Before sunrise, Haulover Marina in Miami was already alive. Dock lights reflected off polished paint and carbon fibre as crews moved quietly through pre-departure checks, and the first engines turned over in the dark. The MTI Bahamas Run had begun.
The annual gathering brings together owners of MTI centre consoles for a week of open-water crossings, hidden sandbars and island-hopping across the Bahamas, all powered by Mercury Racing engines. This year’s edition drew participants from across the country, with three new MTI boats formally delivered to their owners at the opening event, an unusually rare way to take delivery of a performance boat.
The open-water crossing from Miami sets the tone. Endless shades of turquoise in every direction, the fleet spread wide or running tight depending on the boat and the conditions. At speed across the Florida Straits, the combination of power and hull design makes the passage feel less like a transit and more like a statement.
Once in the Bahamas, the itinerary revolved around remote sandbars, tucked-away coves and shallow water that seemed barely real from the air. One afternoon produced a standout moment: the fleet gathered at a sandbar with oversized swings planted directly in the water, boats floating side by side while owners and crews swam. Sea turtles and sharks added to the occasion on separate days, in conditions clear enough to watch them at close range.
The run ended with a beachside dinner: live DJ, full buffet, the boats quiet at anchor for the last time. MTI has built the event around a balance of performance and downtime that is harder to get right than it looks, and this year’s edition reflected that in full.
Boating Industry Coverage
Read more from our boating industry and performance boat news coverage.
Boating Industry News
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
