Marsden Cove hosts second round of NZ offshore powerboat championship

Round 2 of the 2026/27 New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championship heads to Marsden Cove this Saturday, 14 November, four weeks after the Gulf Harbour opener.

Two races are scheduled for 11am and noon NZDT. Prizegiving follows at 4pm at Marsden Cove Fishing Club. A team meet and greet runs from 5pm on Friday 13 November at the same venue.

Spectator viewing is available from the shore in front of Marsden Yacht and Boat Club at One Tree Point – the NZ Offshore Powerboat Association announcement refers to the venue as Marsden Cove Yacht Club. The race pits occupy the grass beside Rauiri Drive, opposite the marina buildings, where visitors can inspect boats before racing.

The championship standings after Gulf Harbour show Gen 2 leading Sports 200 with 950 points, 200 clear of Supersonic. Cougar tops Sports 70 on identical points, also with a 200-point buffer over Chindit. Gen 2 also leads the 60 Mile category, 200 points ahead of Cougar. Espresso Engineers holds commanding leads in both Superboat 600 and the 100 Mile category, sitting 300 points ahead of Rainbow Haulage in each. Gipsy Danger leads Sports 140 by 175 points from Coranto.

Four boats won both their class races at Gulf Harbour: Gen 2 (200HP), Cougar (Sports 70mph), Hidromek (Sports 80mph) and Subway Mangawhai (Family). Gen 2 and Cougar also won their respective classes in the completed 2025/26 championship, while Rainbow Haulage took Superboat 600 and the 100 Mile title last season.

Attrition was significant at the opener. Race 1 produced 16 finishers from 23 starters; Race 2 saw 13 finishers from 18 starters. Only 13 boats completed both races.

The Sports 80mph points table shows anomalies: Hidromek and Rayglass finished first and second in both

The championship continues to Napier on 30–31 January 2027, Wellington on 27 February and Whitianga on 13 March.