Saturday Delivers Action as H1 Heats Build Toward Sunday’s Prestigious Gold Cup Final
Tri-Cities, WA — The Columbia River came alive on Saturday as H1 Unlimited teams battled it out on day two of the 2025 Tri-Cities Water Follies, building momentum toward Sunday’s highly anticipated 115th running of the APBA Gold Cup.
The day began with morning testing sessions before transitioning into four afternoon heats packed with fierce competition and fan-favorite moments.
Heat 1A results:
1. Corey Peabody U-9 Beacon Plumbing
2. Andrew Tate U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate
3. Dave Villwock U-27 Miss Apollo
4. J. Michael Kelly U-8 Beacon Electric
Heat 1B results:
1. Jamie Nilsen U-11 FLAV-R-PAC
2. Gunnar O’Farrell U-21 Spirit of America
3. Jeff Bernard U-12 Graham Trucking
Heat 2A results:
1. Corey Peabody U-9 Beacon Plumbing
2. Jamie Nilsen U-11 Flav-R-Pac
3. Jeff Bernard U-12 Graham Trucking
4. Dave Villwock U-27 Miss Apollo
Heat 2B results:
1. J. Michael Kelly U-8 Beacon Electric
2. Andrew Tate U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate
3. Gunnar O’Farrell U-21 Spirit of America
Among the most thrilling moments of the day was Heat 2A, where Jamie Nilsen in the U-11 FLAV-R-PAC battled relentlessly to hold off his challengers. “They just wouldn’t let me breathe,” Nilsen said after stepping off the dock. “They were on me the whole time—it made for one hell of a race.”
The weekend has also marked an excellent start for Strong Racing, with both Corey Peabody (U-9 Beacon Plumbing )and J. Michael Kelly (U-8 Beacon Electric) each scoring heat wins. For Peabody, who is defending his Gold Cup title, Sunday represents much more than a race. “It’s the one you dream about. We’re putting everything together to hopefully celebrate tomorrow night,” he shared.
Over at the U-21 Spirit of America, Gunnar O’Farrell expressed a sense of renewal following his return to racing on the Columbia River, the same waterway where he suffered a blowover during May testing. “I feel relieved and back on track,” O’Farrell said after Heat 2B. “Today was about finding rhythm and rebuilding confidence.”
Sunday July 27
Tomorrow’s action is heating up with two thrilling sets of preliminary heats before the grand finale.
In Heat 3A, fans will witness a stacked lineup featuring the U-8 Beacon Electric (J. Michael Kelly), U-11 FLAV-R-PAC (Jamie Nilsen), U-9 Beacon Plumbing (Corey Peabody), and U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate (Andrew Tate). Meanwhile, Heat 3B will bring the intensity with the U-27 Miss Apollo (Dave Villwock), U-12 Graham Trucking (Jeff Bernard), and U-21 Spirit of America (Gunnar O’Farrell). The day will conclude with the much-anticipated Gold Cup final, featuring 5 boats on the front line plus 1 trailer.
The stage is set for one of the most prestigious days in hydroplane racing. Fans are invited to witness history as H1 Unlimited crowns the next Gold Cup Champion in front of a roaring Tri-Cities crowd.
Saturday Delivers Action as H1 Heats Build Toward Sunday’s Prestigious Gold Cup Final
Tri-Cities, WA — The Columbia River came alive on Saturday as H1 Unlimited teams battled it out on day two of the 2025 Tri-Cities Water Follies, building momentum toward Sunday’s highly anticipated 115th running of the APBA Gold Cup.
The day began with morning testing sessions before transitioning into four afternoon heats packed with fierce competition and fan-favorite moments.
Heat 1A results:
1. Corey Peabody U-9 Beacon Plumbing
2. Andrew Tate U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate
3. Dave Villwock U-27 Miss Apollo
4. J. Michael Kelly U-8 Beacon Electric
Heat 1B results:
1. Jamie Nilsen U-11 FLAV-R-PAC
2. Gunnar O’Farrell U-21 Spirit of America
3. Jeff Bernard U-12 Graham Trucking
Heat 2A results:
1. Corey Peabody U-9 Beacon Plumbing
2. Jamie Nilsen U-11 Flav-R-Pac
3. Jeff Bernard U-12 Graham Trucking
4. Dave Villwock U-27 Miss Apollo
Heat 2B results:
1. J. Michael Kelly U-8 Beacon Electric
2. Andrew Tate U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate
3. Gunnar O’Farrell U-21 Spirit of America
Among the most thrilling moments of the day was Heat 2A, where Jamie Nilsen in the U-11 FLAV-R-PAC battled relentlessly to hold off his challengers. “They just wouldn’t let me breathe,” Nilsen said after stepping off the dock. “They were on me the whole time—it made for one hell of a race.”
The weekend has also marked an excellent start for Strong Racing, with both Corey Peabody (U-9 Beacon Plumbing )and J. Michael Kelly (U-8 Beacon Electric) each scoring heat wins. For Peabody, who is defending his Gold Cup title, Sunday represents much more than a race. “It’s the one you dream about. We’re putting everything together to hopefully celebrate tomorrow night,” he shared.
Over at the U-21 Spirit of America, Gunnar O’Farrell expressed a sense of renewal following his return to racing on the Columbia River, the same waterway where he suffered a blowover during May testing. “I feel relieved and back on track,” O’Farrell said after Heat 2B. “Today was about finding rhythm and rebuilding confidence.”
Sunday July 27
Tomorrow’s action is heating up with two thrilling sets of preliminary heats before the grand finale.
In Heat 3A, fans will witness a stacked lineup featuring the U-8 Beacon Electric (J. Michael Kelly), U-11 FLAV-R-PAC (Jamie Nilsen), U-9 Beacon Plumbing (Corey Peabody), and U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate (Andrew Tate). Meanwhile, Heat 3B will bring the intensity with the U-27 Miss Apollo (Dave Villwock), U-12 Graham Trucking (Jeff Bernard), and U-21 Spirit of America (Gunnar O’Farrell). The day will conclude with the much-anticipated Gold Cup final, featuring 5 boats on the front line plus 1 trailer.
The stage is set for one of the most prestigious days in hydroplane racing. Fans are invited to witness history as H1 Unlimited crowns the next Gold Cup Champion in front of a roaring Tri-Cities crowd.