Powerboating: Race hailed a success

Offshore powerboating could be making a return to Northland after race organisers dubbed it a success.

For the first time in a decade, the New Zealand Offshore Championships raced out of Paihia thanks to the help from the Far North Council and the local Business Association.

With the weekend of powerboating earlier this month designated as a non-points round, there were some surprises in the boat line-ups which was headlined by 2013 Superboat Light Rookie Shannon Chambers driving the Fujitsu Better Heat Skater Superboat alongside regular throttleman Chris Hanley.

The boat wasn't originally going North but owner Tony Coleman offered the ride to Chambers during the week, so the fans in the Far North could see an 1100 horsepower Superboat in action. It would also be Chambers' first time steering a raceboat in race conditions, as he usually throttles his own boat, Total Access.

Another change for Paihia was that two races would be held instead of the usual one for all of the boats. Both would be timed races over 20 minutes and 40 minutes respectively with a half hour break in between.

Chambers and Hanley in Fujitsu Better Heat predictably led away from the start of the first race, in front of one of the biggest boat spectator fleets ever seen at a NZ offshore event, along with the huge numbers of spectators lining the Paihia and Waitangi foreshore.

Along with GJ Gardner Homes, the New Zealand Offshore Powerboating Association would like to thank Port Opua, Opua Marine, Explore NZ, Classic Hits, Design and Print Kerikeri, Radio Sport, Business Paihia, Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands, and Caltex for all of their support in helping put the race together in Paihia.