(Michigan City, IN) – The weather didn’t cooperate with powerboat racing in Michigan City this weekend, but it wasn’t a complete washout.

 

Rough waters made for some Dukes of Hazard-like racing on Saturday, with four boats going down in the water. Race organizers weren’t about to risk injuries when conditions were even worse Sunday, so they cancelled racing for the day. Waves six to nine feet high posed too great a danger for racers and first responders alike.

 

Jack Arnett, CEO of the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it had to be done. “I was really relieved when they called it,” he said. “If we had tried to race on Sunday, there would have been a chance for injury, and we don’t want to push that at all. It was the right call, not a hard call at all.”

 

Arnett said in 17 years of powerboat racing in Michigan City, this was only the second time that races have been cancelled.

 

Despite some rain, Saturday night’s boat parade went on as planned, and Arnett said there was still a good crowd at the lake Sunday enjoying themselves. “From a local standpoint, we got in a good week of activities,” Arnett said. “A lot of folks visited, there were 80 race teams that visited our community and spent a lot of money, so there’s still an economic impact.”

 

Racers didn’t seem too disappointed and had some thrills while racing lasted.

 

Mike and Sarah Howe operate Howe2Live Racing out of Biddeford, Maine. Despite Sunday’s disappointment, they said Saturday was one of the best days of offshore racing their team has ever had, especially considering a serious mechanical issue which they dealt with earlier in the week.

 

Mike said he nearly got seasick while circling in the choppy waters prior to the race. Sarah, who was filming the action from shore, said all the boats were disappearing in the waves. During the race, Mike said his boat hit a wave and went vertical. Luckily Howe landed flat, but the racer behind him rolled over.

 

According to Howe, super catamaran powerboats don’t flip easily, but on Saturday, they could hardly make a full lap without someone overturning.

 

The Howes were impressed with Michigan City Grand Prix. “This has got to be one of my favorite venues,” Sarah said. “The fans have been awesome, the race organizers have been awesome. All the food and merch trucks that are right here in our pits, all the events that they arranged for us. I mean, really, it was so well done.”

 

“But at the end of the day, Mother Nature is going to do what She’s going to do,” Mike added.