Offshore powerboats’ annual pilgrimage to Hawke’s Bay

Recreational boaties and fishers are being warned that the sea off Ahuriri and Westshore will be a no-go zone for three hours during powerboat racing this weekend.

The anti-clockwise triangular course for national offshore powerboat racing extends from north of Westshore to near the Port of Napier entrance.

Only competitor boats and race patrols will be allowed in the area between 2pm and 3.30pm on both days. It is first time there has been two days of racing in the Napier event’s history dating back to the 1970s.

A notice published by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and the harbourmaster says there will be a reserved area for the event and speed restrictions will temporarily be uplifted for powerboats and rescue response crafts that are part of the event.

It will be closed to all unauthorised personnel, and fishing, swimming, or any activity that may interfere with the event is prohibited.

There will be two half-hour races on each day.

New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association president Paul Greenfield said 11 starters had been confirmed with possibly more depending on conditions.

The course for the offshore power boat racing off Westshore and Ahuriri on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Boaties, fishers and swimmers are warned the course will be closed to all-but race boats. Map / Supplied.

Onshore winds and a choppy sea with a light swell are expected, and Greenfield said it should enable boats to reach top speed on the longer stretches of the course.

Boats “mill” near Bay View before heading towards Ahuriri, through a left-hand bend off the entrance to the inner harbour towards Te Karaka (Perfume Point).

Napier scored a coup in being chosen as the base for the first of the races in the series, restricted to three venues as the sport rebuilds after the Covid years and an economic downturn.

Boats in a mainly-Auckland fleet, taking advantage of a three-day break for the Auckland Anniversary weekend, are expected to arrive in Hawke’s Bay on Friday afternoon.

They will be displayed on the Te Karaka reserve, between Perfume Pt and the Hawke’s Bay Sports Fishing Club.

Three Sports 600 class catamarans are lining up, including last year’s winner, Espresso Engineers, driven by Mike Gerbic, and eventual championship winner Colin Dunn in Rainbow Haulage.

Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke’s Bay Today, and has 51 years of journalism experience, 41 of them in Hawke’s Bay, in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues, and personalities.