No matter the field, racing is a dangerous proposition, but this Wednesday will see Key West attempt to mitigate some of the danger when new regulations for the Key West World Championship powerboat race come into play. Extra precautions accompany the new regulations in an attempt to curb racer fatalities.

Almost a year after three offshore powerboat racers died at the Key West World Championship, the president of the sport's primary U.S. sanctioning body issued a strong message for participants in this year's competition.

"Have an escape plan and make sure we know what that is," said John Carbonell, president of Super Boat International, for those in boats equipped with enclosed, fighter jet-style canopies.

This year's competition begins Wednesday.

During the first of three race days of last year's championship, Robert M. Morgan of Sunrise Beach, Mo., and Jeffrey Tillman of Kaiser, Mo., died when their 46-foot catamaran — Big Thunder Marine — did a reverse flip and violently crashed inside Key West Harbor in front of thousands of fans.

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