9:52 PM Mon 13 Apr 2009 GMT
 | | '’Konica Minolta’ did have a commanding lead in the 60-Mile championship, but a DNS at the last round has left that lead somewhat narrow.'
Phillip Hoskyn
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b>The Marsden Cove Marina, opposite Whangarei Heads, has been chosen as the venue for the penultimate round in the Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championships next Saturday (April 18).
With the race circuit set just a few hundred metres out from the marina, competitors will go past nearby One Tree Point and up into Whangarei Harbour, offering excellent viewing of the race for spectators.
Greg Brinck, driver of the leading Super 60 Class boat 'Konica Minolta', said that as a competitor he is 'delighted' with the new venue.
'The support we have had from the Marsden Cove developers, Hopper Developments, has been phenomenal,' Brinck said.
'They have helped us to put together a great schedule to create a unique event dubbed 'Thunder in the Cove' and all are really looking forward to putting on a fantastic display for the fans,' he added.
Racing starts on Saturday at 1pm, with two races run concurrently on the same course with all 18 to 20 entrants starting at the same time, a factor Brinck believes will create a fantastic sight for spectators ashore and afloat.
The two races comprise the 100-Mile event featuring the Superboat and Superboat Lite classes and the 60-Mile event comprising the Super 60, Classic, Sports 60 Restricted, Sports 60 and the popular Formula Honda classes.
Organisers are also planning to match a helicopter against a race boat offering yet another 'sight to see' for spectators.
Hopper Developments' Paul Shanahan has described the events as a 'really family oriented day', with fair ground rides, market stalls and all the fun of the fair.
The battle for the 100 Mile championships is primarily down to 'Fairview Windows and Doors' versus 'Cure Kids'.
Just 127 points separate the duelling Superboats on the 100 Mile leader board.
Organisers expect the intense rivalry to continue with either boat capable of taking the 475 on offer for the victor.
Current leader, 'Fairview Windows and Doors', with Ted Taiatini at the wheel and Warren Lewis on throttles, could be regarded as race favourite having claimed the chequered flag in four of the five races contested this season.
However, if the 'Cure Kids' crew of Tony Coleman and Chris Handley can duplicate their performance at Wellington one month ago, where they achieved a solid victory, the series leader may not have things all its own way.
'A1 Homes', driven by Scott Lewis (brother of Warren) and with Murray Tuffin on throttles, currently holds third place with the father and daughter team of Grant and Kelly Smith in 'Rayglass' and Sam Filmore and Cary Gleeson aboard 'Doosan' rounding out the big boat entries.
'Konica Minolta', Greg Brinck and Eldon Archer aboard, holds a narrow lead in the 60 Mile event despite an incident in the last race at Whitianga which left both boat and crew damaged after a nasty broach.
Mike Gerbic and Haydn Means in 'Expresso Engineers' hold second place, just 25 points adrift of 'Konica Minolta' and remain strongly positioned to claim both the 60 Mile championship and the Super 60 Class if luck comes their way.
The Auckland crews of Mike Cameron and Dennis Vivash aboard 'Holsam' hold third place, while Mike Knight and Shannon Thickpenny in 'Building Solutions' have dominated Formula Honda and hold fourth place in the 60 Mile event.
Whatever the outcome, it's a safe bet that racing will be keenly contested when the crews line up for the final round on Gulf Harbour on May 2.
 | ’Fairview Windows and Doors’ trading punches with ’Cure Kids’ - these two will fight out the NZ Rayglass Offshore Superboat title. - Phillip Hoskyn Click Here to view large photo |
For further details visit the website, www.nzoffshore.co.nz
by Kate Gordon
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