Napier will host the next round of the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Racing Championship on 24 and 25 January 2026, with the season already shaping into a tight and hard-fought contest.
After a bruising second round in Taupō, where short, steep chop and cold winds tested both boats and crews, the championship standings are beginning to settle. Machine consistency has mattered as much as outright speed, with several teams already separated by slim margins after just two venues.
Taupō was one of the toughest freshwater rounds in recent memory. A southwest breeze turned Two Mile Bay into a punishing course, leading to multiple retirements and no-starts across the classes. Boats that could stay level and avoid damage rose to the top, while others limped home with sore crews and long repair lists. Importantly, most teams are expected to be back on the water in Napier.
After two rounds at Gulf Harbour and Taupō, the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championship standings are beginning to take shape, with consistency already proving decisive.
Taupō dishes out a hammering as NZ Offshore Championship hits Round Two
In Sports 140, Gold Ship leads on 1700 points, rewarded for clean finishes across both rounds. Nikita remains close behind on 1550, while Coranto and Mad Max have lost ground through retirements. Sports 200 has developed into a clear two-boat contest, with Gen 2 unbeaten and leading on 1800 points ahead of Supersonic on 1600. DNFs have hurt the rest of the field.
Sports 70 has been dominated by Cougar, which sits on a near-perfect 1900 points after two rounds. The Sports 80 mph class remains wide open, with Captain Caveman leading on 550 points despite mixed results.
At the top end, Superboat 600 is locked in a dead heat, with Rainbow Haulage and Langslow Engineering tied on 1700 points. The same pair are also level in the 100 Mile Championship, setting up a direct offshore showdown in Napier.
In the 60 Mile Championship, Gen 2 leads from Supersonic and Cougar, though the mid-pack remains tightly contested. With Napier still to run, nothing is settled.
The Hawke’s Bay round brings a very different challenge. Racing will take place offshore from Napier, with the course set out from the inner harbour past Westshore and along the coast. Spectators can view the action from several shoreline vantage points, while the pits at Perfume Point will be open to the public from mid-morning.
2025 New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championships: Day 1 sees high attrition rates during the racing
Both days follow a full race programme, with scrutineering and briefings in the morning and racing starting from midday. Saturday features multiple shorter races, while Sunday is scheduled for the longer course.
With more rounds still to come after Napier, nothing is settled. Napier’s two days of racing could reshape the championship and reward teams who can combine speed, reliability and smart decision-making offshore.
