The latest round of powerboat racing on Lake Taupō delivered some of the toughest conditions competitors have faced this season. A forecast 10–15 knot easterly carried just enough south in it to whip the bay into a confused, messy chop. With no consistent pattern to the waves and troughs reaching an estimated 3–5 feet, the course proved punishing on boats, gear, and crews alike.
Eighteen boats made it to the start line, but the drama began even before racing got underway. In the milling area, just as competitors were forming up, the 19-foot Cyclone Hookers and Coke was struck from behind by a larger wave, driving the bow into the wave ahead and flooding the cockpit. With bilge pumps overwhelmed by the volume of water, the hull ultimately sank. Thankfully, both crew members reached shore cold and shaken but completely unharmed.
In the 600 class, the 32-foot Langslow Engineering dominated proceedings, pulling clear of Rainbow Haulage in both races. The results leave the season points table locked up evenly, though the rough conditions saw both boats running well below their usual potential. Despite their size, they were repeatedly seen airborne as they leapt from wave to wave.
The Sports 80 class saw early promise from Caveman Products, which matched the pace of Superstitious until suffering a heavy knock on the penultimate lap. The damage forced the team to limp home for fourth in Race 1 and withdraw before Race 2. Superstitious, with its 30-foot hull, looked well suited to the conditions and claimed a comfortable win in the opening race before retiring prior to the second.
Waterski Racing duo Jeff Weake and Gene Hollands made an appearance in Jack Horan’s Bernico powered by a Mercury 300R. Their consistency paid dividends, securing first in class overall with clean finishes in both races.
In Sports 70, Chindit retired early in Race 1, leaving Cougar unchallenged for back-to-back wins. Grant Smith debuted an upgraded Mercury 350 V8, which delivered a noticeable boost in performance. Combined with the boat’s hull length, the package was strong enough for Smith to claim line honours in the 60-mile championship.
Sports 200 featured a lively four-boat field. Mike Smith broke away from the pack and engaged in a spirited father-versus-son battle with Cougar in both races. Behind them, Supersonic overcame a poor start to climb through the field, demonstrating the value of endurance by overtaking Mark Helms Marine and Triple Trouble to finish second in Race 1. Mark Helms Marine suffered ongoing issues with a ballast tank cap blowing off multiple times, prompting retirement from Race 1. Triple Trouble finished the opening race in third with damaged steering, then withdrew from Race 2.
After some quick on-water repairs, Mark Helms Marine returned for Race 2 and managed to secure third in the 200hp class.
The 140 class delivered tight racing throughout the day. Nakita proved its experience in big-water conditions, securing a commanding pair of wins. Goldship circulated steadily to claim two second-place finishes, while Coranto and Mad Max elected to retire during Race 1 to avoid risking further damage in the unforgiving chop.
With Taupō delivering a bruising test for both equipment and crews, the upcoming two-month break will be a welcome opportunity for bodies to recover and boats to be rebuilt. The next stop is the season’s only two-day round in Napier, scheduled for 24–25 January.
