Northeast powerboat racers Peter Meyer and Johnny Stanch held onto their Superboat Vee Unlimited class lead at the Key West World Championship offshore powerboat races.

Meyer, of Port Washington, N.Y., and Stanch, of Camden, N.J., piloted Seminole Hard Rock at an average speed of 89.31 mph Friday on the second of three racing days. The finals are set for Sunday.

Sheik Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani, of Qatar, and English throttleman Steve Curtis ran their Spirit of Qatar boat to first place in the Superboat 850 class standings.

Miss Geico, piloted by Marc Granet, of St. Petersburg Beach, and Scott Begovich of Jupiter, won the Turbine class. Their average speed of 112.55 mph was the fastest of the 50-boat fleet.

--- On the Net: Key West World Championship: http://www.superboat.com