JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WGNO) — Offshore powerboat racing is speeding into Lake Pontchartrain this summer. The race will be the first of its kind in the New Orleans area in almost 20 years.

The skippers competing in the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race dream of winning a top trophy in this challenging offshore race. This year, 10 of them will be women.

The IMOCA Class (International Monohull Open Class Association), a fleet 60-foot offshore racing boats, is designed to compete in some of the toughest ocean races around.

This exciting collaboration pairs Nautical Ventures with Shaun Torrente, a multiple UIM World Champion, XCAT World Champion, and one of the most respected names in offshore powerboat racing.