Kohler Power Trophy Up For Grabs at Big Boat Race

Kohler Power Trophy Up For Grabs at Big Boat Race

Auckland's waterfront will resound with the sound of throbbing V8s and roaring big block engines on Saturday the 8th May when big production boats from all parts of Auckland assemble on the water by the Hilton Hotel to compete in the inaugural Kohler Power Big Boat Race. More often seen at a more sedate pace in the harbour, these big pleasure craft have the opportunity to show off just what they are made of, and with the harbor closed to through traffic and no speed restrictions, owners will be keen to see how well their boat competes against others.

The event takes place at 10.30am on Saturday morning as a lead in to the final round of the Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championships, and boats start assembling by the Hilton at 10am, ready to race.  All drivers will have to attend a drivers briefing before the race and apply for a day license in order to compete. The course will be strictly laid out with mark boats defining the course and and patrol boats keeping any spectator boats well out of the way. Entries are open to any boats over 11 metres in length with engines in excess of 500 horsepower.

The boats race from a standing start at the Hilton Hotel and complete one and quarter laps of the course which runs past the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, under the Harbour Bridge, turns by Watchman Island, back under the bridge, turns at the Hilton Hotel and finishes outside the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

The winner will be awarded a trophy presented by Paul Powney of Transdiesel, "With Kohler being a leader in Generator Power Systems, we see this as an excellent platform to promote our recent appointment as the New Zealand and South Pacific distributors of Kohler Power Systems."

Plenty of opportunities to view the race are available; on the fishing wharf at the end of the Team NZ Base, Past the old Tank Farm or along Curran Street from under the Harbour Bridge to the end of the carpark past the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

The day continues with displays from other powerboats, and some hot lap speed attempts by individual powerboats. The final race and highlight of the day at 1.00pm is the final race of Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championship. Racing has been close this season and in several classes, few points separate the leaders, so racing will be fierce to get maximum points and win the series for the year.

Anyone interested in competing in the Big Boat Race for production craft, can find an entry form and contact details on the NZOPA website; www.nzoffshore.co.nz.

ENDS

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