After the shortened opening round of the 2025 New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championships, all eyes turned to Round 2 at Lake Taupō on February 15-16. Despite only 14 of the 16 expected boats making it to the start line, conditions proved far more favourable than in Napier.
Two standout boats, Coranto and Chindit, joined the competition for the first time this season. Coranto, originally designed by Rex Henry—the same designer behind the legendary Chindit—was built by Graeme Wingate in 1972. After years away, the boat has returned to the Wingate family and undergone an extensive restoration. Although not quite ready in time for Napier, Coranto made its first start in Taupō, competing in the Sports 140HP class. Meanwhile, Chindit, now 52 years old, was piloted by Graeme Wingate’s grandson, Michael Wingate, making his debut in the 140HP class.
Another boat making a long-awaited return was Mike Knight’s The Blue Pill. This 19ft Sonic 1900SS was built by Chris Bartlett and was the last hull Bartlett designed for himself to race in back in 1999. Since then, it has had a quiet life, used primarily for recreational skiing and occasional ski racing. Over the years, it has been powered by various engines, ranging from Mercury’s high-performance 300x 300HP outboard to 225x race outboards and, most recently, a 200HP EFI motor.
Day 1 (Saturday) Recap
Racing kicked off with dominant performances across multiple classes. Espresso Engineers controlled the Superboat 600 class, while Supersonic led the Sports Boats, holding off challenges from The Blue Pill and Fury II. Meanwhile, No Hurry put in a solid debut performance, and veteran Mark Helms claimed victory in the Nominated Speed class.
Day 2 (Sunday) Recap
The second day of racing delivered thrilling action, with Boating New Zealand’s Ryan Archer putting in a strong performance. A forecast of 10km/h NE-E winds proved accurate, but local knowledge suggested that such a wind direction wouldn’t create chop on Taupō’s bay, leaving the course as ideal drag-racing water. In the Nominated Speed class, Fury II claimed victory once again.
The 140HP class saw Coranto bounce back from Saturday’s setbacks to chase down Gold Ship in both races. With just a bit more top-end speed, Coranto secured back-to-back wins in what was the most exciting battle of the weekend. Their aggressive, high-energy racing style, shifting from chine to chine, made for a thrilling spectacle.
At the other end of the field, Doric also overcame Saturday’s mechanical issues and came out strong, dominating Race 1. However, a steering failure cut their race day short, forcing an early retirement in Race 2. Espresso Engineers capitalised, taking second place in Race 1 and securing a win in Race 2, while Rainbow Haulage, struggling in the light conditions, settled for third and second, respectively.
The 60 Mile Championship delivered another intense contest. Supersonic maintained its impressive form from Saturday, narrowly beating Fury II by 200 metres in Race 1 before storming to an 800-metre victory in Race 2. The fight for third overall was equally fierce, with Hypersonic, Chindit, The Blue Pill, and No Hurry all battling for position. A retirement by Chindit in the final race handed third place for the weekend to Hypersonic.
A special mention goes to the No Hurry team in their 1750 Bullet. Despite an early retirement in Race 3 due to mechanical issues, they returned for the final round and finished an impressive fourth overall in the 60 Mile Championship—an outstanding debut performance.
Looking Ahead to Whitianga – March 22-23
With four crucial races remaining, the championship heads to Whitianga for the final round.
In the NZ1 battle, Espresso Engineers hold a commanding 550-point lead, making them the team to beat.
The 60 Mile Championship remains wide open, with Supersonic closing the gap to just 50 points behind Fury II. With Whitianga’s typically flat waters and the possible return of Midnight Express, an upset could be on the horizon.
Buckle up—Round 3 promises an electrifying finish!
