Whitianga hosted the final round of the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association Championship, closing out the 2025 to 2026 season across a weekend that blended tight competition, solid fleet numbers, and a confronting reminder of the risks that define offshore racing.
Boats arrived from Friday 20 March, and by Saturday a 16-boat fleet had gathered off Buffalo Beach. Spectator numbers were healthy, the programme was full, and racing opened with an incident that brought the sport's dangers immediately to the fore.
On the opening lap, Fury II, skippered by Owen Mackay, nose-dived and submerged, taking all three crew under with the boat. Emergency personnel were on scene within seconds, with medics, patrol boats, and divers working together to recover the crew from the water. All three were subsequently released from hospital with minor injuries. The incident spoke to both the fine margins in offshore racing and the value of well-prepared safety teams.
Once racing resumed, the Superboat 600 class wrapped up a season that Rainbow Haulage had thoroughly dominated. Colin Dunn and Darren Butterworth were composed and clinical across both races, finishing the Whitianga round on 550 points. Langslow Engineering, with Paul Greenfield driving and Jason Way on throttles, put together a consistent performance to close out the event on 150 points.
Sports 200 confirmed the season-long reliability of GEN2, with Mikey Smith and Shane Rumens collecting 550 points at Whitianga. Triple Trouble, steered by Alex Smith and Mark Taiatini, finished 100 points back on 450, while Supersonic, crewed by Ryan Archer and Joe Den-Hertog, rounded out the class a further 300 points adrift on 150.
Tom Haycock and Phillip Haycock claimed the Sports 140 class title, guiding Gold Ship to 550 points at Whitianga. Coranto finished close behind on 450 points, with Nakita, crewed by Grant Henry and Jessica Morley, taking third on 375 points. Mad Max completed the class on 150 points.
Sports 70 went to Grant Smith and Matt Hopkins, who steered Cougar to 550 points and finished 100 points clear of Chindit to take the class honours.
Sports 80mph ended in a shared result, with Fury II and Captain Caveman, helmed by Keith Riddell and Rodger Puttick, both returning 150 points apiece.
In the 60 Mile Overall standings, GEN2 led the Whitianga results on 550 points, the benchmark of the fleet on the day. Triple Trouble followed 100 points behind on 450, with Cougar on 375 and Chindit on 319 completing the top four.
The event also featured photo competitions, colouring activities, and the Offshore Card Chase alongside the racing, giving the day a character that reflected the sport itself: fierce on the water, warm and welcoming on shore.
The drama surrounding Fury II cast a shadow over the opening stages, but Whitianga delivered a strong conclusion to the 2025 to 2026 championship. A competitive fleet, conditions that kept crews on their toes throughout, and a well-run event together leave a solid foundation heading into the season ahead.
