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POWERBOAT RACING

Power Boats to Make a Big Splash in Wellington

Monday 10 March 2008, 12:04PM

By Wellington City Council

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WELLINGTON

Wellington is set to host one of the fastest and most exhilarating water sports events on Saturday 15 March. The Wellington Offshore Power Boat Race will see more than 35 boats complete a high-speed course around Wellington Harbour in round four of the National Championship.


"Power boating is like the water equivalent of Formula 1 racing," says City Council events coordinator Lauren Fantham. "The race will finish in the inner harbour so a perch along Oriental Bay, Point Jerningham or Evans Bay will provide an incredible spectacle."

The race starts at 2.15pm and will run for about 60 minutes. The championship is made up of several classes of boat, all of which start and race together. The larger boats complete 100 miles while the smaller boats run fewer laps and travel around 60 miles.

Boats competing in the 100-mile classes are fully-fledged racing vessels fitted with sophisticated safety features not found on normal family boats. These boats are up to 11 metres in length, produce up to 1200 horsepower and are capable of speeds up to 190 kmh. Boats that compete in the 60 and 30-mile events are more typical of a normal ski and trailer boat.

The Evans Bay Marina car park on Evans Bay Parade will be closed to the public from 10.00am Friday 14 March as large boats arrive from around the country and overseas. The boats will then be craned into the water ready for racing on Saturday. The public are welcome to come and inspect the boats any time Saturday morning. The car park will reopen at 10.00am on Sunday 16 March.