Boating and ski-ing

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 10

Boating and ski-ing

The 50-mile power boat marathon on Lake Wakatipu to be held on Saturday has this year attracted 96 boats, including five starters from the North Island. The popularity of this winter event lies not only in the race, over three laps using the Frankton Arm of the lake, but also in the socil climate engendered by the organisers, the Gore Boat and Water Ski Club.

On the Sunday most of the drivers and crew men in the race will go ski-ing at Coronet Peak. Participants in the race in previous years make no secret of the fact that the ski-ing part of the week-end make the event a double attraction. The lead given by the relatively small Gore club could well be followed by larger clubs when they organise power boat trials, marathons and off-shore events. These are invariably held at the week-ends and a good attraction to take place on the Sunday after the event on the Saturday undoubtedly makes an entertaining week-end. In Christchurch, for instance, after the annual marathon on the Lyttelton Harbour, a jet boat outing on the Waimakariri River, a visit to one of the several ski-grounds within easy reach, or a visit to a highcountry station would be an attraction to many of the competitors from outside the local area. Most of the competitors in power boat marathons and off-shore races enter for the fun of it and, while hoping to do well, are not put off by the realisation that their craft may well be outmatched by those who use the events to test hulls and

engines for commercial kudos. Other clubs, it seems, could well take a leaf from the Gore Club’s book and make a week-end of sport, power boating plus other entertainment with drivers and crewmen participating. Such a programme must attract more entries. Leading driver Bill Shore, of Timaru, who drives Rebel, is leading the Cee Bee Marine driver of the year competition after the two South Island marathon power boat races already held this year. With a win at Kaikoura and a fifth at Ellesmere, he has 8 points. Frank Simpson (Mr Fi-Glass) with a win at Ellesmere is second with 6 points. Andrew Harding from Nelson and D. Delamere, of Christchurch, each with a second placing, at Ellesmere and Kaikoura respectively, are third equal with 5 points.