What was meant to be a high-speed record attempt at the Desert Storm Shootout in Lake Havasu City turned into a heart-stopping moment on Saturday, when a racing boat – going nearly 200 mph – lost control mid-run, went airborne, and flipped multiple times before crashing back into the water.
The high-performance catamaran, Freedom One, was gunning for a new speed record when strong wind gusts—clocked at around 30 mph—lifted the vessel into the air. Video footage shows the nose of the boat tilting up before the entire craft somersaulted violently and crashed with tremendous force.
Ray Lee, publisher of Speedboat Magazine, was watching from the sidelines.
The accident occurred on a closed and highly monitored course, with safety personnel and rescue divers already in place. Within 20 seconds of the crash, divers were in the water. Two people were onboard at the time of the incident. Miraculously, both survived—thanks in large part to their safety gear.
According to Freedom One Racing tech Ryan Olah, the boat’s design prioritized performance and safety. “We built this boat to be a record breaker pretty much everywhere we go,” Olah said. The Missouri-based team traveled to Arizona to compete in the Desert Storm Shootout, an annual speed competition where boats race solo through a radar-monitored, three-quarter-mile course.
One suffered a broken collarbone and bruised ribs, the other a semi-fractured knee. “They’ve been in great spirits, joking around, a little bit sore and banged up,” Olah said. “The boat can be fixed—it’s just parts and time. We’re just glad nobody had any major injuries.”
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that no further investigation will take place, as the crash occurred during a sanctioned event on a closed course with emergency responders already in place.
As for Freedom One, the boat may be down for repairs, but the spirit of the team remains unshaken.
