One of the biggest-ever crowds enjoyed fantastic on-water action from watching the Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboat Championship competitors on the first day of Whitianga’s Festival of Speed.

Creating a sight unseen so far this season, five superboats lined up for the 100-mile race with ‘Sleepyhead’ with Auckland’s Wayne Carson and Whangaparaoa’s Craig Archer at the controls and ‘Profloors’ piloted by Aucklanders Wayne Valder and Richard Shores joining class regulars ‘Fairview Windows & Doors’, ‘Cure Kids’ and ‘A1 Homes’.

The forecast five knots of wind blew up to 20 to 25 knots said Rayglass New Zealand offshore powerboat series commentator Jamie McCarthy. “With a two metre swell, the course was choppy close inshore and the guys said it was pretty lumpy further out in the bay creating very challenging conditions for all competitors,” commented McCarthy.

Ted Taiatini, from Rotorua, and Warren Lewis, from Auckland, in ‘Fairview’ were declared the winner of the 100-mile race, but “...only after a lengthy protest meeting regarding an on-the-water incident between the two top-placed superboats. From the start, the order was ‘Fairview’, ‘Cure Kids’ and ‘Sleepyhead’, said McCarthy. “Next lap ‘Cure Kids’ had the lead, then ‘Fairview’ was leading as they came around to complete the third lap. On the fourth lap, ‘Sleepyhead’ regrettably retired with an exhaust manifold problem, which left ‘Profloors’ holding third, but then some kind of incident took place between ‘Fairview’ and ‘Cure Kids’. But then ‘Fairview dominated the race to cross the line at the head of the field.”

Despite having so many entrants – as well as the five superboats, three superboat lite class entrants contested the Whitianga round, namely ‘Rayglass’, ‘Doosan’ and ‘Barracuda Kayaks’ – just three boats finished.

“After the demise of ‘Sleepyhead’, ‘Profloor’ raced faultlessly until the very last lap when it overheated and had to retire. This gave third place in the race to ‘A1 Homes’,” said McCarthy. “And things were equally heartbreaking in the superboat lite class. Defending class champion and current class leader ‘Rayglass’ had a major incident offshore – the boat ‘submarined’ which blew out the canopy of co-driver Grant Smith. Daughter Kelly, who drives the boat, continued racing, but first lost one engine and then the gearbox on the second engine failed. Everyone’s okay but what a day for the ‘Rayglass’ crew! ‘Doosan’ had to retire with an engine mount vibration and ‘Barracuda Kayaks’ also was unable to finish the 100-miler.”

The 60-mile championship race involved three classes of craft – super 60, classic and Formula Honda – and was almost as dramatic as the 100-miler.

Current 60-mile championship leaders Greg Brinck and Eldon Archer in ‘Konica Minolta’ didn’t even get to start the race. Brinck explains: “Going out to the start, we caught a wave awkwardly and the boat broached. We were really lucky it wasn’t worse, but we nearly lost our new Evinrude engine off the back and I’ve ended up with two broken ribs.”

Aucklander Mike Cameron with Wellington’s Duncan Field co-driving took the classic class boat ‘Holsam’ to a strong victory in the 60-miler.

“‘Holsam’ had super 60 boat ‘Expresso Engineers’ and Formula Honda ‘Building Solutions’ hot on their transom for the first two laps,” said McCarthy. “But then the big boat built up a good lead to take the win.”

Formula Honda boats ‘Auckland District Collections #2’, driven by Whangaparaoa’s Mike Urquhart and Shannon Thickpenny, and ‘Electropar’, driven by Aucklanders James Taylor and Regan Micklewright wrapped up the top five in the 60-miler.

Championship points are still being confirmed following the 100-mile race protest.

The Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboat Championship heads to a new venue based at the Marsden Cove Marina outside Whangarei on 18 April and then the final round on 2 May which will now be held at Gulf Harbour, recently changed from the Auckland Harbour venue.

ENDS

Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboat Championship - Round 6, Whitianga

100-mile race result (provisional)

Ted Taiatini (Rotorua)/Warren Lewis (Auckland) ‘Fairview Windows & Doors’ 1, Tony Coleman (Auckland)/Chris Handley (Mt Maunganui) ‘Cure Kids’ 2, Scott Lewis (Auckland)/Murray Tuffin (Auckland) ‘A1 Homes’ 3

60-mile race result

Mike Cameron (Auckland)/Dennis Vivash (Auckland) ‘Holsam’ 1, Mike Gerbic (Auckland)/Haydn Mearns (Auckland) ‘Express Engineers’ 2, Mike Knight (Auckland)/Shannon Thickpenny (Auckland) ‘Buildings Solutions’ 3, Mike Urquhart (Whangaparaoa)/Darren Woods (Whangaparaoa) ‘Auckland District Collections #2’ 4, James Taylor (Auckland)/Regan Micklewright (Auckland) ‘Electropar’ 5

Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboat Championships

Round 6, Whitianga (participating in the Festival of Speed)

OVERALL RESULTS

CLASS RESULTS