Unlimited Hydroplanes points leader posts fastest qualifying time on Mission Bay

Points leader Andrew Tate and the U-91 slightly strengthened their bid for the Unlimited Hydroplane season championship Friday by posting the fastest qualifying lap on Mission Bay for Sunday’s season finale.

Tate turned a lap at 163.666 mph on the 2.5-mile Bill Muncey Memorial Course between Fiesta Island and East Vacation Isle on east Mission Bay.

All five Unlimiteds posted qualifying speeds.

Ten-time national champ and nine-time San Diego champion Dave Villwock posted the second-fastest qualifying speed of 161.783 mph to emerge as the top threat to Tate. Following were teammates Corey Peabody and J. Michael Kelly. Defending San Diego champion Peabody qualified the U-9 with a fast lap at 160.702 mph. Kelly put the U-8 in the field at 159.591 mph.

The No. 5 qualifier was Jamie Nilsen in the U-11 at 148.233 mph.

All five boats still have a shot at the 2025 season title going into Saturday’s three heats. There will be two more heats Sunday with the five-lap championship race at 3:40 p.m. Saturday’s three-lap heats are scheduled for 9:50 a.m., 12:55 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Tate and the U-91 go into Saturday with 4,175 points. Kelly and the U-8 are second at 3,711 with Peabody and the U-9 third just two points behind. Villwock and the U-27 is fourth at 3,434 and Nilsen and the U-11 is fifth at 3,327.

But the winner of each heat earns 400 points with a maximum or 2,000 points available for the weekend. Each heat is scheduled to go with four of the five entrants.

There was also qualifying Friday for the Grand Prix support class with two veterans of Unlimited racing leading the time trials. Jeff Bernard turned the fastest lap at 138.985 mph followed by Jerry Hopp (125.918). No. 3 was Kevin Eacret (121.139).