Spectacular racing in New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championships

by Bob Wonders on 26 Jan 2009
A race-long battle between two Skaters in the Superboat Class in the opening round of the Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboat championships could have ended in tragedy, but fortunately for all involved Cure Kids, with Tony Coleman and Chris Hanley aboard, came down right side up.

The two Skaters, the other one being Fairview Windows and Doors piloted by Scott and Warren Lewis, were at each other from the starter's gun before the Lewis boys went on to take the chequered flag.

The two boats had been neck and neck throughout the race, no quarter asked and none given.

Raced over a 100-mile (160 kilometres) course on Lake Taupo, spectators were treated to some spectacular racing, none more so than when Cure Kids went 'sky high' and came frighteningly close to flipping just two laps from home.

NZ Offshore Powerboat Association spokesman Greg Brinck said Tony Coleman was right on the ball in saving Cure Kids from ending upside down.

'It was close,' he said, 'the battle for the lead had been intense and the end result could have gone either way.

'For Scott and Warren Lewis, it’s a case of well done and congratulations on a first up victory,' he added.
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Competing against the Superboats in their class, but in the smaller Superboat Lite, Sam Fillmore and Cary Gleeson aboard ‘Doosan’ showed their skill and class with a resounding third outright.

The Superboat Lite entries Rayglass (Kelly and Grant Smith) and Barracuda Kayaks (Gordon Robinson and Andrew Macbeth) claimed fourth and fifth in the class.

In the 60-miler (96.5kilometres) for the smaller classes (Super 60, Classic, Sports 60 and Formula Honda), that man Greg Brinck, the association’s spokesman, showed he’s not just a talker.

Greg teamed with Auckland colleague Eldon Archer aboard Konica Minolta and was able to take second place after a power steering failure caused plenty of drama.

Konica Minolta held a nearly race-long lead until the steering let go and allowed Mark Diggleman Car Sales (Mark Diggleman and Grant Rowe aboard) to pass and take the chequered flag.

However, with Diggleman entered in the full 2009 championship, Brinck holds the overall lead in the 60-mil class.

Expresso Engineers (Mike Gerbic at the wheel) came in second from Simon Freeman at the wheel of Auckland District Collections #1 with Mike Knight bringing home the first Formula Honda boat to finish (Building Solutions).

Championship points after round one are:

Superboat and Superboat Lite classes:

‘Fairview Windows and Doors’ (Scott Lewis) 475 points
‘Cure Kids’ (Tony Coleman) 375
‘Doosan’ (Sam Fillmore) 300
'Rayglass’ (Kelly Smith) 244
‘Barracuda Kayaks’ (Gordon Robinson) 202.

Championship points for Super 60, Classic, Sports 60 Restricted, Sports 60 and Formula Honda are;

‘Konica Minolta’ (Greg Brinck) 475 points
‘Expresso Engineers’ (Mike Gerbic) 375
‘Auckland District Collections #1’ (Simon Freeman) 300
‘Building Solutions’ (Mike Knight) 244
‘Back to Bay6’ (Glen Powell) 170.

The crews now concentrate on preparing the boats for the second round scheduled for Gulf Harbour, at the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula over the weekend of February 14-15.

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