Million $ Run moves to Royal Palms

(CNS): The annual ‘Ugland Offshore Racing Million Dollar Run 2011’ will take place this Easter Weekend in Grand Cayman, with a line-up of new events to compliment the glitzy powerboat race. Spectators will be able to enjoy the full race spectacle from the beach in front of Royal Palms on Seven Mile Beach, which will provide this year’s finishing line. Organizers are also introducing the new Million Dollar Run Car & Boat Show in the Royal Palms parking lot. The Show will feature performance boats, personal watercraft, motorcycles and luxury cars, including select show cars from the Cayman Motor Museum, and power boats taking part in this year’s race.

This Million Dollar Run (MDR), which takes place 25 April, Easter Monday, also has a new race class for pleasure craft and a new circuit race designed for the fishermen style and leisure boats, organisers said. Meanwhile, the Thunder Run is a new circuit race for personal watercraft with over US$3000 in cash and prizes available. The Corona Kayak inflatable race is a team challenge for family and friends around buoys set up on the shallow area on beach front.

As well as the new pleasure boat race, the MDR itself will include the circuit class for experienced captains and medium performance boats and the offshore class designed for the most experienced captains and high performance crafts.

The route will include what organisers described as an exciting rolling start from the Marriott Beach Resort area 300 yards offshore. The boats will then blast up the world-famous Seven Mile Beach, heading west towards the Public Beach area and continue to Northwest Point, before making a turn and heading back South towards the Thompson Mooring in George Town, then making another sharp turn before heading back to Royal Palms.

For the Poker Run element of the race “Cards” are chosen randomly before, during and after the race to form a full five-card hand for each captain at the conclusion of the race.

The Million Dollar Run boat race has become known for its high calibre of captains participating and returning to the event. Andres Ugland Sr, of Ugland Offshore Racing, will race in the offshore class, participating for the ninth year. He is a master of his trade and continues to impress the crowds. Since the debut of his team in 1991, Ugland has continued to excel in his craft and win European, National and World titles.

A longtime resident of the Cayman Islands, Andreas is no stranger to the world of racing. As owner of the globally-recognized Ugland Offshore Racing team, he has a reputation for capturing some of the world’s most illustrious off-shore racing titles. The Ugland Offshore Racing name worldwide embodies commitment, technical excellence and, above all, success. The team has captured world, European and national titles, due largely to the uncompromising partnership of Ugland and Norwegian racing legend, Jann Hillestad. The company’s legacy stretches back 20 years in the offshore racing world. Andreas Ugland is chairman of the Queensgate Bank and Trust in the Cayman Islands.

Dale Crighton, a Caymanian entrepreneur, is back to defend his title of Best Time in the Offshore Circuit Class. In 2010 he dominated the water with his 42-foot Fountain “Heavy Metal” and took home the trophy. Dale Crighton is one of Cayman’s most successful young businessmen and manages most of his family’s extensive holdings in the Cayman Islands, which include developments ranging from high-end homes to large-scale residential complexes. Powerboat racing is a passion of Dale’s, and he regularly attends international OSS (Offshore Super Series) and SBI (Super Boat International) races, primarily in North America.

Bob Watler, Caymanian entrepreneur and winner of MDR 2010 ‘Best Hand’ in the poker run, looks to be the man to beat in both the Best Craft and Best Crew category. His flawless 38’ Donzi with just under 1,000 horsepower – entitled Happy Ours II — bagged the Best Craft award in 2006 with its candy paint job. The team returns this year and will race Happy Hours II. They hope with their steady craft and great team spirit to be in the running for a trophy in 2011.

The Captain’s Cocktail Reception at the Grand Old House is at 7pm on Thursday 21 April, is the last chance to register for the MDR and kicks off the race weekend events. The race entry fee is US$800.

For more information on registration, log on to www.mdr.ky or contact Christina Hefner at Monster Media on 345-949-8423 or email events@paramountmedia.ky.

Organisers say they are also seeking local Caymanians and residents who own antique and show cars who would like to have their cars on display as well.