Superboat ‘Fairview Windows & Doors’ has taken the second 100-mile win of the 2009 Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboats Championship in fine conditions at Maraetai, south-east of Auckland, while ‘Konica Minolta’ scored its first outright race win in the 60-mile.

With long-time powerboat driving star Ted Taiatini returning after a ten-year absence with co-owner Warren Lewis on the throttles, ‘Fairview’ won a relatively incident free 100-mile race. ‘Cure Kids’ with Tony Coleman and Chris Handley were second from ‘A1 Homes’, called ‘Fairview’ last year with Scott Lewis and

Murray Tuffin at the controls.

In the 60-mile race, ‘Konica Minolta’, with Greg Brinck and Eldon Archer in charge, finished ahead of ‘Expresso Engineers’ with Mike Gerbic and Haydn Mearns, and ‘Eliminator’ driven by John Purchase and David Roderique.

New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association spokesperson Greg Brinck said there was good close racing in all classes.

“We had to delay the races from Saturday’s original scheduled date to Sunday due to weather conditions, so it was great that Sunday’s conditions were excellent for racing,” said Brinck.

“It was a beautiful day at Maraetai and a big, enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the action. With just a light chop on the water’s surface from the light north-easterly, there were basically no dramas for any competitors

With the offshore powerboats heading for their third race of the season in Napier just a week after Maraetai, ‘Fairview’ now has 950 points in the 100-mile championship compared to ‘Cure Kids with 750 points and ‘Doosan’, in the superboat lite class, with 544 points. In the 60-mile championship, ‘Konica Minolta’ has 950 points compared to ‘Expresso Engineers’ with 750 points with ‘Building Solutions’ on 446.

The Napier offshore powerboat event sees the crews set up camp for the day at the Napier Marina Complex. The two races start at 1:00pm and depending on conditions, the race is normally completed within one to one-and-a-half hours.

The Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboat Championship continues in Wellington on 21 March, Whitianga on 4 April, Whangarei on 18 April and ends on Auckland Harbour on 2 May.

ENDS/

100-mile championship points (Classes: Superboats, Superboats Lite)

Boat, Driver, Points
Fairview Windows & Doors, Ted Taitini, 950

Cure Kids, Tony Coleman, 750

Doosan, Sam Fillmore, 544

Rayglass, Kelly Smith, 446

A1 Homes, Scott Lewis, 300

60-mile championship points (Classes: Super 60, Classic Class, Sports 60 Restricted, Sports 60, Formula Honda)

Boat, Drive, Points

Konica Minolta, Greg Brinck, 950

Expresso Engineers, Mike Gerbic, 750

Building Solutions, Mike Knight, 446

Auckland District Collections #2, Mike Urquhart, 372

Auckland District Collections #1, Simon Freeman, 300

Number 80, Mike Cameron, 300

CRD Automotive, Colin Dunn, 261

Back to Bay6, Glen Powell, 252

Outlaw, Derek Walden, 244

Electropar, James Taylor, 243

Honda Marine, Phil Haynes, 233

Ray Haslers, Brent Oldfield, 233

Morrell Motors, Logan Morrell, 225

Jackety Jack, Darien Walker, 0

Round 3, Maraetai

Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboat Championship

OVERALL CLASS RESULTS