Swells approaching a metre greeted crews at Gulf Harbour for the opening round of the 2026 to 2027 New Zealand offshore powerboat season. We joined the support fleet aboard Boating New Zealand’s Haines Hunter SS660, carrying rescue divers and watched the racing up close. It was an excellent day to be out on the water.
On the opening leg of the opening race of the season, the fleet split passing on both sides of our boat. We were holding station at the far end of the Gulf Harbour course, towards the Weiti River. It gave us a close view of the boats at speed as the 2026 to 2027 season got underway.
Brett Patterson, our sales director, had joined me aboard the Boating New Zealand boat as part of the event’s safety operation. It was a glorious day on the water, with plenty of racing for spectators watching from shore or their own boats lining the outside of the course.
On the water supporting Gulf Harbour powerboat racing
We had left Orams Marine earlier that morning in sunshine and light winds. The water grew choppier as we headed north, with a rolling sea and swells we estimated approaching a metre in height. The Haines Hunter handled the conditions well, and we reached Whangaparāoa about 45 minutes later. Near the boat ramp, swells were still rolling towards the shore.
Around 100 people attended the crew briefing for the season opener. Safety and the lively sea featured prominently in discussions. Nobody was expecting a flat-water season opener. Further attrition was anticipated, with the lively sea state adding to the tension. As was pointed out later in the day, sometimes a $5 part stops a boat, and sometimes it’s a $5,000 part.
A separate briefing for the chase, patrol and marker boats set out what each support crew was responsible for. Patrol boats were to keep other traffic off the course. Marker boats were to report anything in their sector, from an incident to a boat missing a mark, back to Race Control. Boating New Zealand was assigned as chase and marker boat for the event divers, ready if a raceboat went over or under and its crew needed getting out.
We headed out onto the course, where the rolling swell continued.
Before the start, we helped move a couple of spectator boats clear and fished a floating length of timber out of the water. It might seem a small job, but debris can pose a serious danger to boats at speed. Hard to spot and easy to overlook, it’s exactly the sort of thing support crews need to watch for.
Gulf Harbour Race 1: Goldship and Gipsy Danger just 0.32km/h apart
The Gulf Harbour course started and finished off Kotanui Island (Frenchmans Cap) and ran along the southern shore towards Manly and Arkles Bay. From the far end, we saw several boats get airborne, though less often than we’d expected after the morning’s passage. Michael Wingate’s Sports 140 class, Coranto, spent a noticeable amount of time in the air.
Sixteen of the 23 starters finished Race 1, with the closest winner and runner up averages coming in that 140HP class. Tom Haycock’s Goldship won at 73.63km/h, just 0.32km/h above Hamish Haycock’s Gipsy Danger at 73.31km/h. This was close racing. Coranto finished third at 52.57km/h, while Grant Henry’s Nakita didn’t finish that first race.
The largest boats in the fleet, the Supercat Lite class also produced a relatively tight spread. Darren Butterfield’s Rainbow Haulage won at 139.28km/h. Mike Gerbic’s Espresso Engineers followed at 137.41km/h, with Paul Greenfield’s Langslow Engineering third at 134.73km/h. All three finishers averaged within 4.55km/h of one another.
In 200HP, Mike Smith’s Gen 2 averaged 93.98km/h, 5.91km/h above Ryan Archer’s second placed Supersonic. Shane Rumens finished third in SKR at 82.64km/h, while Mike Knight’s Mark Helms Marine did not finish. Smith and Rumens raced together aboard last season’s Sports 200 title winner, GEN2. This time, they were competing in separate boats.
In the Sports 80mph class, Shan Martin’s Hidromek won at an average of 117.68km/h against Craig Archer’s Rayglass at 108.95km/h. Brett Archer’s Secret Agent, Owen Mackay’s Fury II and Roger Puttick’s Captain Caveman did not finish. The latter two had topped the class last season.
Grant Smith’s Cougar won Sports 70mph at 92.38km/h against Peter Wingate’s Chindit at 75.78km/h. The result repeated their order in last season’s championship.
In Family Class, Kerry Smyth’s Subway Mangawhai, Brad Tinker’s ASAP Couriers and Scott Lewis’s Hijinx filled the first three places. Their recorded averages were 68.79km/h, 60.38km/h and 60.28km/h respectively. Only 0.10km/h separated ASAP Couriers and Hijinx‘s pair’s averages, although Family Class rewards accuracy against a nominated speed rather than outright pace. Sam Mitchell’s Nipple and Joel McMullen’s Lickity Split did not finish.
Gulf Harbour Race 2: Hidromek and Rayglass averages draw closer
After some quick turnarounds, both Secret Agent and Fury II joined 16 of the original 23 entries at the start line for the second race. Attrition hit again with only 13 finishing Race 2. It was a frustrating day for both Fury II and Secret Agent, both of whom recorded their second non-finish.
Rayglass narrowed the difference in Sports 80mph, lifting its average from 108.95km/h to 110.52km/h. Hidromek won again, although its average dropped from 117.68km/h to 115.42km/h. That brought their averages within 4.90km/h, compared with 8.73km/h in Race 1.
In 200HP, Gen 2 barely changed pace, averaging 93.88km/h against its earlier 93.98km/h. Supersonic improved from 88.07km/h to 88.79km/h, reducing the difference to 5.09km/h. SKR again finished third, its average falling from 82.64km/h to 79.01km/h.
After averaging just 0.32km/h less than Goldship in Race 1, Gipsy Danger took the 140HP win. Its average rose from 73.31km/h to 74.46km/h, while Goldship didn’t make the finish line. Coranto moved into second, improving from 52.57km/h to 58.36km/h.
Both Sports 70mph boats lifted their averages. Cougar won again at 92.77km/h, up from 92.38km/h. Chindit increased from 75.78km/h to 76.41km/h, slightly narrowing the difference between them.
Supercat Lite had the biggest change in finishers. Race 1 winner Rainbow Haulage and third placed Langslow Engineering both failed to finish. That left Espresso Engineers to take the win at 136.93km/h, slightly below its first race average of 137.41km/h.
All three Family Class finishers increased their averages and retained their placings. Subway Mangawhai rose from 68.79km/h to 70.33km/h. ASAP Couriers increased from 60.38km/h to 65.69km/h, while Hijinx went from 60.28km/h to 63.79km/h. Their averages were just 0.10km/h apart in Race 1, compared with 1.90km/h in Race 2.
Cougar tops Gulf Harbour nominated speed results
NZOPA also published a separate nominated speed classification. Its 2027 National Rules describe Family Class as a nominated speed class, open to cross-entries from other classes, in which the boat closest to its declared km/h speed wins.
Cougar placed first, with Coranto and Gen 2 equal second and Supersonic fourth. The sheet lists placings only, not the declared speeds or how close each boat came.
NZ offshore powerboat series heads to Marsden Cove
Across the two races, Gipsy Danger and Espresso Engineers each collected a win and a second place. Coranto finished both 140HP races, recording third and second, while Goldship followed its opening win with a non-finish. Gen 2, Cougar and Hidromek won both races in their respective classes, giving them strong starts heading towards into this season’s next round. Subway Mangawhai also took two first places in Family Class.
The next round is at Marsden Cove on Saturday 14 November, followed by Napier, Wellington and Whitianga.
After our day aboard a support boat, we would happily recommend getting involved. If you have a suitable boat, take up NZOPA’s invitation to help. It’s a rewarding way to join the powerboating community and see the racing up close.
NZOPA Gulf Harbour 2026 results
17 October 2026. Places are within each class.
DNF: did not finish. DNS: did not start.
Swipe tables sideways on smaller screens.
Race 1
| Class | Boat | Boat number | Skipper* | Average speed† | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | Subway Mangawhai | 24 | Kerry Smyth | 68.79 | 1 |
| Family | Asap Couriers | 27 | Brad Tinker | 60.38 | 2 |
| Family | Hijinx | 82 | Scott Lewis | 60.28 | 3 |
| Family | Nipple | 53 | Sam Mitchell | — | DNF |
| Family | Lickity Split | 73 | Joel McMullen | — | DNF |
| 140HP | Goldship | 140 | Tom Haycock | 73.63 | 1 |
| 140HP | Gipsy Danger | 34 | Hamish Haycock | 73.31 | 2 |
| 140HP | Coranto | 129 | Michael Wingate | 52.57 | 3 |
| 140HP | Nakita | 77 | Grant Henry | — | DNF |
| 200HP | Gen 2 | 14 | Mike Smith | 93.98 | 1 |
| 200HP | Supersonic | 2 | Ryan Archer | 88.07 | 2 |
| 200HP | SKR | 20 | Shane Rumens | 82.64 | 3 |
| 200HP | Mark Helms Marine | 18 | Mike Knight | — | DNF |
| Sports 70mph | Cougar | 58 | Grant Smith | 92.38 | 1 |
| Sports 70mph | Chindit | 29 | Peter Wingate | 75.78 | 2 |
| Sports 80mph | Hidromek | 104 | Shan Martin | 117.68 | 1 |
| Sports 80mph | Rayglass | 8 | Craig Archer | 108.95 | 2 |
| Sports 80mph | Secret Agent | 99 | Brett Archer | — | DNF |
| Sports 80mph | Fury II | 188 | Owen Mackay | — | DNF |
| Sports 80mph | Captain Caveman | 171 | Roger Puttick | — | DNF |
| Supercat Lite | Rainbow Haulage | 3 | Darren Butterfield | 139.28 | 1 |
| Supercat Lite | Espresso Engineers | 19 | Mike Gerbic | 137.41 | 2 |
| Supercat Lite | Langslow Engineering | 46 | Paul Greenfield | 134.73 | 3 |
Race 2
| Class | Boat | Boat number | Skipper* | Average speed† | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | Subway Mangawhai | 24 | Kerry Smyth | 70.33 | 1 |
| Family | Asap Couriers | 27 | Brad Tinker | 65.69 | 2 |
| Family | Hijinx | 82 | Scott Lewis | 63.79 | 3 |
| Family | Nipple | 53 | Sam Mitchell | — | DNS |
| Family | Lickity Split | 73 | Joel McMullen | — | DNS |
| 140HP | Gipsy Danger | 34 | Hamish Haycock | 74.46 | 1 |
| 140HP | Coranto | 129 | Michael Wingate | 58.36 | 2 |
| 140HP | Goldship | 140 | Tom Haycock | — | DNF |
| 140HP | Nakita | 77 | Grant Henry | — | DNS |
| 200HP | Gen 2 | 14 | Mike Smith | 93.88 | 1 |
| 200HP | Supersonic | 2 | Ryan Archer | 88.79 | 2 |
| 200HP | SKR | 20 | Shane Rumens | 79.01 | 3 |
| 200HP | Mark Helms Marine | 18 | Mike Knight | — | DNS |
| Sports 70mph | Cougar | 58 | Grant Smith | 92.77 | 1 |
| Sports 70mph | Chindit | 29 | Peter Wingate | 76.41 | 2 |
| Sports 80mph | Hidromek | 104 | Shan Martin | 115.42 | 1 |
| Sports 80mph | Rayglass | 8 | Craig Archer | 110.52 | 2 |
| Sports 80mph | Secret Agent | 99 | Brett Archer | — | DNF |
| Sports 80mph | Fury II | 188 | Owen Mackay | — | DNF |
| Sports 80mph | Captain Caveman | 171 | Roger Puttick | — | DNS |
| Supercat Lite | Espresso Engineers | 19 | Mike Gerbic | 136.93 | 1 |
| Supercat Lite | Rainbow Haulage | 3 | Darren Butterfield | — | DNF |
| Supercat Lite | Langslow Engineering | 46 | Paul Greenfield | — | DNF |
Nominated speed
| Boat | Boat number | Skipper* | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cougar | 53‡ | Grant Smith | 1 |
| Coranto | 129 | Michael Wingate | Equal 2 |
| Gen 2 | 14 | Mike Smith | Equal 2 |
| Supersonic | 2 | Ryan Archer | 4 |
| Hijinx | 82 | Scott Lewis | 5 |
| Rayglass | 8 | Craig Archer | 6 |
| Hidromek | 104 | Shan Martin | 7 |
| Espresso Engineers | 19 | Mike Gerbic | 8 |
| ASAP Couriers | 27 | Brad Tinker | 9 |
| Chindit | 29 | Peter Wingate | 10 |
| Subway Mangawhai | 24 | Kerry Smyth | 11 |
* Names follow the drivers listed on the class results.
Nominated speed skipper names are matched from those sheets.
† Average figures are reproduced as supplied. The results graphics
do not specify their unit. No speeds, elapsed times or deviations
from nominated speeds are supplied for the nominated speed classification.
‡ Cougar is listed as hull 53 in nominated speed results,
but boat 58 in both class results.
