Raced over 10–11 January, the 2026 King of the River Regatta delivered a full weekend of competition on the Whanganui River, with North Island titles decided across multiple classes and a new King of the River crowned.
In the Series 3000 North Island Title, Valhalla emerged on top after a consistent weekend, ahead of Ambush in second and Vigilante in third. The result was reinforced on Sunday with Valhalla also taking out the Rivercity 3000, again ahead of Vigilante and Ambush.
The Pro Com North Island Title belonged to Bold Move, which capped a strong regatta with victory ahead of Hells Bells in second and Midnight in third. Bold Move also secured the Fred Robinson Memorial, finishing ahead of Midnight and Sundance Kid.
The Redhead Trophy went to Simon “Bricky” Watkins aboard Typhoon, adding further silverware to an already successful weekend for the team.
Sunday’s programme concluded with the feature King of the River race. In a tightly contested final, Simon “Bricky” Watkins claimed the 2026 King of the River title in Typhoon. Total Chaos finished second, with Midnight completing the podium in third.
The regatta also saw the return of the Hard Luck Trophy, awarded for the first time since 2013. The trophy was presented to Blair Gaudin in Hells Bells after a challenging weekend.
With full fields, multiple titles decided, and a new King crowned, the 2026 edition reinforced King of the River’s place as a cornerstone of New Zealand powerboat racing.
