Biloxi welcomes back the finest in Offfshore races. Smokin the Sound returns the first week in April.

Biloxi and the Gulf Coast has hosted the Smokin the Sound races since 2004 missing only the 2006 races while repairing and rebuilding from Katrina.  April 1 & 2, 2008 racers will be coming in to town and getting ready.  Viewing areas are located all along Highway 90, Beach Blvd. Smokin the Sound is also offering VIP packages that will allow you to go to special functions including pre/after parties where some of the racers and owners will be.  Host Casinos and Hotels such as the Hard Rock Casino, The Isle of Capri and The Beau Rivage all offer amazing views with no binoculars needed.  Looking at the race course map it makes a loop in the front sound between Biloxi and Deer Island,  the Oblong course looks to go just a little west of Porter Ave all the way down to Just a little past the Eastern Tip of Biloxi and circling back.

Here's some Info Straight from the Official Smokin the Sound website on Viewing and Wristbands.
Premium Viewing Areas

• Race Village located just east of the Isle of Capri on Hwy. 90. At Race Village you can view boats up-close out of the water and meet drivers along with big-name boating vendors.

• Beau Rivage (Pool Deck Area) This viewing area is an up-close exciting view of the course and the west-end turn.

• Hard Rock Casino (Top of Parking Garage)
This view is the heart of the race course. See the boats fly by at top speed.

• Schooner Pier (North side of building)
See all the action up-close with a great view of the exciting straightaway.

• Isle of Capri Casino (South of Hwy 90 Top of Parking
Garage) Great view of course with up-close view of east-end turn.

By purchasing a wristband you have the luxury of getting into all premium viewing areas and Race Village from Thursday, April 3 - Sunday, April 6! Public beach will have very limited view of the race.

Wristband Prices:
• $10 wristband will be honored from Thursday, April 3 through Sunday, April 6 at the gates of all premium viewing areas and at Race Village.

• Children under 12 get in free, accompanied by an adult
Wristbands can be purchased at the Bancorp South Gulfport, Peoples Bank Biloxi or at the gates.

The Events Schedule from the Official Site are :

Tuesday, April 1 & Wednesday, April 2
• Race teams arrive.

Thursday, April 3

• 10 a.m. ��" 6 p.m., Race Village Open
• 7 p.m. ��" 9 p.m., Sponsor-VIP Race Team Party. Meet the
Race Teams at Beau Rivage in the “Coast” Nightclub
with the band “No Idea” starting at 10 p.m.

Friday, April 4

• 9 a.m. ��" 6 p.m., Race Village Open
• 7 p.m. ��" 9 p.m., Meet the Race Teams at the Hard Rock
Center Bar. Live entertainment begins in the Hard Rock
Cafe at 10 p.m.

Saturday, April 5 Race Day Tune Up

(Wristbands required for the following activities)
• 10 a.m. ��" 6 p.m., Race Village Open
• 10 a.m., All premium viewing areas open.
Race activities start.
• 11 a.m. ��" 5 p.m., Qualifying Run on Official
Race Course.
• 7 p.m. ��" 9 p.m., Meet the Race Teams at the IP in the
Quench Rooftop Lounge.
• Watch the race teams develop their winning strategies
for Sunday’s race.

Sunday, April 6   Race Day

(Wristbands required for premium viewing areas)
• 10 a.m., All premium viewing area gates open.
• Tune into a play-by-play account of the race on 100.5
FM, featuring our own disc-jockey KOTO (King of the
Oldies a.k.a. Doug Geiser) as official announcer with
OSS announcer Martin Sanborn.
• 11 a.m. ��" 5 p.m., Smokin' The Sound races.
All 9 classes of boats. (OSS CAT Extreme, OSS CAT,
OSS VEE, OSS VEE Lite, OSS VEE Extreme, OSS CAT
Outboards, OSS Cat Lite, OSS Turbine Extreme and
OSS Supercharged CAT)
• 6:30 p.m., Awards ceremony at the Isle of Capri
including recognition of 3rd Annual Randy Linebach
Lighthouse Team Sportsmanship Award.

You can see the map of the race course at http://www.smokinthesound.com/Map.html

So put on the first layer of sunscreen this week, pack a cooler grab the family and head out to watch First Class Off Shower Power Boat Racing right here on our Mississippi Gulf Coast.