Metairie’s Bonnabel Boat Launch bustled Thursday as a 20-foot crane hoisted brightly colored speedboats into the waters of Lake Pontchartrain, all in preparation for the first professional powerboat race to skim across the lake’s waters in roughly 20 years.
Powerboat P1, the premier marine motorsport promoter, will host its season opener for the P1 Offshore Triple Crown race series off the shores of Lake Pontchartrain in Metairie this weekend, where the public can watch from the shoreline for free as powerboats and jet skis race against each other at speeds of over 200 mph.
Jefferson Parish Council member Hans Liljeberg said Thursday orgranizers expect about 30,000 attendees at the event, with millions of dollars flowing into the local economy through tourism and “enhanced visibility of Jefferson Parish” to attract future marine racing events…