Team Bermuda raised eyebrows after unveiling a new number on the side of their boat during the World’s Fastest Boat Parade in Key West, Florida, on Sunday.

The newly crowned 2026 Super Stock National Championship champions had competed with the No 25 on their 32ft twin-engined Doug Wright catamaran since becoming involved on the professional powerboat racing scene in the United Sates.

However, they will now sport the No 1 for the 45th Key West World Championship this week and also for next season, as is customary for class champions at this level.

While the acknowledgement is a privilege for any team, the decision to uphold tradition was not an easy one to make for boat owner and throttle man Steven Bridges for sentimental reasons.

“It’s a difficult decision as the No 25 is a tribute to Steven’s niece, Amber, so it holds a very special meaning and represents her memory,” Lorraine Bridges, the wife of Steven, told The Royal Gazette.

“On the other hand, No 1 represents an incredibly successful season after years of hard work, dedication and determination. With so much significance behind both numbers, it certainly wasn’t an easy decision to make.

“We will always be S25. But for Key West and next season we will run S1.”

Amber Bridges, 16, died in a road crash in 2021.

Her mother, Heidi Michelsen, has since established the charity Amber’s Wings, which provides therapy for suffering people through meaningful interactions with animals and nature to foster confidence, emotional healing, resilience and personal growth.

Team Bermuda clinched a maiden Super Stock National Championship title in Clearwater, Florida last month.

As for Sunday’s parade, Bridges said: “The parade was a great event and we appreciate the people of Key West who come out to support the event and the Race World Offshore for organising.

Also flying Bermuda's flag during the parade was team Nuff Said comprised of driver Luis Martins and throttle man Nick Imprescia.

“The parade went off great. It's always a great parade with lots of people coming out to see the boats,” Martins said.

The parade officially kicked off the Key West World Championship in which Bermuda's representatives are hoping to cap a highly successful year.

The pair find themselves among the contenders in their class having finished first and second in the Super Stock National Championship series this year.

Team Bermuda won the championship in dominant fashion after winning four of the seven-race series and stood on the podium in every race, while Nuff Said also enjoyed a successful campaign in which they won two races.

Having already stamped their authority this year after winning six races between them and with morale soaring in their respective camps, both teams now hope to continue their sparkling form this week.

Martins and American colleague Imprescia are gunning for a second straight podium finish at the championship after finishing runner-up last year.

Selley and Bridges produced their best showing after finishing fourth at last year’s event. The pair were third heading into the final race, a point ahead of Martins and Imprescia, after securing their best finish when third in the penultimate race.

Team Nautical Ventures are the defending Key West World Championship Super Stock class champions.

Racing will take place tomorrow, Friday and Sunday at Truman Waterfront Park.