The 17th annual Clearwater Offshore Nationals landed $125,000 in county tourism funding.

Pinellas County commissioners unanimously approved the grant for the Xinsurance Clearwater Offshore Nationals at their Aug. 25 meeting, according to county commission records. Commissioner Kathleen Peters made the motion, and Vice Chair Chris Latvala seconded it.

Event Funding Program Hits Record $3.37 Million Across 47 Events

The money is part of a record $3.37 million that Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is investing in 47 events this year through its Elite Event Funding Program, St. Pete Catalyst reported. Both the dollar total and the number of events are highs for the program, which started more than a decade ago backing a small group of established attractions like the Grand Prix and Valspar Championship.

Tourist Tax Collections Surging Countywide

The funding comes from Pinellas County's Tourist Development Tax, the 6% levy on short-term lodging such as hotels and vacation rentals. Collections have been surging. The county brought in about $8.6 million in June alone, nearly 15% more than the same month a year earlier, and gross collections through June totaled nearly $79.8 million.

Brian Lowack, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, told St. Pete Catalyst that festivals and events have grown from roughly 5% of visitors' reasons for coming to Pinellas to about 12% over the past two years, based on visitor surveys.

"This is not just the grant," Lowack told St. Pete Catalyst. "This is money to go towards advertising and marketing your event and growing it."

The program defines a tourist as someone who lives more than 20 miles from the event. Awards can reach $250,000. Events that fail to deliver projected attendance can be dropped.

Race Set for Sept. 25-27 With Record Fleet Expected

As we reported Sept. 2, the Offshore Nationals is set for Sept. 25-27 at Clearwater Beach with more than 90 raceboats expected to compete. The event is projected to draw 14,375 attendees, including 11,136 tourists.

Race World Offshore President Larry Bleil said in a Sept. 1 news release, "More than 90 raceboats tells you exactly what this beach means to offshore racing. Two championships are on the line in the same weekend."

Two Championship Series Converge for Weekend of Racing

The event hosts both the APBA National Championship Series and the UIM Xinsurance World Championship Tour. Racing runs Saturday, with the first green flag at 11 a.m. and final checkered flag at 4:15 p.m., and Sunday, from 10:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Spectating is free. The racecourse runs parallel to the shoreline from Pier 60 north for two and a half miles, and fans can also watch from boats anchored along the course perimeter.

For the first time, a one-hour television special will air on ESPN in the first quarter of 2027, putting offshore powerboat racing back on the network after 23 years.

Upcoming:

• Clearwater Offshore Nationals: Sept. 25-27, Clearwater Beach. Racing Saturday and Sunday. Free to watch from the beach or by boat. Dry pits at Sand Key Park.