Catalina race awaits Follmer

LONG BEACH -- Mike Follmer, who resides in Newport Beach, won’t

waste his time with petty necessities, or even the important ones in

the ninth annual Long Beach-2-Catalina & Back personal watercraft

race Aug. 24.

Follmer plans to race against a field over 100 boats, which will

start from Long Beach Harbor, then across the channel to Catalina

Island, and then back on one tank of gas. Follmer, who has earned

five championship titles in the BP Motorsports Off-Shore Endurance

Series last year, has raced through the 46-mile round-trip course on

one tank of fuel before, and he’s prepared to do it again.

“We have done everything possible to extend the fuel mileage of

the boat so that I don’t have to spend the precious minutes in

Catalina refueling,” said Follmer, who will compete for the ninth

time in the race that’s popular among PWC racers. “The competition at

the top level of the Off-Shore Endurance Series is so keen that every

minute means a position won or lost, and to maintain my points lead

in the series and complete the season and capture the No. 1 plate

I’ll need to take full advantage of every point I can get.”

The Long Beach-2-Catalina & Back race will determine the United

States Off-Shore national champion and class champion. The race

starts at 9 a.m. under Queens Way Bridge.