Spending time on the water is usually about taking it easy. Of course, even the tranquil catboat has been raced. Over Easter long weekend, the normally tranquil waters off Seven Mile Beach will be churned up by some of the most powerful boats ever likely to grace these shores as the Million Dollar Run takes to the water again.

New route
This year, the event will feature a new route along Seven Mile Beach, which promises a spectacular event with easy viewing up and down the length of the beach. Those doing a bit of Easter camping will not have to worry about bringing along entertainment, as the event will bring it right to them.
 
The event will take place from 1 to 5 April, with the new course promising to be every bit as challenging as the former course in the North Sound.

Different competitions
It is expected that between 20 and 25 boats will compete for one of the many competitions that will be contested on the day.
 
The prizes will include the hotly contested best time prize, which will be awarded in the Offshore and Circuit classes. There will also be a prize for the Outlaw class, which is awarded to boats under 500 horsepower.
 
Some of the less traditional competitions include the best crew, which is always hotly contested with crews putting a lot of effort into preparing their look for the day. There is also an award for the best boat.
 
However, the big one is the best hand prize. Before and after the race, teams draw cards for a poker hand, with the top hand taking home a healthy cash prize. This year, the event will also feature Jet Ski and catamaran races after the main event, opening it up to a wider range of competitors.

Building a legacy
The race always sees a high calibre of captains participating and returning to the event year after year.
 
The defending champions are Andreas Ugland Jr. and throttle man Phillip Ratcliffe of Ugland Offshore Racing. However, defending the title will be no cakewalk, as competitors start planning their title assaults well in advance and often arrive on the start line with a surprise or two up their sleeves.   WH

For more information on registration, log on to www.mdr.ky or contact Jade Whitelaw at Monster Media on 345 949 8423.