Drawing teams from as far away as New Zealand and with all the races actually able to be completed on schedule, this year’s Owensboro HydroFair was deemed a success by local officials.
Last year’s HydroFair had its fair share of challenges after heavy rains led to the Ohio River being filled with debris. That in turn led to little racing for spectators to enjoy.
This year, though, better weather made for both good racing conditions and a relatively enjoyable viewing experience by everyone spread along the riverfront.
Tim Ross, Director of Public Events for the City of Owensboro, said local officials and race organizers were excited with the event this year because the teams were actually able to race both days.
“Mother nature gave us quite a few challenges last year, but this year the weather was perfect and we were able to complete all of the racing on schedule with some great racing action from some of the best boat teams in the industry,” Ross said.
While the week leading up to the HydroFair featured clear skies, Ross said they took additional steps to make sure the river was clear of anything that could cause delays.
“We had extra measures in place this year in case debris on the river was an issue,” he said. “Thank goodness it was not a major issue this year, but we were ready for it in case it was.”
Teams competed on Saturday for the Grand Prix APBA Summer National Championship, while Sunday’s races were for the APBA North American Championship Races.
Those events drew teams from across the United States, plus a couple from Canada and one from New Zealand.
Mark Calitri, President of Visit Owensboro, reported a positive economic impact from the event.
“Hotels reported strong occupancies and Ken Bosley at Moonlite described a big uptick in business,” Calitri said. “We are an events town and in order to keep generating an economic impact, we must keep hosting more events and expanding our current events.”
Ross said the teams gave positive feedback about their time in Owensboro, something he’s always glad to hear because it can help bring future events to the city.
“We were excited to have three international teams competing in the races this year,” Ross said. “All of them had rave reviews for our riverfront and the hospitality they received while they were in town. All of the race teams complimented our community and the organization of these races. Hosting events like this does have an impact on future events.”
Ross couldn’t confirm whether or not the HydroFair will return next year.
Ross said, “With all of our events, we evaluate them on a year-to-year basis and discuss it with the City Commission as we plan things out for the future.”
