However the annual personal watercraft race places a big emphasis on safety. As this year’s meet approaches on Monday 13 June (the Queen’s birthday holiday), focus is on ensuring racers and spectators are out of harm’s way.
The biggest proponent for race security might be Tony Coe, a trainee race director for the Cayman Islands Watercraft Association (the local governing race body which sanctions the event). Coe serves as the head race marshal for Jet Around and served in the same role last year. He states a premium is placed on overall safety.
“My main task is being in consistent communication with other marshals,” Coe said. “As head marshall I also serve as official race starter. My main priority is for the guys to have fun and be safe. I could care less about the results. Safety and security for the guys is key because there is a lot of open water out there.
“Along with the other marshals, I also have to look at the weather good. A little disturbance was over us this week. Though good weather is projected (I’ll know for sure by Sunday night or Monday morning), it will be interesting to see what impact that makes. As I’ve said the duty of a marshall is to ensure safety and security. We’ll be coordinating with the police’s marine unit to make sure the riders and the public are safe.”
To that end a police advisory for the general public is in place. A Royal Cayman Islands Police Service statement reads: “The marine police have been informed about the Jet Around Cayman 2011 race and will be on hand to assist with any problems and enforce marine laws. Riders will obey all marine laws and take into consideration all dive sites. This is a warning for anyone that will be diving outside of the dive areas. The jet skis will be exceeding 60mph.”
This year’s race is slated to start at 1pm on Public Beach on West Bay Road. Action will be split into five classes: Pro-Open, Expert-Open, Amateur, Veteran and Rookie. Riders will jet around Grand Cayman going to West Bay, North Side and East End before finishing back at Public Beach. The race is slated to last at least two hours with three pit stops: Over The Edge Bar (North Side), East End dock and South Sound dock.
Meanwhile the beach boasts loads of activities. There will be a kids’ zone, tent city and Wow balls expo among other things. In addition beach flag football and volleyball tournaments will be organised by the Cayman Islands Flag Football Association and Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation, respectively.
Interestingly Coe states last year’s top local rider will step back from the water and help with officiating.
“George ‘Lulu’ Smith is not racing this year and will be helping me out as a marshal. He has talent both on the water and as a race organizer as he been involved in that way with other races. He will be a big help to me because he has rode in it before, I haven’t. He knows, maybe better than anyone, what to expect.”
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