Fast and furious on Lake Arapuni
Cambridge powerboat pilot Nick Coles remains confident he can retain the Des Geddes Powerboat Race Trophy he won last year.
Looking to defend his title at this weekend’s Arapuni Powerboat Spectacular, Coles will be racing the top 10 fastest boats competing in the two-day event on Lake Arapuni.
Ranked second in Formula One, he is now looking to capitalise on his good season to date and take the step up at this year’s New Zealand Nationals held in Hokitika at Easter.
Moving up from ski boat racing three-years ago, Coles immediately grabbed attention with a third placing in the New Zealand Gold Cup Regatta in 2014 with his Vibe Homes sponsored powerboat.
Last year he won the King of The Lake title and the Des Geddes Trophy on Lake Arapuni, adding two, third placings in the New Zealand Formula One Powerboat Tour and the South Island Formula One to his list of impressive titles.
Coles’ 500kg boat built in 2006 is powered by a Mercury 2.5litre 300HP outboard engine giving him the power to reach speeds between 280-300kmh to literally leave his competitors in his wake.
Competition is expected to come from Tauranga pilots Brody Matheson and Jared Robinson but firm favourite to win the North Island MOD-H title race is Wanganui’s Tony Hall.
Coles is joined on the water by Cambridge Waikato Club members Sam Hughes (Red Express) and Peter Swinkles (Strike Zone).
Hosted by the CambridgeWaikato Powerboat Club, the twoday programme has received over 50 entries and features all classes of racing from the junior to the champions who will compete for the Carl Augustin Trophy and the North Island J Class Title.
Regardless of the class, racing at this speed is not for the fainthearted with pilots experiencing up to G-Force 5 while cornering the boats, hence the need for a five-point safety harness and oxy- gen.
A good crowd is expected to gain the best vantage points as admission is free with racing starting early Saturday and Sunday.