in November.
Race World Offshore, based in Key West itself, has built its reputation on producing some of the sport’s most prestigious races. Once aligned with the American Power Boat Association (APBA), RWO struck out independently this year, unifying its own rulebook and sanctioning standards. The goal was a cleaner, racer-focused season where GPS enforcement, improved safety, and sustainable practices set the tone. And if Saturday’s racing was any indication, that independence has given the sport new bite.
GC Racing ends XINSURANCE’s perfect run
For much of 2025, Pro Class 1 looked untouchable. XINSURANCE South — the 45-foot Victory catamaran from Stuart, Florida — had swept Michigan City and Chicago with driver Bill Pyburn and throttleman Brit Lilly keeping their unbeaten streak alive. That all changed in Clearwater.
From pole to chequered flag, GC Racing Marine Technology stamped their authority on Saturday’s race. Their 48-foot MTI, the newest hull in the fleet, paired with driver Willy Cabeza and throttleman Grant Bruggemann, found the rhythm in Clearwater’s long straights and rolling Gulf chop. They not only broke XINSURANCE South’s streak but did so decisively, earning 50 points and 4 bonus points to lead the class standings after Day 1.
Monster Energy/M•CON’s 40-footer held strong in second, leaving XINSURANCE South to settle for third. XINSURANCE North followed in fourth, while Pothole Heroes rounded out the class in fifth. The result is the first real shake-up at the sharp end of Pro Class 1 this season, and it sets up Sunday’s rematch as a must-watch.
Bracket classes deliver tactical precision
While Pro Class 1 grabs headlines, Clearwater’s opening day also showcased the sport’s most tactical divisions. The Bracket classes are capped by GPS-enforced speeds, forcing teams to ride the razor’s edge of precision. Go too fast and you “break out,” too slow and the competition surges ahead.
In Bracket 200, OC Racing put together a clean, measured run to take the win over Team Woody Racing, who slipped five laps back.
Bracket 400 produced some of the day’s tightest action. Simmons Marine held off Perdition Offshore Racing to secure top points, while DrinkNauti.com/FRAMED, XINSURANCE/Hartman, Miss Stress, and Fuel 1 Team fought hard through attrition and penalties. Simmons’ 38-foot Fountain looked settled in the conditions, earning maximum points and bonus.
The Bracket 700 fleet showed both depth and drama. Proven Marine/Fuel 1 Team found the sweet spot, taking the win ahead of Shocker Offshore and Dirt Legal Velocity Factory Team. Clouatre Cartel Racing/Blind River Bar and RedRum battled in mid-fleet, while Safe Cash/XINSURANCE and Pist’n Broke rounded out the order. With boats ranging from 21- to 25-feet, these classes bring a grassroots flavour to RWO events, but the precision driving on show would put any pro to shame.
Other classes wait their turn
Not every division was on the water Saturday. The Super Cats, still buzzing from Dirty Money’s back-to-back wins in Chicago, are set to return Sunday. With Graydel, CR Racing, and Rollin Transport looking to spoil the Stuart, Florida team’s form streak, that battle remains wide open.
Likewise, Super Stock — the fastest-growing class with fleets of near-identical 32-foot cats — will rejoin on Sunday. Hi-Tech Deck, victors in Michigan City, will look to fend off Coco’s Monkey and Raymarine/Big East in what promises to be another frantic, deck-to-deck scrap.
Factory Stock, the newcomer class featuring showroom-trim 38- to 39-foot MTIs, also takes to the water on Sunday. GC Racing has dominated this division so far, and all eyes will be on whether they can match Saturday’s Pro Class 1 triumph with another Factory Stock win.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s action
Clearwater has always been more than just another race on the calendar. Its long, Gulf-facing straights tempt throttlemen to push hard, but the sea state can change quickly, demanding discipline as much as daring. Saturday’s results have already upended the season storyline: GC Racing proved XINSURANCE South can be beaten, Simmons Marine set the pace in Bracket 400, and Proven Marine’s Bracket 700 win showed the strength of Florida’s grassroots fleet.
Sunday promises more of the same, with Factory Stock, Super Cats, and Super Stock joining the bill, and Pro Class 1 lining up for a decisive second race. Beyond Clearwater, the horizon is clear: all roads lead to Key West, where the Florida Straits will decide champions and crown legends.
For now, Clearwater belongs to GC Racing — the team that reminded the offshore world that no streak lasts forever.
