With hundreds of racing miles already behind them, teams are now entering the attritional phase of the competition. Wear and tear is mounting, boats are starting to feel the strain, and the mechanics are putting in long hours to keep the fleets running. But the energy on the riverbanks hasn’t faded. Spectators turned out in force, and the racers—despite the pressure—were all smiles as engines fired and water roared. The importance of clean runs came sharply into focus on Wednesday.
Regan Williamson, the top-performing Kiwi in the Unlimited Class, posted a fast 0:21:17 in Leg 9—just behind Canadian leader Gord Humphrey’s blistering 0:20:54. But disaster struck in Leg 10, when Williamson recorded a DNF, knocking him out of the Overall Standings competition. A reminder that championships aren’t won on speed alone, but on consistency, reliability, and a bit of luck.
With Williamson’s exit from the Overall Standings competition, the remaining New Zealanders stepped up. Kevin Hyde, piloting MPH Racing, held steady with a 0:22:14 in Leg 9 and improved in Leg 10 with a 0:22:36, moving him into third in the Unlimited Class with a cumulative time of 3:39:46. Meanwhile, Canadian driver Gord Humphrey (Unnatural Disaster) continues to dominate the Unlimited Class, holding firm in first place overall with a time of 3:20:55.
In the A Class fleet, it’s a trans-Tasman battle for supremacy. Canadian Spencer King in Sunset Shaker delivered the fastest times in both Legs 9 and 10 (0:24:46 and 0:24:29 respectively), holding the top spot with an overall time of 3:51:38. But Kiwi Tom Kelly in A377 isn’t far behind. He posted a 0:24:59 in Leg 9 and a rapid 0:24:44 in Leg 10. Despite the effort, Kelly trails by nearly 10 minutes on the overall leaderboard with a cumulative time of 4:01:16. Still, with more racing to come, the competition between the two remains fierce.
The CX Class saw a Kiwi resurgence. Justin Hill, in Aftershock, clawed back valuable seconds after a fourth-fastest Leg 9 time (0:26:27). He returned with force in Leg 10, setting the fastest CX time of the day at 0:25:15—outpacing class leader Tanner Froelich by nearly 15 seconds. That performance has tightened the overall gap to less than two minutes between Hill and Froelich. With third place a full 12 minutes behind, this is shaping into a two-horse race—and Hill is gaining ground.
As of the end of Day 5, 19 teams remain in the Overall Standings competition, with only two New Zealand entries still competing in it. Before Leg 10, Williamson was sitting second overall with a time of 3:10:19, followed by Hyde in third (3:17:10), and Hill in sixth (3:44:21). Now, with Williamson’s DNF, the pressure is on Hyde and Hill to keep the Kiwi charge alive. Wednesday’s racing was a clear demonstration of how volatile jet boat competition can be. With just a few seconds separating podium positions in each class, there’s no room for error. One mistake, one blown unit, one wrong line in the river, and weeks of preparation can evaporate in an instant.
Looking ahead, the teams now face a short pause in the racing schedule. Thursday is a travel day as crews relocate westward to Taylor, British Columbia. Friday provides a well-earned rest with a Show and Shine display and a final chance to prepare. But there will be no easing back into the action—Saturday brings three full legs of racing on new water, and with the championship stakes rising by the day, every second will count. For the Kiwis still in the hunt, the goal is clear: clean runs, consistent performance, and the ability to stay cool under pressure. The river has already claimed its share of contenders—there’s no doubt it will test the rest in the days to come.
Boating New Zealand continues to follow the Kiwi crews as they chase championship honours in the 2025 UIM World Jet Boating Championships. Stay tuned for more coverage as the race moves into British Columbia.
