New Zealand Offshore Powerboating's championship campaign arrives in Gisborne this weekend, with Poverty Bay hosting the next round across several closely contested classes.
A strong fleet is expected on the East Coast. Blue Pill, Cougar, Coranto, Fury II, Gen2, Gold Ship, Langslow Engineering, Rainbow Haulage, Supersonic, Triple Trouble, and Purple Rain are all set to line up. Before Saturday's action, fans have an opportunity to get up close this evening, with a selection of race boats parked at Total Fleet Solutions from 1630 to 2000. Crews will be on hand to meet the public and let them inspect the machinery.
Saturday's programme gets under way at 0700, with race control set up opposite The Works Café on the Esplanade. Scrutineering begins at 0800 as boats arrive in the pits, entries close at 0900, and a combined competitor briefing takes place at 0930 at the Inner Harbour boat ramp. Launches are from 1045, with races scheduled for 1200 and 1300. Prize giving follows at 1900 at the Tatapouri Fishing Club. Organisers have noted that race formats or timing may be adjusted to suit the weather if required.
Gisborne is carrying a 65 percent chance of rain, though winds are forecast to remain light. For crews who dealt with far harsher conditions in Napier, that outlook should be well within reach.
Fury reinforced its Sports 80mph dominance at Napier with a double win, taking top spot overall in the 60 Mile contest ahead of Cougar. Sports 200 was controlled by Triple Trouble across both days, extending its advantage over Gen2 in the standings. Supersonic had a difficult time, with steering and ignition problems forcing retirements on consecutive days. Superboat 600 produced a more balanced outcome, with Rainbow Haulage and Langslow Engineering splitting the victories and leaving that class finely poised.
Triple Trouble arrives in Gisborne with momentum and a rich family history behind it. The #333 carries a story spanning generations, from Bob Smith and Ted Taiatini's early rivalry on Rotorua's lakes to Alex Smith now at the helm alongside Mark Taiatini. Championships, breakages, late nights, and lifelong friendships are all woven into the programme, and after Napier the momentum rests firmly with them.
Gen2 Racing, piloted by Mikey Smith with Shane Rumens, is pushing hard to reclaim class honours while championing offshore racing's grassroots revival. Their Gulf Harbour performance stands as a season highlight, and they will be keen to close the gap on Triple Trouble when racing gets under way off Poverty Bay.
The action unfolds offshore, with the coastline between Waikanae Surf Club and Midway Surf Club offering the best public vantage points. With reliability already having shaped the series across several classes and a tightening points race adding pressure, the Gisborne round shapes as a significant moment in the 2026 campaign.
