Railton wins first South Island title
Andrew Railton gains a unique feeling every time he drives his power boat at speed.
He and his family have been enthusiasts of the sport for many decades tracing back to their involvement with the formation of the Southland Power Boat Club at Sandy Point in 1947.
Railton enjoys every minute driving his Schmanski 700cc V bottom.
‘‘I get a sense of freedom getting on the water ... you let your blood get up a bit and let loose,’’ Railton, of Invercargill, said.
His best moment in power boating came when he won the formula three class of the South Island Championship at Lake Forsyth in Christchurch last weekend. Lake Forsyth is one of the championship’s four regatta venues, others being Lake Kaniere (West Coast), Lake Dunstan (Cromwell) and Oreti River (Sandy Point). Railton won the title in the championship’s last race.
He said a lot of time and effort went into transporting his boat and racing it at regattas outside of Southland.
‘‘It’s never easy ... you’ve got to show up [at regattas] to get the results.’’
Railton has competed in the South Island Championship six times, with his previous best placing being a third in 2000. His first race was in 1998.
He is supported in power boat activities by his father Brian Railton who has won about 40 South Island titles and four or five New Zealand titles.
‘‘It’s absolutely wonderful he’s achieved this [championship win] ... he deserves an accolade,’’ Brian said.
His other two sons, Malcolm and Reg Railton, are involved in other areas of the Southland Power Boat Club. Malcolm drives a rescue and patrol boat, while Reg helps where ever someone is needed.
Their mother Rose Marie Willis is a race controller and administrator.
Brian Railton has seen the club grow through the years and holds many memories of power boating activities at Sandy Point.
In the late 1960s-70s he competed in power boat racing and speedway. The speedway track is across the road and Brian can remember going backwards and forwards several times on a Sunday to compete in both sports.