Future Products Group Ltd sponsor "Thunder in the Bay"

New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Series 2012
Race Four - Napier
Saturday 17th March 2011 - 1pm

Future Products Group Ltd sponsor "Thunder in the Bay"

Race Four of the New Zealand Offshore Powerboats 20012 series takes place on Saturday 17th February off the coast of Napier in the Hawkes Bay on New Zealand's East Coast. If the past few years experience are anything to go for we should be in for another dramatic display of leaps and spray splattering 'Splash downs' as the boats race with speed over the rolling ocean swells.

This year looks to be a likely home win for the boys in 'Red Steel'. Racing in the Superboat Lite class, Tony Carson and Brooke Faulkner have had a strong start to the season and with a hat trick of wins under their belts, and are not about to slow down now, especially in front of a home crowd. This class has developed into an exciting contest with both Alimax driven by Gordon Robinson and Andrew MacBeth and Espresso Engineers driven by Mike Gerbic and Allan Branch challenging the leader in past races.

'Fujitsu Better Heat' took the lead and a well deserved win in the Superboat class at the last race at Beachlands. Driven by Tony Coleman and Chris Hanley, the boat has taken a couple of races to get into the swing of things, but are now serious challengers to Fairview the 2011 champion driven by Warren Lewis and Andrew 'Flea" Koolen. If they can hold off Fairview again this week in the sometimes massive east coast swells the season will be tied at two races a piece half way through the season.

The Sports 60 Restricted class provided plenty of spectacle at Beachlands with the conditions making for some flat, fast and furious racing. Driving in the big ocean swells off Napier require quite a different style and it will be interesting to see who has the ability to maintain their speed while dealing with the larger waves. Mike Smith and Adam Smale in Konica Minolta have stamped their mark on the field so far, but there are several other worthy opponents who are ready to pounce and take the points should the leaders literally slip up. James and Simon Taylor in 'Total Oil' will be keen to stay near the top of the points table, very much aware that it only takes on DNF to turn the results around. Jono and Ashley Hanley in 'Energizer' are in a similar position, and while 'Thin Ice', 'CRD Automotive' and 'Auckland District Collections' have lost points through various issues this far in the season, the leaders are precariously balanced and will be very aware they are only one engine failure away from a lower ranking.

The Napier races always bring out more of the locals so we hope to see some entries from other classes. Racing starts at 1.00pm on Saturday, and the event usually takes an hour to be completed. Two races are run at the same time with the Superboats and Superboat Lites completing a 100 mile race and the other classes completing a 60 mile race.

The NZ Offshore Powerboat Association hold a family oriented event and are happy to talk to anyone who has questions about the boats and the way they are raced. The boats will be on display both before and after the race and it's free to wander around the "pit" area, and to watch the race from the foreshore or other vantage points.

The Napier Offshore Powerboat event will provide plenty of excitement for the people of Napier and the public are encouraged to come down to the marina to see the boats, and to find a place on the waterfront to watch the racing.

The race can be viewed best from the foreshore at Perfume Point and along the Napier Waterfront.

• Boats on display from 9am Saturday morning at the Napier Marina by the Napier Sailing Club
• Boats depart the Marina area from 12.00pm.
• Racing starts at: 1.00 pm
• Best viewing from Perfume Point and Westshore Domain
• Event details are posted on the NZOPA Website www.nzoffshore.conz

The NZOPA would like to thank their sponsors in Napier; FPG, Napier City Council, Red Steel, Napier Sailing Club, Tradezone, Greenmeadows Panel & Paint, Senator Boats, Bayswater, Napier Auto Supplies, Faulknor Construction and Sports HB

After the Napier event racing continues at Whitianga on the 31st March, Wellington on the 14th April, Auckland on the 28th April and the final race of the season at Tauranga on the 12th May.

ENDS

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