Full speed ahead

Steve Trott’s open class hydroplane has two 15cc engines that run on methanol. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

There must be something very satisfying in creating a radio controlled model power boat from scratch, but an even bigger satisfaction seeing it fly across the water at a maximum of 140km per hour.

The finishing touches are being put on about 80 model power boats registered for the Radio Controlled Power Boat New Zealand Nationals at Lake Taurikura, in the industrial area of The Lakes, on March 26-27.

Bay of Plenty Model Power Boat Club president Steve Trott says depending on the type of craft and size of the motor, the boats can reach speeds of more than 100km per hour.

'When you get into the big guns where we've got the best of the best, who have invested heavily in the machines they use, then they're capable of 140km. That's not messing around – that's real speed.”

Hosted by BOP Model Power Boat Club for the third time, the national event includes a range of boat classes divided into hull types and motor sizes.

'It's going to be pretty busy,” says Steve, who will also be racing this weekend. 'It's what we would describe as overall sprint racing; it's a race over five laps, it's pretty cut throat, intense and very exciting to watch.”

Bay club members will have their eyes on the Thunder Down Under Trophy, a regional club trophy for the best performing club at a national event. 'We've held that for three years in a row now, so we're gunning to keep it on our shelf,” says Steve.

The regatta culminates in the President's Cup for the year's best performing competitors of every association event held nationwide.

'I think we've got BOP members leading the way there,” says Steve. 'That could go two or three different ways at this stage, so again we really hoping that somebody from the Bay can pull that off as well.

'That's probably the most prestigious award you can win, it basically gives you the right to display NZ1 on your boat for the next 12 months and shows you're the best around.”

But the club isn't all about the seriousness of racing, it's about fun too.

'There's a range of guys who want to achieve different things from it; there are some guys who simply enjoy building the boat to start with and then we've got the guys who just enjoy going out and having a bit of a roar around,” says Steve, who has been involved in model power boat racing for 30 years and has competed in two world championships.

The public is invited to the Radio Controlled Power Boat New Zealand Nationals at Lake Taurikura on March 26-27 from 9am-4pm.

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