A breakthrough win for Toni Lowe and a strong opening fleet gave the brand-new Hydroplane Invitational Series a confident start at Mangakino, with two more rounds to come at Karapiro and Arapuni in early 2026.
The series was put together with a clear purpose: to return small inboard hydros to the centre of competitive racing. Organised by the H2000 "Collective", it concentrates on naturally aspirated four-cylinder hydroplanes displacing up to 2.4 litres. The aim is to gather boats of comparable size and performance, deliver consistent racing, and grow class numbers over time. Three rounds make up the inaugural campaign, with December's Mangakino event first up before the series heads to Karapiro and then Arapuni.
Conditions at Mangakino were close to ideal for round one, and the fleet that assembled reflected genuine enthusiasm for the new format. Breaking Point, Mista Dolla, New Obsession, Miss Behaving, Tempo 2, and Triple Threat were all on hand for four-lap racing on the standard oval course. A reshuffle of the regatta schedule also opened the door for Iron Maiden to join the field, adding pace and experience to the day.
The early running was not without drama. Triple Threat was dealt a significant blow when a big end failure ended its day in the opening heat, and Tempo 2 was forced to withdraw after losing a shaft. Both crews have signalled their intention to return, and work is already under way to have the boats ready for Karapiro.
Clock starts placed timing at the heart of the competition, and the varying results showed just how much that skill matters at this level. Some competitors timed their approaches well, others found room for improvement, but throughout the fleet the pace was tight and the racing stayed clean. Boats ran side by side through the turns, sharing spray and keeping spectators engaged.
Iron Maiden, the sole F3 representative in the field, showed that class boundaries count for little when a boat is well prepared and properly driven. It ran strongly throughout the day and, had the team formally entered the series prior to racing, would have claimed third overall in the standings.
The standout moment of the day belonged to Miss Behaving's driver Toni Lowe. Composed and measured across her heats, she converted her performance into a first legitimate race win. For a period she held the series lead, before Breaking Point moved ahead in the final heat to take top spot.
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Despite the early retirements, Mangakino confirmed that the format works. The boats are closely matched, the field has real room to grow, and the racing already looks both reliable and entertaining. The points table after round one has Breaking Point on 83, with Miss Behaving close behind on 79 and New Obsession on 63. Mista Dolla holds fourth with 1 point, while Tempo 2 and Triple Threat are yet to score following their mechanical misfortune.
With the boats that retired expected back for round two, and Tony Christiansen expected to launch a full rebuild, Karapiro is shaping up to be an even stronger event.
