High-speed racing at Waipu Cove Thundercats

Going 100km in about 90 minutes isn't travelling that fast - but what about when it's on the water?

Northlanders will get to experience the thrill of high-speed ocean racing this weekend when the Thundercats return to Waipu after a 100km race from Takapuna to Waipu on Saturday.

The Thundercat Racing Association is holding a 100km endurance race for the powerful crafts, starting at Takapuna Beach about 11am. About 90 minutes later the winner will cross the finish line just off Waipu, after a high-speed journey up the coast.

Thundercat racing is a high-adrenalin, high-action sport with explosive wave jumping and tight competitive surf racing in a tunnel-hulled inflatable boat. The crews consists of a driver steering the boat and a co-pilot who uses his weight to stabilise the craft and obtain optimum speed.

Thundercats have taken New Zealand by storm, entertaining thousands of spectators at some of the most popular beaches around the country such as Whangamata, Waihi, Waipu, Papamoa, Pauanui, Orewa, Takapuna Beach, Piha and Mount Maunganui.

Saturday's endurance race will see about 14 boats passing through Tiri Channel, around Kawau Island then up past Leigh, Pakiri and Mangawhai before finishing at Waipu Cove on the beach just north of the surf club.

This is followed on Sunday by the surf-cross event at Waipu starting at 11am where the Thundercats will strut their stuff, and carry out some gravity-defying moves.

Rides will be offered to the public for a nominal fee, if conditions permit.

Thundercat racing is run at surf beaches which provide spectacular jumps, thrills and spills with boats reaching 80km/h in the surf.

Surf-cross races start with a "Le-mans" style start where the driver dashes out into knee-deep water to the co-pilot holding the boat. The teams then battle it out over several laps on a rectangular course running parallel to the shoreline in as little as 300mm of water.

The finish is dramatic as boats skid up the beach for co-pilots to leap out of their boats and run to the finish line.

For more information visit www.thundercatracing.co.nz.