At super speeds, safety comes first: Crews participating in this week's Destin World Cup learn the value of emergency training.

Byline: Randy Dickson

Oct. 31--DESTIN -- Team CRC No. 7, the 2006 Extreme Cat Offshore Super Series world champion, is back in town to defend its world title.

But before boat owner/driver Mike DeFrees and throttleman Jeff Harris could take to the Gulf of Mexico to practice today, they first had to pass a safety test on Tuesday.

Charlie Bass, the OSS medical and safety coordinator, and his emergency rescue crew had set up shop in the pool at Emerald Coast Scuba to prepare racers for the worst-case scenario: a capsized boat.

And while there's no way that Bass and his crew can simulate a crash on the water at more than 100 miles per hour, the walk-through emergency is welcomed by the racers and safety crew alike.