New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association national safety manager John McDonald, recently moved from the Auckland region to take over a motel in Wairoa, said the Red Steel Napier Offshore 100 powerboat race will still go ahead, starting at midday tomorrow.
There were initial worries about whether roads would be open time for the boats to reach Napier, where they are due by late today.
But with that worry eased when the Napier-Taupo road was reopened yesterday afternoon, the decision was made to go ahead.
Mr McDonald said he doesn't expect log to be a problem on the course, in the Westshore-Ahuriri basin.
"Offshore powerboat racing has changed a lot over the years," he said. "In Napier we don't go out past the port any more or north up to Whirinaki, so it's protected a bit from the southeasterlies."
Mr McDonald has been involved in running the races throughout the country since 1982 and said he had been involved in only two cancellations, and one was still able to be rescheduled for the next day.
Land-based weekend events such as tomorrow's Triple Peaks endurance event and the Relay 4 Life are still on, as is the 25th Tremains Triathlon on Sunday.