NZ Offshore: Round 2 at Marsden Cove on Saturday 14 November

The New Zealand offshore championship (New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Racing Series 2026/27) continues at Marsden Cove, near Whangarei, on Saturday 14 November. This second round of five has two races, the first at 11am and the second at 12pm local time (NZDT, UTC+13).

The programme at Marsden Cove

According to Powerboat News, which relays the schedule of the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association, the day includes scrutineering of day entries, race control set up at Marsden Marine Supplies, the briefing at Race HQ and the prize giving at the Marsden Cove Fishing Club. The course has five marks, A to E, off the shore, with two spectator viewing points. Lap distances and the number of laps have not been published, nor have the entries for this round. The pits are on the grass beside Rauiri Drive, close to the marina buildings.

What happened at Gulf Harbour

The season opened on 17 October 2026 at Gulf Harbour (Auckland) in lumpy conditions: of 23 starters, 16 finished Race 1 and only 13 reached the flag in Race 2. Gen 2, Cougar and Hidromek each won both races in their class, as did Subway Mangawhai in Family Class. In Supercat Lite, Rainbow Haulage, which dominated the top class last season, won Race 1 but failed to finish Race 2, leaving the win to Espresso Engineers.

The standings before Round 2

According to Powerboat News, these are the leaders in the main classes:

• Supercat Lite / Superboat 600 and 100 Mile: Espresso Engineers, 850 points, ahead of Rainbow Haulage on 550;
• Sports 70mph: Cougar, 950 points;
• 200HP / Sports 200: Gen 2, 950 points;
• 140HP / Sports 140: Gipsy Danger, 850 points, ahead of Coranto on 675;
• 60 Mile: Gen 2, 950 points, ahead of Cougar on 750.

The rest of the season

After Marsden Cove the championship heads to Napier on 30 and 31 January 2027, then Wellington on 27 February and Whitianga on 13 March. Entries and enquiries go through the New Zealand association.

The editorial team