NZ offshore: Gen 2, Cougar and Hidromek double up at Gulf Harbour
The newsroomUpdated on October 20, 20263 minOffshore powerboat: Gen 2, Cougar, Hidromek and Subway Mangawhai win both races at Gulf Harbour as the New Zealand NZOPA championship opens in lumpy seas.
Key point
On 17 October 2026 at Gulf Harbour, Gen 2, Cougar, Hidromek and Subway Mangawhai won both of their races as the NZOPA championship opened in lumpy seas.
The New Zealand offshore powerboat championship run by the NZOPA (New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association) opened its 2026/27 season at Gulf Harbour on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Four boats won both of their races: Gen 2, Cougar, Hidromek and Subway Mangawhai, in swells approaching a metre.
A punishing opener at Gulf Harbour
The course started and finished off Kotanui Island (Frenchmans Cap) and ran along the southern shore towards Manly and Arkles Bay. Around 100 people attended the crew briefing, which focused on safety and sea state. Of 23 boats on the grid, 16 finished Race 1; Race 2 had 18 entries and 13 finishers. It is the second season running that the championship has opened at Gulf Harbour.
Class-by-class results
- Supercat Lite: Rainbow Haulage won Race 1 at 139.28 km/h ahead of Espresso Engineers (137.41) and Langslow Engineering (134.73). In Race 2, Rainbow Haulage and Langslow Engineering failed to finish, so Espresso Engineers won on its own at 136.93 km/h.
- Sports 80mph: Hidromek (Shan Martin) won twice, at 117.68 and 115.42 km/h, ahead of Rayglass (Craig Archer). Fury II, the 2025/26 champion, finished neither race.
- 200HP: Gen 2 (Mike Smith) won both races, ahead of Supersonic (Ryan Archer) and SKR (Shane Rumens).
- 140HP: Goldship (Tom Haycock) won Race 1 by 0.32 in average speed from Gipsy Danger, which won Race 2 after Goldship failed to finish.
- Sports 70mph: Cougar (Grant Smith) ahead of Chindit (Peter Wingate) both times.
- Family Class: Subway Mangawhai (Kerry Smyth) ahead of ASAP Couriers and Hijinx, at 68.79 and then 70.33 km/h.
Nominated speed and what comes next
Family Class is judged on how close a boat runs to its declared speed, not on outright pace. The association also published a nominated speed classification open to cross-entries: Cougar tops it, Coranto and Gen 2 are equal second and Supersonic is fourth. The results sheet gives places only, without the declared speeds, and does not state the unit of the averages; the km/h figures quoted come from Boating New Zealand.
The next round is at Marsden Cove on Saturday, 14 November 2026, followed by Napier, Wellington and Whitianga.
Frequently asked questions
Who won at Gulf Harbour?
Gen 2 in 200HP, Cougar in Sports 70mph, Hidromek in Sports 80mph and Subway Mangawhai in Family Class won both races; in Supercat Lite, Rainbow Haulage won Race 1 and Espresso Engineers won Race 2.
How many boats finished?
Of 23 starters, 16 finished Race 1; 13 of the 18 entries in Race 2 reached the flag.
Where is the next New Zealand round?
At Marsden Cove on Saturday, 14 November 2026.
Sources
- Powerboat News — Gulf Harbour, round 1 of NZ offshore
- Boating New Zealand — NZOPA season opener at Gulf Harbour
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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