New single day PWC distance record set

Mike Pagliccia rides Sea-Doo 753 miles in 24 hours

Mike Pagliccia of Naples, Fla. became the latest marine adventurer to set a World Record for distance on a personal watercraft by riding his Sea-Doo watercraft 753-miles (1,211 km) in 24-hours to set the new open-water mark.

Pagliccia follows his 2008 attempt on a Sea-Doo GTI watercraft (624-miles/1004 km) with both efforts raising money for the American Cancer Society. Pagliccia follows Dale Vranckx who set the flat-water distance record in 24-hours at 786-miles (1,265 km) aboard Sea-Doo watercraft in July 2009, and proceeds Eric Lagopoulos in his attempt to break three World Records aboard a iCONTROL equipped Sea-Doo RXT iS watercraft on November 12th.

Pagliccia surpassed the current world record of 714-miles, set by Brett Kettle of Australia, for the longest distance traveled on a personal watercraft in open water within a twenty-four hour period by reaching 753-miles. Pagliccia began his attempt from Wiggins Pass in Naples and negotiated a 30-mile track between Naples and Sanibel Island, Fla., with the attempt continuing into the night with a special executive order from the Florida Wildlife Commission allowing him to ride his PWC at night on a controlled three-mile loop North of the Naples Pier.

Pagliccia credits his success on the four months of physical training he did prior to the event and having a machine that could withstand the 24-hour ride in rough water.

“The Sea-Doo GTX handled the rough water extremely well and with the speed that the watercraft offered, I was able to make up time as soon as the sun started to rise,” says Pagliccia.

Pagliccia raised over $3,000 for the American Cancer Society during the promotion of the event by selling T-Shirts and through local business sponsorships.

“This ride was dedicated to my Mother-In-Law, Freda Slattery who died of cancer on March 7, 2009 and is in tribute to those that continue to battle this terrible disease,” says Pagliccia.

On the heels of Pagliccia’s accomplishment, professional watercraft racer Eric Lagopoulos is planning to break three world records on November 12, 2009; Guinness Book of World Records Day. Lagopoulos has teamed with the legendary Pro Football quarterback Boomer Esiason and the Boomer Esiason Foundation for “Project Dream” to raise money for the research and treatment of children afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis.  Lagopoulos is planning on breaking the records for most miles in a six-hour time frame, fastest time to 1,000 km (625 miles), and most distance on flat water in a 24-hour period.

Lagopoulos plans on achieving his goals piloting an Action Watercraft backed  Sea-Doo RXT iS around a 22-mile loop on the C-54 Canal south of Palm Bay, Fla. The C-54 waterway offers ideal conditions for such an attempt yet Lagopoulos will have to overcome fatigue, Florida wildlife, and count on the dependability of his Sea-Doo watercraft to reach his goals. His biggest goal is to break the 1000-mile mark in the 24-hour time frame.

Lagopoulos is looking for supporters and donors to ensure his cause is a success.

“The Boomer Esiason Foundation helps families with children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis get through their days,” says Lagopoulos. “We take for granted doing normal things like riding a Sea-Doo watercraft for fun, so I am asking for people to contribute fifty-cents, a dime, a penny, anything to every mile I complete so these families can go into the holidays with a little something extra. Help me give them the good life and ensure it gets better.”

To get involved with the effort, please visit FirstGiving.com/ProjectDream.

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Florida man sets single-day distance record