Former world powerboat champion Warwick Lupton blames himself for the biggest crash of his career and a chance at the national title at Lake Dunstan in Cromwell at the weekend.
The Waverley farmer was still in one piece after a spectacular 300km/h crash on Anzac Day and admitted he was a lucky man.
"I missed the start by 300m and was last but making up ground every lap when it happened," he said. "I was pulling in Raymond (race leader Raymond Hart in The Boss) pretty quickly and actually passed him like he was standing still when I eased my foot off the gas.
"I should have altered the wing set-up, but just didn't have time at that speed. Easing off gives lift to the front of the boat.
"I'd just passed him when I flipped and went end over end in the air before crashing back into the water. The stern hit first and literally snapped the boat in two. I'm a bit sore, but the boat is well set up to handle these sorts of crashes."