Clearwater Super Boat Offshore National Championship and Festival is this weekend

CLEARWATER — Some people call it NASCAR on the water.

It's an offshore powerboat race, with some drivers hitting speeds of about 180 mph.

This weekend, some of the fastest powerboats in the world will compete during the inaugural Clearwater Super Boat Offshore National Championship and Festival off Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach.

Equipped with F-16 jet canopies, some of the most well-known boats in the sport, including Miss Geico, will battle it out for a $75,000 purse on the 5.3-mile course.

You can watch the action for free from Pier 60 north to the Palm Pavilion restaurant.

Teams will practice noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and race 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

"Bring binoculars,'' said Diane Stein, president of JoTo Extreme PR, which is handling publicity.

Brought to Clearwater by local restaurateur Frank Chivas and former Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst Sr., the event features boats up to 50 feet long that race 200 to 300 yards offshore doing multiple laps around a loop resembling a big paper clip.

Scott Brown, 38, who drives a 29-foot boat called the National Guard/Watt-AHH, said competitors race just a few feet from one another and often fly above the surf.

"Sometimes we end up being out of the water more than in it,'' he said.

One of his competitors, Dee Early, 49, driver of the 30-foot-long Crazy Chicken, said in his class, he'll be going about 85 mph.

"Your adrenalin gets going so fast,'' he said.

Folks who want to see the boats up close might want to visit Race Village from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at Coachman Park. There will be food and drinks. Proceeds benefit charity.

Parking at the beach and Pier 60 during race day will be limited, so the best bet might be to park downtown and head to Coachman Park. The Jolley Trolley will make round trips from the park to Pier 60 on Saturday and Sunday in a continuous loop. The cost is $1.

For information, call the Jolley Trolley at (727) 445-1200 or visit clearwaterjolleytrolley.com.

Another option is to ride one of two 47-passenger buses making round trips between Coachman Park and Pier 60 between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. through the afternoon Sunday. Rides are $1.

Eileen Schulte can be reached at schulte@sptimes.com.