World jet boat races coming to St. Maries, Cd'A River

If you feel the need for speed, the USA World Championship Marathon Jet Boat Races just may be your ticket this weekend and next week.

Jet boats, which can reach speeds of 150 mph, will be on the St. Joe River Saturday and Sunday and on the Coeur d'Alene River Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thirty-six teams from the United States, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico will compete. The races are free and spectators are asked to stay at least 50 feet from the edge of the rivers.

"It's a great family event, so pack a cooler, bring lawn chairs and head up to the rivers to watch fast boats," said Shirley Ackerman, president of the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce and the race director. "The races allow us to showcase our beautiful area and provide economic opportunities for our communities. And they're a lot of fun."

The 25-mile course on the St. Joe runs from about 2 miles outside St. Maries to Calder. The 30-mile course on the Coeur d'Alene River runs from Cataldo to Harrison.

Racing starts at 10 a.m. on all of the days. Final start times are at 4 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday and at noon Sunday and Wednesday.

There will be a show and shine featuring the boats tonight on Main Street in St. Maries from 6 to 8 p.m.

Portable restrooms will be set up along both courses.

"We ask that everybody be mindful of private property," Ackerman said, adding that there are public access points along both courses to view the racing. "If you pack it in, pack it out because we want to keep our recreational areas nice."

The boats will not race side by side and will start at various intervals. The sections of both rivers will be closed to other boat traffic during racing.

The races on the Coeur d'Alene River were permitted despite environmental concerns the activity could disturb mining waste sediment.

The Environmental Protection Agency will monitor the water quality during the races to determine whether to recommend if racing should be held on the river in the future. The agency has no current data pointing to whether or not such boating activity would stir up sediment as this is the first year of the races on the river.

"I applaud the community members for bringing the issue before us," Ackerman said. "We don't believe there will be any more impact than everyday boat traffic, but don't have enough knowledge to say one way or another."

There will be stationary safety boats along the courses, and if anyone would like to volunteer in such capacity, they are urged to call Ackerman at (208) 596-1103.

"They'd have front-row seats," she said.

Jet boat races have been held on the St. Joe River for the past four years. This is the second time the Joe has been chosen as the first leg of the world championship event. The world marathon is held every four years.

When the world event was held in St. Maries four years ago there were 17 teams that competed, so this year's number more than doubled that.

"I'm extremely pleased with the turnout," Ackerman said.

The field has a local flavor, as the team of Ross Schlotthauer and Chad Yackel, who won the USA titles in 2014 and 2015, will be competing.

The marathon event will continue in Lewiston May 27-29.

"The race teams from around the world rave about the area and it's nice to welcome them back," Ackerman said.