Selley & Bridges To Race In Key West
[Written by Stephen Wright]
David Selley and Steven Bridges will face the “best of the best” when the Bermudian pair debut at the Race World Offshore Key West Championships in Florida.
Competing in the Super Stock class, they get their campaign underway today [November 11] after stormy weather forced the opening race to be cancelled on November 9th.
Driver Selley and throttle-man Bridges are racing aboard Team Bermuda, a 32-foot twin-engined Doug Wright-designed catamaran.
They will look to build on their impressive display at the Baystar Clearwater Offshore Nationals in Clearwater, Florida, in September, where they finished fourth in their class.
Selley, 32, said it was an ambition fulfilled to test themselves at the prestigious annual championships, which finish on Sunday.
“Coming from Bermuda, I never thought this could be possible,” Selley told Bernews.
“We’ve been coming here for a few years as spectators. We used to sleep in the car just to watch the races!”
“It seemed so far out of reach. You almost have to pinch yourself, but it’s real; it is happening. We need to stay focused.”
Describing the championships as a “war of attrition”, Selley stressed the importance of consistency in the three-race championships, truncated into tomorrow and Sunday’s final day, where points count for double.
“It feels like a week of Around the Island Power Boat Races!” added Selley, who revealed the pair hope to compete in the American Power Boat Association P1 Offshore Series next year.
“You’re facing a battle with your equipment too. You can be as fast as you want, but if you roll your boat over in the first race, you’ve created loads of work and stress.
“Points accumulate over the three races, so a DNF [Did Not Finish] will end your hopes of a decent overall finish.
“Consistency is our motto. Hopefully, we can slowly improve throughout the championships. To be at the start line on Sunday is the goal.”
At 53, Bridges, the owner of Team Bermuda, is the more experienced of the pair, having raced powerboats on the island for more than three decades.
Despite his vast knowledge, Bridges admits the championships represent a steep learning curve.
“We’re looking to learn as much we can; that’s the main thing for us,” Bridges said. “We haven’t had much time in the boat, so we’re still learning about it and [racing with] each other.
“Corners are a big thing. These guys take the corners fast and hard, and that’s something we’re learning too.”
*Sponsoring the team are G.L. Construction, Port O’Call Restaurant, Mailboxes Unlimited, Grotto Bay Beach Resort, Bermuda Blueprinting, Maxcem Bermuda, and Selley’s Marine.
