01-05-2025
Boat marathon powers up gorge
Brothers Jake and Lachy Hall in front of Lachy's boat Bulletproof. PHOTO: ELLA JENKINS
The roar of powerboats echoed through the Cromwell Gorge on Saturday as rounds two and three of the New Zealand Boat Marathon Commission's 2025 race calendar were held in Central Otago.
Lake Dunstan Powerboat Marathon organiser and racer Daniel Role said 30 racers, including some from the North Island, took part in the event.
Role said his first race went well, with his boat Unruley 1 coming third in the 100km, six-lap marathon race to the Clyde Dam and back.
A feature of the marathon is any boat can race, ranging from the most powerful A-class boats to cabin boats, provided they have the correct safety equipment.
"So your family cruiser, all you've got to do is turn up with a helmet, a lifejacket and a fire extinguisher and you can go pretty much."
Later on Saturday, Role and other competitors took part in a nominated speed trial, where competitors select a speed above 48kmh and maintain it, with points deducted for being over or under the nominated speed.
Round three on Sunday saw racers take part in a drag race between Clyde Dam and Roxburgh Dam where Unruley 1 got the chance to hit 148kmh, which Role said was its typical speed.
Role, who has been racing for 15 years after being inspired by watching his father compete in the 1970s, said the racing community was a close-knit but competitive one.
"It's about the fun and the camaraderie and we get serious for an hour," he said
For Timaru brothers Lachy and Jake Hall, in their fourth time racing in Cromwell, their hopes were dashed on Saturday morning by
a cracked engine mount.
Jake said racing in Cromwell was an awesome experience.
"It's fast so it's good," he said.
