1:08 AM Tue 17 Mar 2009 GMT
An intense battle between Superboats 'Fairview Windows and Doors' and 'Cure Kids' is expected to be a highlight when the Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat championships resume on Saturday (March 21).
'Fairview', driven by Rotorua's Ted Taiatini and Auckland's Warren Lewis leads the 100-mile championship class after three victories.
Nevertheless, 'Cure Kids', Tony Coleman and Chris Handley aboard, have been racing side-by-side all season.
They will be striving for a victory on Wellington Harbour and setting the scene for some exciting competition.
The variable inner Wellington Harbour course has been described as 'challenging' and offers excellent spectator viewing.
'Wellington is one of the best races of the season for spectators,' Cary Gleeson, vice-president of the NZOPA and throttleman aboard 'Doosan', currently holding second spot in Superboat Lite.
'We race right along the foreshore of Oriental Bay, turning at the Point Jerningham lighthouse then down into Evans Bay. 'Huge crowds gather and traffic on Oriental Parade often comes to a standstill,' he added.
Gleeson said conditions on Wellington Harbour can vary from dead flat one year to extremely rough the next.
'Consequently, we never know what we might encounter, which adds to the challenge, as does the ferry wash that occurs during the race,' he said.
The 100-mile championship also features local crew and defending Superboat Lite champion Kelly Smith, with father grant alongside in 'Rayglass'. In the 60-mile class, the Auckland-based crew, Greg Brinck and Eldon Archer have 'Konica Minolta' leading the point score.
'I'm looking forward to the race, as Wellington is my hometown,' Brinck said.
'I have fond and some not so fond, memories of powerboat races I did here with my father back in the seventies, when the course used to run all the way from Evans Bay to Petone. 'With the course's reputation for wind we can generally expect testing conditions. 'Traditionally, we're likely to face a short, sharp chop depending on the tide at the time.
'The last two races here have given us relatively sedate conditions, so maybe we're due for a rough one,' he added.
Eighteen to 20 boats are expected in Wellington for the two races, the 100-miler for Superboat and Superboat Lite classes and the 60-miler for the Super 60, Classic, Sports 60 Restricted, Sports 60 and Formula Honda.
Crews will set up camp at the Evans Bay Marina, with both races scheduled to start at 1.30pm.
'We host a very family-oriented event and anyone who wants to come along and chat with crews and take a close-up look at the boats is most welcome,' Cary Gleeson added.
Points after round four are;
100-Mile Championship: 'Fairview Windows and Door', 1425 points, 'Cure Kids', 1125, 'Rayglass', 690, 'A1 Doors', 600, 'Doosan', 544.
60-Mile Championship: 'Konica Minolta', 1325 points, 'Expresso Engineers', 825, 'Number 80', 775, 'Building Solutions', 690, 'Auckland District Collections #2', 672.
Following the Wellington event, the racing resumes at Whitianga (April 4), Whangarei (April 18) and Auckland Harbour (May 2).
by Kate Gordon
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