Race News

Feb 12th 2006- Round 3 NZ Surfcross Championship

Confirmed results to follow

1st - WAIKATO FINANCE

2nd - HYDRAULINK RACING

3rd - REACTION SCREENPRINT

no more than 8 points separates these 3........

33 boats on the beach.....it was going to be a busy day!

A big welcome to our new B-Grade crews, glad to have you racing and a big thumbs up on your performance today, none of you flipped or fell out.....which is more than can be said for the A-Graders

Amongst those to go for swim

• the QuickBooks boys in the Southern Pacific boat, " I shut off the throttle as we came off the wave, I suddenly remembered the advice given to me by my brother.......don't shut off the throttle as you come off the wave.....I knew we were about to go for a swim! "

• Plumbquick boys.....racing their new hull never fail to amaze us with their jumping ability, more than once the roar from the crowd on the beach that Steve and Steve had jumped too high and flipped their boat...only to have them emerge from behind the wave at full throttle.... not bad for a couple of old boys!

• Signtech didn't have the best of days......on one race getting hung up on the surf around E-Buoy with House of Travel and ejecting their co-pilot out into the surf   and then finishing by flipping themselves........   all safe and happy, big thanks from myself as Race Director to James for his account of the incident......makes my job a lot easier.

• Also having a bit of a bad luck was Reaction Screenprint, hot favorites to win the Championship also managed to flip and retire from their heat.

• Good to see Tony back driving his MORE FM boat after breaking his leg 5 weeks ago at Whangamata. A bit of a hobble and wobble to the boat on the starts but you done well! hope that legs not too sore tomorrow!

• numerous other bumps and lumps but considering the conditions out there no injuries or serious damage to the gear..........except for our Thundercat tent blowing over in a freak gust of wind and hurting the leg of Cheryl McConnell who was sitting enjoying watching her husband and son race, thanks to Hayley for a bit of speedy first aid.

•  Thanks to the crews who lent their boats to those that had broken their own gear, it's a big ask in a National Championship to entrust your boat to someone else, if they stuff it up then you are out of the points table as well........but that is what makes this sport so enjoyable, camaraderie is alive and well!

Our next raceday is in 2 weeks time at Raglan beach. This will be the final round of the Surfcross Championship so the pressure will be on!

Huge thank you too my marshals and officials today, Dan who spends all day by himself at D-Buoy, Gary as our starter who spends all his time shouting at the guys to start in a straight line, Leah and Ellie as our scorekeepers, Hayley as our first aid lady and also our place card girls, Derek our commentator, thanks for a great commentary thru the day mate, much appreciated by all, and a big thank you to Leigh our club secretary who was our assistant Race Director and took some of the workload from me.

Next weekend we have the opportunity too display our boats at Maraetai while the Off Shore Powerboats are racing. Contact Rod if you want to take your boat along.

race write-up by Rod

if there's anyone else in the club who has is keen to try their hand at the race write-ups please see me on the beach........another perspective on the day would be great.

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