Big boat action back in the Bay

GETTING AIRBORNE: The New Zealand offshore powerboat series will tear across Poverty Bay again on Saturday. The series was last here in 2013 (pictured above). The boats will parade through the CBD on Saturday morning and launch at the harbour boat ramp. This is race three of the series. File picture

POVERTY Bay will resound to the thunderous roar of the New Zealand offshore powerboat series when it returns to Gisborne this Saturday.

More than 20 of the big boats will be in action.

The “McCannics ENZED Gisborne Thunder Out East” event is race three in a seven-race national series this summer.

The powerboats in the field will arrive in Gisborne on Friday.

“One of the highlights is the street parade to showcase the boats up close for the public to see,” said Gisborne event organiser Chris Lankshear.

The parade heads through the Gisborne CBD at 10am on Saturday.

“One of the other places to be will be at the launching of the boats at the harbour boat ramp.

“Listening to them start up is an absolute must for any petrolhead,” Mr Lankshear said.

He feels the best place to view the race, which begins at noon, will be along the city beachfront from Waikanae to Midway beach.

“This race is fully televised and will showcase Gisborne in the coming months.

“Staging this race in Gisborne again would not be possible without our generous sponsors.”

Mr Lankshear said it was hoped local powerboat fans would see the boat Topaz racing again in the classic class.

“Topaz will remembered by many from the 1970s, when it raced here against Gisborne powerboat legend Mick Sheridan in Nicolette.”