The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Public invited to Powerboat Launch Party
Lagoons Yacht Club hosting event to showcase club, Grand Prix participants
Mentor Lagoons Yacht Club is hosting its second annual Powerboat Launch Party, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 22.
The club — in Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Marina, 8365 Harbor Drive — is directly across from where powerboats are being launched to do test runs for the Super Boat Grand Prix this weekend.
The Grand Prix involves two high-speed offshore competitions at noon and 2 p.m., July 23, at Headlands Beach State Park, 9601 Headlands Road.
“Our vantage point for viewing the boats being craned into the water and launched for their practice is fantastic,” said yacht club member Joe Iafelice. “We will have food, beverages, music, bounce house and slide for the kids, and there will be vendors selling race T-shirts.
“We had the event last year and we had a very good turnout. In fact, some of the race teams actually made their way over to our tent to grab a bite to eat and socialize with the spectators that came out. We anticipate the same thing this year.”
The launch party not only is intended to welcome race teams and spectators, but also to showcase the marina and the yacht club.
“It is really a unique opportunity to see these boats up close and the race teams doing what they do,” he said.
Along with the powerboat races, race day festivities at Headlands Beach include food, a beer garden
and entertainment.
“Thanks to our race sponsor, Skoda Minotti, this year we will have a play-by-play announcer directly on the beach giving race fans a running commentary of the race in real time,” said Event Director Shawn Zbasnik, marketing specialist for event promoter Cleveland Construction. “We will also have a DJ playing music between the races to provide a livelier atmosphere on the beach.”
Admission is free on race day, but parking will be $10 per car to help bridge the funding gap for the Grand Prix.
“It’s a very expensive event to put on,” Zbasnik said.
Passes can be purchased the day of the event at Headlands. Those intending to visit the beach and not watch the race will be directed to another parking area, he said.