It’s June and that can only mean one thing - time for Jet Around Cayman again. This will be the 14th edition of the event, put together by Monster Media and LIME.
 
The event will take place on Monday 14 June, a public holiday, and promises to have Seven Mile Beach buzzing with excitement.
 
This round the Island Jet Ski race challenges man and machine alike, and in order to make the competition more accessible, the organisers have expanded the event to include six classes this year. From the new Pro class through to Rookie class, every participant will be able to find just the right level.
 
The Pro class is for the advanced racers only, but offers more challenging competition and an attractive prize purse.
 
The Open division is open to all participants no classed as Pro or Expert under international regulations. The Rookie class is for those participating in their first yet around Cayman, with all rookies required to ride a stock craft. The new Amateur class is for those who have participated in the event before but do not feel up to the tough competition in the Open class. The Female class is an area where the organisers would like to see more growth as well, with participation increasing as the event has grown. The Veteran class is open to participants 35 and over.
The deadline for registration in all classes is 9 June.
 
Last year the field of 37 participants was led home by Pro rider Eric Francis in a time of 1:30:13. This time around, organisers are expecting an even bigger turnout, especially due to the increased prize purse.
 
The Cayman Islands Watercraft Association is also on board to oversee safety at the event.
 
According to Kenny Rankin, managing director of Monster Media, the organisers aim to make the event bigger and better each year.
 
“It was wonderful to see such a large number of participants riding in 2009 and we hope to see them return this year again,” he said.
 
“We always aim to make it an exciting race for everyone involved and the introduction of the new classes this year does this, and we always keep safety as our main focus.”
 
The race day excitement kicks off at 12pm with racers setting off at 1pm. As the racers make their way around the Island, the spectators remaining on the beach will have more than enough to keep them entertained, from an appearance by the Jet Around Cayman calendar girls to entertainment from Vibe 98.9 FM DJ’s. Food and drink will be available all day on the beach. For families looking to spend a day at the event there is also a Kids’ Zone with a range of games for kids to participate in while the event takes place.   WH

For more information on the event, visit jac.com.ky