Round 1: Gulf Harbour

SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER 2026 · CIRCUIT & NOMINATED SPEED

Twenty-three boats lined up at Gulf Harbour on Saturday 17 October for the 2026/27 NZOPA championship opener. Swells approaching a metre tested crews across two races. Sixteen boats finished Race 1, with 13 completing Race 2.

Rainbow Haulage won the opening Supercat Lite race, before Espresso Engineers took Race 2. Hidromek, Cougar and Gen 2 each claimed two class wins, as did Subway Mangawhai in Family Class. Goldship and Gipsy Danger shared the 140HP wins. Cougar also topped the separate nominated speed classification, with Coranto and Gen 2 sharing second.

Explore the event coverage, competing boats and crews below, alongside both races’ class results and the nominated speed placings.

Follow the seas

Offshore powerboating dates and coverage

Five rounds connect the North Island programme. Dates remain subject to organiser updates.

Round 1 · 17 October 2026

Gulf Harbour

Completed

The opening round produced two class wins apiece for Hidromek, Cougar, Gen 2 and Subway Mangawhai.

Gulf Harbour powerboat racing opens with four double winners

Read the opening round report and class results.

Read article →

What Gulf Harbour tells us about the NZ offshore powerboat champion

Explore the early season picture.

Read article →

Round 2 · 14 November 2026

Marsden Cove

Round 3 · 30 and 31 January 2027

Napier

Round 4 · 27 February 2027

Wellington

Official season calendar

Round 5 · 13 March 2027

Whitianga

Offshore powerboating season standings

Official NZOPA championship points after Gulf Harbour, 17 October 2026. The tables show points, not race placings.

Source: NZOPA’s official 2027 championship season results sheet. Updated 29 October 2026, New Zealand time. Blank cells are reproduced as published.

Sports 140

Sports 140 points after Gulf Harbour
Boat	Race 1 points	Race 2 points	Total points
Gipsy Danger	375	475	850
Coranto	300	375	675
Gold Ship	475	75	550
Nakita	75		75

Sports 200

Sports 200 points after Gulf Harbour
Boat	Race 1 points	Race 2 points	Total points
Gen 2	475	475	950
Supersonic	375	375	750
SKR	300	300	600
Mark Helms Marine	75		75

Sports 70

Sports 70 points after Gulf Harbour
Boat	Race 1 points	Race 2 points	Total points
Cougar	475	475	950
Chindit	375	375	750

Sports 80MPH

Sports 80MPH points after Gulf Harbour
Boat	Race 1 points	Race 2 points	Total points
Fury	75	75	150
Captain Caveman	75		75

Superboat 600

Superboat 600 points after Gulf Harbour
Boat	Race 1 points	Race 2 points	Total points
Espresso Engineers	375	475	850
Rainbow Haulage	475	75	550
Langslow Engineering	300	75	375

100 Mile

100 Mile points after Gulf Harbour
Boat	Race 1 points	Race 2 points	Total points
Espresso Engineers	375	475	850
Rainbow Haulage	475	75	550
Langslow Engineering	300	75	375

60 Mile

60 Mile points after Gulf Harbour
Boat	Race 1 points	Race 2 points	Total points
Gen 2	475	475	950
Cougar	375	375	750
Supersonic	300	300	600
SKR	244	244	488
Chindit	202	202	404
Gipsy Danger	146	170	316
Coranto	128	146	274
Gold Ship	170	75	245
Fury II	75	75	150
Mark Helms Marine	75		75
Captain Caveman	75		75
Nakita	75		75

Gulf Harbour nominated speed results

Official nominated speed placings from Gulf Harbour, 17 October 2026. This is a separate round classification, not a championship points table.

Source: NZOPA’s official Gulf Harbour 2026 nominated speed sheet.

Nominated speed

Gulf Harbour 2026 nominated speed placings
Position	Hull	Boat
1	53	Cougar
Equal 2	129	Coranto
Equal 2	14	Gen 2
4	2	Supersonic
5	82	Hijinx
6	8	Rayglass
7	104	Hidromek
8	19	Espresso Engineers
9	27	ASAP Couriers
10	29	Chindit
11	24	Subway Mangawhai