Top New Zealand crew Red Beach timed their run perfectly to beat the best crews from Australia at the Goodwill Surfboat Challenge at their home beach yesterday.
The host club's A crew were unbeaten in six races in flat conditions hampered by a strong cross wind. The A finalists were found after three rounds of four heats each, reducing the 18-strong open men's field down to the top 10.
Red Beach's closest Australian rival, Mooloolaba, finished just one point behind after the initial three rounds and second behind the champions in the two top-10 heats.
In the final, Red Beach led by a small margin at the buoy line. The crew extended their lead to a boat-length with just metres to go before the bow oarsman finished the race with a sprint up the beach. Mooloolaba, the current Australian champions, took second.
Mt Maunganui finished the three rounds of heats on equal points with Red Beach and won both their heats to find the final six crews. But the Bay of Plenty crew found the pace in the final too much, finishing third ahead of Paekakariki B from Wellington.
Current Australian national champions Bilgola were also unbeaten in the women's series, defeating the top New Zealand crew, from Whakatane.
- THE HERALD ON SUNDAY
Surfboats: Red Beach made to fight
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.