High-Speed Boating in Lake George: A Family Affair
Four Boats in Recent Performance Demos Featured Fathers and Sons – and One Daughter
No fewer than five entrants in the 5th Annual Performance Weekend boat display in Lake George Village contained crews of parents and their off-spring. Apparently high-performance boating has turned into a family affair.
Jeff Jacobs and his two sons, Eric and Michael
The May 16 demonstration in Lake George Village drew a variety of hot-boats from near and far. And, it drew a variety of crew members as well. This type of off-shore boat requires at least two persons to compete. It takes a driver, a throttle man (and sometimes a navigator) to pilot these missiles around the race course.
The father/son team of Jason and Johnny Saris, winners of two consecutive World Championships in 2013 and 2014, brought their 32-foot Cobra to the demonstration. They were joined by the father/ son team of Ken and EJ Salamone. EJ, 18, was named the Off-shore Powerboat Association’s (OPA) 2014 Rookie of the Year.
Jeff Jacobs and his two sons, Eric, 21 and Michael, 15 blasted around the course in their 24-foot Switzer. The Jacobs family competes in the OPA circuit as well.
Ken and EJ Salamone
John Landry, 73, from Ontario, Canada utilizes his 22-year-old grandson Kyle as the driver in his 42-foot Fountain. Landry’s craft is capable of speeds of at least 125 mph.
Most notable of the parent/child combination were Jimmy DeNooyer, Jr. as throttle man and his 16-year-old daughter, Lindsey, piloting “Killer Bee”, a 24-Skater catamaran powered by twin 240 hp Mercury outboards. Jimmy DeNooyer was the 1988 American Power Boat Association’s National Champion in the outboard division.
DeNooyer said he eventually sold the boat and got married. “Fifteen years later I bought it back,” he said. “That was in 2008. I thought it would be fun to get the back and put it on Lake George,” he said. Lindsey said she started piloting the boat about three years ago. “She’s fearless,” her father said. “100 miles per hour is OK with me,” Lindsey added.
There were seven boats in the first heat including “Killer Bee”. After completing five laps around the tri-oval course Lindsey steered the boat back to the dock. “That was my first time running with other boats,” she said. I was a little nervous because of all of the other people on the course.” Lindsey said she would feel more confident during the second heat. “It was fun and definitely worth all the practice,” she said with a smile. “The best part is to be out there racing with Dad at my side.”
