"St. Pete is one of the top venues that we race at, as far as amenities and where everything is located," said Michelle Petro, director of operations, according to St. Pete Catalyst. "We've always liked St. Pete. Boats will thunder across a six-mile course stretching west from the St. Pete Pier into Tampa Bay. "There's going to be a few deciding factors in St. Pete," Petro said. The St. Pete Pier's tip transforms into a VIP zone, serving food and drinks with live race feeds near the finish line.