The 2026 Key West World Championship in Florida marked the start of an exciting new chapter in the racing career of Jermal Woolridge.

Leading by example, the Bermuda Power Boat Association commodore stepped out of his comfort zone to get behind the wheel of a race boat for the very first time.

While the experience was nerve-racking at times, Woolridge is happy to have made the transition, competing alongside Shawn Butterfield for Sarasota-based team Irish Kevin’s in their 22ft Velocity.

“First time driving and when Shawn and I raced back home everyone knows he drives, I run the engine. So to try to keep my wits about me I think was the main thing, not to get overwhelmed,” Woolridge told The Royal Gazette.

“He and I went back to some old fight training, something I used to do that my coach taught me that I teach my guys back home — just breathe and stay calm, regulate and just go out there and do the best that we can do.

“The biggest challenge was definitely turning. Obviously this is a V-bottom and when we guys turn in a Skater it reacts different, so just getting a little more comfortable in the rhythm of the boat is probably the more challenging part to driving that I find now.”

Woolridge and Butterfield endured a baptism of fire on their debut at the event during the second of three races.

“Unfortunately, we had a very bad start. We got pinched, a couple of boats bumped and we almost landed on a boat, so it was a lot of manoeuvring,” Woolridge said.

“Shawn and I were shouting back and forth trying to give each other instructions and advice on where to go through, so the start was probably the most chaotic thing I've been through in a while.”

Butterfield, who has more experience competing at this level, did his best to prepare his cousin for the challenge.

“We put some time in before to get the feel of the boat and just get a handle on what's going on,” he said.

“I just kept trying to put in his head that when we have ten other boats around us it's a different situation and what you know comes into play, but then unethical things come into play too.

“You got boats squeezing us and hitting left to right so you got to either keep the throttles in and try to push through or you back out of it.

“Just having the experience of doing that is better for him to get that feel of getting squeezed and pushed and punched.

“It is what it is and we just have to figure out the best way to get through it and push forward.”

The pair finished fourth in their class and are now exploring the possibility of teaming up again and racing back home in their Skater next year.

“We already started talking earlier this year about putting the Skater back together and looking to race in the 2027 season,” Woolridge said.

“That comes with a different set of challenges obviously as my role as commodore. But Henry Talbot did when he was commodore so it can be done and I’m looking forward to getting back in the Skater and racing with Shawn again.

“I guess now we'll find out if we do different configurations, so that it would be a lot of easier.”

Woolridge found himself in a race before the race to obtain certification to compete in the championship after his flight from Miami was cancelled the night before the driver’s meeting was held.

“Our flight got cancelled so that put me in panic mode because I had to be here for the driver's meeting for 8am and the flight wouldn't get in until 7.30am,” he saidd.

“For me to be able to take the test I had to get here, so I hopped in a cab just to be here on time and make it happen.”