Thundercat racing lived up to its reputation as a fiercely competitive sport at Mount Maunganui yesterday, when three boats flipped and co-pilots were tossed into the surf during the action.
More than 3000 people gathered to watch the 50hp twin-hulled inflatable boats launch themselves over the waves at the Mount MainBeach in round two of the 2011 National Surfcross Series.
Thundercat Association president Steve Frogley said the day proved a treat for spectators, with the mix of tight competition between the 17 teams and choppy surf conditions resulting in three flips and the occasional overboard crewman.
"We had the odd guy getting flung out of their boats. Collisions and people getting thrown out are fairly common."
At one point, Blue Cougar co-pilot Perrin Reilly was knocked out of his boat during a collision with another boat.
Mr Frogley said co-pilots, who he likened to co-drivers in sidecar racing, had just footstraps and "grab ropes" to keep them intact.
"A lot of the time they get thrown out when the boats turn sharply. But they came out of it alright and there were no injuries."
Racing again took place around a short, W-shaped circuit near the surfline and finishing with a dash up the beach.
The winners on the day were a team of Aucklanders - 20-year-old Logan Pringle and 23-year-old Chris Wells of Smuggler Marine, who narrowly headed off runners-up Black Pepper and Jungle Coffee.
spectator numbers were up this year and Mr Frogley believed many on the beach were passengers from the visiting cruise ships.
"We took people for rides in the boats afterward and quite a lot of them were foreign tourists."
With four race days left in the surfcross series, it was too early for Mr Frogley to pick a clear front-runner, but said yesterday's top three would be ones to watch.
Those who missed out on yesterday's race can catch the Thundercats again at Waihi Beach from 11am this Saturday.
