Don Aronow Memorial

Marathon Around Long Island

1963

Donald Joel Aronow (March 3, 1927 – February 3, 1987) was an American de-signer, builder and racer of the famous Magnum Marine, Cigarette, Donzi, and Formula speed boats. He built speedboats for the His Imperial Majesty Shah of Iran, Charles Keating, Robert Vesco, Malcolm Forbes, and George H. W. Bush. President Lyndon Johnson - in retirement - owned several 16 ft. Donzi speedboats on his Texas ranch with which he would race his Secret Service agents. Having made his money in the construction business in New Jersey in the late 1950s, Aronow moved to Miami in 1961 where he began racing boats for a hobby. By the end of 1962, he had formed the Formula Marine boat company which he then sold and in 1964 he started Donzi Marine. In 1966, he founded Magnum Ma-rine with Elton Cary and, in 1970, after campaigning his boat "The Cigarette" around the world and winning the World Championship, he started Cigarette Rac-ing Team using his own designs. Having sold Cigarette for the last time (after having sold it and purchasing it back in the late 1970s), he formed USA Racing Team and built the Blue Thunders, 39-foot catamarans used by the United States Customs Service to patrol U.S. waters and run down illegal offshore activities. Aronow's close friend at the time, Vice President George Bush, was a former Cigarette owner.

The great speed of Cigarette boats made them very popular. Aronow's boats won over 350 offshore races and he was a two-time world champion and three-time U.S. champion. He has been elected to every powerboating Hall of Fame in existence and he and Gar Wood were the only two Americans to have ever re-ceived the UIM Gold Medal of Honor.

We will travel North-East from Buoy #27 to the twin forks of eastern Long Island, past Orient Point, around Montauk Point, into the Atlantic Ocean, past Brooklyn, through New York Harbor, keeping Governors Island and Manhattan to port, up the East River and then run back into Long Island Sound to the finish, Buoy #27. We will then return to LaMottas Restaurant for the Award Celebration.

National Powerboat Association events take place in high traffic water. Being a good sportsman, practicing safe boating and keeping your eyes open are as important as maintenance, good fuel and wearing your PFD for an exciting day on the water.

NPBA Executive Director

Offshore races were originally run from Miami to Bimini and back; Marathon Key to Key West, and in the northeast, the Around Long Island Marathon. The races could be anywhere from 150 to 500 miles in length,

…enduring to say the least.

Records for the Around Long Island Race date back to 1959 when Jim Lacy won the event in a 17’ Hunter with a 70 HP Mercury Outboard, averaging 34.2 mph. It took him 8 hours and 30 minutes to complete the run.

A founder of Mercury, Fred Kiekhaefer, won this event with Bill Sirois in 1968 with a 31 Bertram powered by twin 475 HP Mercruisers in 3 hours and 59 minutes.

Stu Hayim attempted solo three times and finally completed it in 1989, in 3 hours and 6 minutes with a 32 Skater Cat Hull powered by twin 650 HP Eickerts and Merc #6 Speedmasters.

So it’s 2010 and 6 teams enter, 4 make it to the start, 1 makes it to the finish line. The glory goes to Joe DeFusco in his 30 Sonic with Twin 310 HP PCM small-blocks and Merc

Alpha SS outdrives at 6 hours and 15 minutes for the 271 mile course.

Due to super preparation and navigation, Captain Joe DeFusco, Navigator Jonathan Tobin, and ,“on-board” veteran racer, Charlie McCarthy marched on through a level Long Island Sound chop, the choppier “Orient Pt to Montauk Pt” stretch, and the “Oh-gee” swells and waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

Then the steering broke…they ported for 30+ minutes…fixed the steering and topped up fluid levels and off they went, back into the Atlantic Ocean.

After few hours they were back at Buoy #27 off of Port Washington in Long Island Sound…from where they had started some 6 hours and 15 minutes earlier.

The 2010 Race

Event host Guy Lamotta in his 53 Magnum, “Dry Martini”, lead the contestants from Manhasset Bay to the start at buoy #27 at 31 knots.

Then Johnny O’Loughlin took the lead in his 48 Outerlimits Cat, “Justice”, w/1075 HP Mercs, running out in front of Tommy Abraham’s 27 Cigarette/Squadron XII with an 800 HP and No.6 out-drive. Then came the 30 Sonic of Joe DeFusco with small-blocks and Merc Alphas, but then the British Team of Dean Gibbs in ”Going Lean” came rolling through the pack. He got his new Quad-engine Fiat Diesel powered 52 Outerlimits “hooked-up”.

Somewhere around Port Jefferson the “Bilge-Gremlins from Hell” were waiting and down went Johnny ‘O’ with a fuel pump problem and Tommy soon realized the seas were too big for his 27 Cigarette at 90MPH. So, then the ‘gremlins’ chased down Dean Gibbs and took a bite out of his chain inside of the ‘drop-down box’, from the engine to the driveline.

Now here comes Joe and crew in the Sonic, just out of sight because they are on a straight track from buoy #27 to Orient Point. The other racers, closer to Long Island’s north shore, can not be seen, so Joe does not find out until later, during his breakdown and repair session in the Atlantic Ocean, when Charlie re-ceives a phone call from Rich Luhrs informing him that they are in the lead…that if they finish …they WIN.

2011 Don Aronow Marathon

Around Long Island RaceRECAP

Sept 25, 2011

A new record has been set for a speedboat to circumnavigate Long Island…3 hours and 5 minutes, set Sunday, Sept 25, 2011 by Joe Cibellis and Joe Sgro. They did the 271 mile course non-stop in a 43' Outerlimits powerboat powered by trim 725 HP Ilmor engines.

This is the comeback of the event that Don Aronow pioneered back in the early 60’s. After a move to the Jersey Shore in 1970, the event went dormant. It was resurrected last year by the National Powerboat Association in affiliation with the Historic Offshore Raceboat Association, Manhasset Bay Marina and Don’s son, Michael Aronow.

The previous champion and record holder for this feat was Stu Hayim, of Ferrari of Long Island fame, with Adam Levy, who did it in 3 hours and 6 minutes in 1989 in his 32’ Skater with twin 650 HP Eickert engines.

After attempting and failing twice, Joe was able to finish it on his third try and establish a new record by beating the 1968 record of Bill Sirois and Fred Kiekhaefer who completed the course in 3 hours and 59 minutes in a 32’ Bertram with 475 HP Mercruisers for power. The Entrants and their results:

19’ Monza/Donzi with 351 Homan and Moody power; Brian Zellner and Lon Price from Virginia took the start and madeit to Hempstead Bay before the ignition box failed, leaving them with NO-Spark. They were safely towed in.

30’ Sonic SS with 350 Chevies, and last year’s winner, Connecticut’s Joe DeFusco with his son, ran their race and made it tothe Atlantic Ocean off of Montauk and lost an outdrive. They came home on the trailer.

42’ Outerlimits with 1075 HP’s from Brick, NJ, with Dr. Gabe Jasper and Rolf Papke at the helm, diced for the lead atover 100 mph, but lost ‘boost’ when a tensioner bracket broke causing the belt to fail. They continued on at 60 mph with one motor, until a universal vibration sent them to the trailer at Jones Beach.

38’ Fountain Center Console Sport Fish, “Road Runner” with quad Mercury 300 HP Outboards, with Norm Sa-lem from Stamford, CT and crew Bob Kolenberg, Jim Troy and Dan Pickering from ThinkFast Films, who broke the old Out-board Record of 5 hours and 22 minutes by completing the course in 4 hours and 15 minutes This boat is also the record holder of the fastest center-console at 87+ MPH. She is a DUAL TITLE Holder.

25’ Active Thunder with a 500 HP, captained by Chris Philindas of Riverhead NY, and crewed by the ‘Phantom BronxRace Team’. They ran very hard and held third place until Orient Point, where they suffered engine issues and ended up trailering down the Long Island Expressway with a few crewmembers riding in the boat…they only got pulled over by the Police once!

43’ Outerlimits with Ilmor 725 HPs, Joe Cibellis and Joe Sgro from New York…what more can be said…theycompleted the course in RECORD TIME: 3 Hours and 5 minutes. Awards went to Guy Lamotta for his continued support of Offshore Racing, Brian Zellner for the ‘Spirit of the NPBA” , Norm Salem for the New Outboard Record Holder for Around Long Island, and to Joe Cibellis and Joe Sgro for the new RE-CORD TIME AROUND LONG ISLAND.

‘One Off ’ Challengers

September 24, 2010 At 7:05 am, from Gong Buoy #15 on the Long Island Sound, Tommy Abraham headed toward New York City at over 100 miles per hour in his 36 MTI Cat with Jimmy Mac of Falcon Marine on the throttles. Just off the Jones Beach Inlet…just 67 miles and 46 minutes into the challenge, a connection proved weak.

On September 19, 2013 Matt Gordon & Ed Dawson attempted the run in a Hustler 377 Talon Catamaran. Conditions proved too rough. Matthew Gordon is the owner of multiple business’ including “Graduation Source” and Avanti Systems.

This 271 mile course has been a challenge to nautical sportsmen since it’s inception in 1959, when Jim Lacey made the run in 8 hours and 30

minutes piloting a 17’ Hunter with a 70 HP Mercury outboard.

The challenge to establish the record continues to be a major bucket list item for thrill seeking gentlemen of the sport.

Attaining the prestige of establishing a Record Run Around Long Island ranks

high for aggressive boaters and attracts attention throughout the world.

This is a true test of Man & Machine vs. The Elements.

Thomas Abraham, of Abraham Development Group, designs and builds homes of supreme quality, reliability and style.

Don Aronow Memorial Marathon Race Around Long Island

Buoy #27

Don Aronow Memorial Marathon Around Long Island

Don Aronow Memorial Marathon Around Long Island

Don Aronow Memorial Marathon Around Long Island

Ver: DAMMR15_v4

NATIONAL POWERBOAT ASSOCIATION Marathon Around Long Island 2015 Don Aronow Memorial Entry Form August 22, 2015

Fill out this form and send it with check to: N.P.B.A., 30 Morgan Ave., Greenwich, CT 06831 Tel/Fax: (203) 532-1312

Name

Street Address

City, State Zip

Phone Fax

Age (You MUST be 18+ yrs old) Email

How did you find out about the event?

Make of Boat L.O.A. Year

Name of Boat: Color:

Registration No. No. ofEngines

Hull Material HomePort:

Engine Make Horsepower

Cubic Inches Outdrive:

Exhaust System Ratio: Props:

Size & Pitch Cruise Speed Top Speed

Event: Entry Fee is for one (1) boat and includes dockage, 2 tickets for Friday nightparty, 2 tickets for Saturday Awards Party, GPS Tracking App, Driver’s Goody Bag and 2 event T-shirts. Entry before March 1 is $800., before May 1 is $900., before June 1 is $1,000, before July 1 is $1,100., before August 1 is $1,200., $1,500 thereafter.** $

# in CREW _______________ ~ALL Crew must be NPBA Members~

@ $25. per person $

Extra Party tickets # of Tickets _______________________ @ $50. ea $

Insurance Co.

Total Enclosed

$

Policy No. Signature

** There is a $150. surcharge for all day of event entries Date:

RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEEMNITY AGREEMENT

FOR REGATTAS

MARATHON AROUND LONG ISLAND Description and Location of Scheduled Event Date Release Signed:

IN CONSIDERATION of being permitted to compete, officiate, observe, work for, or participate in any way in the EVENT or being permitted to enter for any purpose any RESTRICTED AREA (defined as any area requiring special authorization, credentials, or permission to enter or any area to which admission by the general public is restricted or prohibited). EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED, for himself, his personal representatives, heirs and next of kin:

1. Acknowledges, agrees and represents that he has or will immediately upon entering any of such RESTRICTED AREAS,and will continuously thereafter, inspect the RESTRICTED AREAS which he enters and he further agrees and warrants that, if at any time, he is in or about RESTRICTED AREAS and he feels anything to be unsafe, he will immediately advise the officials of such and will leave the RESTRICTED AREAS and/or refuse to participate further in the EVENT.

2. HEREBY RELEASES, WAIVES, DISCHARGES AND COVENANTS NOT TO SUE the promoter, participants,racing associations, sanctioning organizations or any subdivision thereof, officials, boat owners, drivers, crews, rescue personnel, any persons in any RESTRICTED AREA, promoters sponsors, advertisers, owners and lessees of premises used to conduct the EVENT, premises and event inspectors, surveyors, underwriters, consultants and other who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the premises or EVENT and each of them, their directors, officers, agents and employees, all for the purposes herein referred to as “Releasees,” FROM ALL LIABILITY TO THE UNDERSIGNED, his personal representatives, assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL LOSS OR DAMAGE, AND ANY CLAIM OR DEMANDS THEREFORE ON ACCOUNT OF INJURY TO THE PERSON OR PROPERTY OR RESULTING IN DEATH OF THE UNDERSIGNED ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE EVENT, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE.

3. HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND SAVE AND HOLD HARMLESS the Releasees, and each of them FROMANY LOSS, LIABILITY, DAMAGE, OR COST they may incur arising out of or related to the EVENT WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE.

4. HEREBY ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY RISK OF BODILY INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTYDAMAGE arising out of or related to the EVENT whether caused by the NEGLIGENCE OF RELEASEES or otherwise.

5. HEREBY acknowledges that THE ACTIVITIES OF THE EVENT ARE VERY DANGEROUS and involve the risk ofserious injury and/or death and/or property damage. Each of THE UNDERSIGNED also expressly acknowledges that INJURIES RECEIVED MAY BE COMPOUNDED OR INCREASED BY NEGLIGENT RESCUE OPERATIONS OR PROCEDURES OF THE RELEASEES.

6. HEREBY agrees that this Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement extends to allacts of negligence by the Releasees, INCLUDING NEGLIGENT RESCUE OPERATIONS and is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the laws of the Province or State in which the Event is/are conducted and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full force and effect.

INTENDED OPERATING SPEED:_________________ BOAT'S TOP SPEED_____________

I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AN DWAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, FULLY, UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND HAVE SIGNED IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT, ASSURANCE, OR GUARANTEE BEING MADE TO ME AND INTEND BY SIGNATURE TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTEND ALLOWED BY LAW. DRIVER AND THROTTLEMAN AGREE NOT TO CONSUME ALCOHOL NOR TAKE ANY ILLEGAL NOR MIND OR REFLEX ALTERING SUBSTANCES, 6 HOURS BEFORE THE EVENT AND WILL NOT CONSUME EITHER WHILE OPERATING THE BOAT DURING THE EVENT.

PRINT NAME HERE SIGN NAME HERE DUTIES ADDRESS SEX D/O/B

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ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEEMNITY AGREEMENT FOR REGATTAS

PRINT NAME HERE SIGN NAME HERE DUTIES ADDRESS SEX D/O/B

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Entrant Requirements in the “Don Aronow Memorial Marathon Around Long Island”

Each boat must carry the following equipment:

Compass VHF Radio, Channel 16 and Channel 78 operational Kill switches for each engine, and extra caps to restart engines. Drinking water for each crew member. Life jackets for each crew member; leg-straps recommended. Helmets for each crewmember. Radar reflector Visual distress signal/flares Whistle or air horn Anchor and 100’ of line Type 4 throwable device Fire extinguisher for each engine. Fuel tanks properly vented Navigational lights Water jacketed exhaust systems Present proof of Liability insurance in the amount of 1 million dollars.

Recommended: Sea anchor, yellow flag 4 feet by 4 feet, Bilge pumps, one manual, two powerful flashlights, first aid kit, charts as designated by race committee, life raft big enough to hold all crew members, electronic, sea dye markers, tow ring permanently attached to the bow for towing boat if disabled.

All vessels will be at: Manhasset Bay Marina, 10 Matinecock Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050 by Friday before 5PM for inspection and launch. The fleet will leave Saturday morning at 7:30 Am, proceeding to the start line.

Pre-Registration required.

For further info, contact Billy Frenz, Direct E-mail: frenzyyy@optonline.net Tel: 203-532-1312 NATIONAL POWERBOAT ASSOCIATION 30 Morgan Avenue Greenwich, Connecticut 06831 USA

Previous Race Winners:

1959: Jim Lacy 17' HUNTER w/70 HP Merc O/B 8 hrs 30 min avg: 34.2 mph 280 miles 1960: Chuck Mercereau 17' POWER CAT w/2-80 HP Merc O/B's 6 hrs avg: 46.7 mph 280 miles 1961: Sam Griffith 31'Bertram GlASS MOPPIE 2-330 HP Chryslers 6 hrs 22 min avg: 44 mph 280 miles 1962: Jim Wynne 19' Glastron GULFSTREAM 2-100 HP Volvos 6 hrs 2 min avg: 42.9 mph 258.8 miles 1963: Gene Bianco 19' ELTRO 2-100 HP Merc O/B's 5 hrs 26 min avg: 44.2 mph 240 miles 1964: Odell Lewis 25' Bertram MONA LOU 2-310 HP MerCruisers 5 hrs 6 min avg: 48 mph 245 miles 1965: Stanley Humes 20' OWENS 225 HP MerCruiser 7 hrs 45 min avg: 30.2 mph 234 miles 1966: Alan Brown 28' Donzi BROAD JUMPER 2-530HP Holman& Moodys 4 hrs 42 min avg: 53.8 mph 253 miles 1967: Dick Genth 28' Formula THUNDERBIRD IV 450 HP MerCruiser 5 hrs 23 min avg: 47 mph 253 miles 1968: Bill Sirois 31' Bertram SIDEWINDER 2-475 HP MerCruisers 3 hrs 59 min Fred Keikhaefer avg: 63.5 mph 253 miles 1969:Peter Rittmaster 31' Bertram AMERICAN MOPPIE 2-475HP MerCs 4 hrs 33min avg: 48.9 mph 222.5 miles 1989 : Stu Hayim 32' Skater, "RECOVERY" set the record at 3 hrs and 6 min with Joey Impresscia on the throttles 2010 : Joe DeFusco 30' Sonic 30SS "TEAM SONIC" 2-310 small block PCM V8 in 6 hrs 15 min 2011 : Joe Cibellis 43' Outerlimits, crewed by Joe Sgro with Ilmor Power in 3 hrs and 5 min 2012 : Stuart Hayim & John Tomlinson 42' MTI "Recovery" 2h 11m

Accommodations:

ROSLYN CLAREMONT HOTEL 1221 Old Northern Blvd

Roslyn, NY 11756 Tel: 800- 626-9005

HOLIDAY INN - WESTBURY 369 Old Country Road Carle Place, NY 11514

Tel: 516-997-5000

THE GARDEN CITY HOTEL 45 Seventh Street, Garden City

Long Island, NY Local:(516) 747-3000 Free: (877) 549-0400

This Don Aronow Tribute Event isHosted by

~ Manhasset Bay Marina ~Produced by

~ The National Powerboat Association ~Endorsed by

~ H.O.R.B.A. & Michael Aronow ~