Lewis and Shand finished more than a lap up on nearest rival and 32ft Superboat 600-class catamaran Outboard Pro, raced by Whangarei couple Haydon and Delia Spiers, making considerably better of the Napier race than they had back in 2013 when they were rescued from the sea and taken to hospital after crashing a much smaller bat-boat just after taking a last-lap lead in the 60-mile classes of the Napier race.
Third was the 28ft Fuel Doctor, raced by Auckland team Allan Branch and Alex Smith, while the 60-mile category was won by Espresso Engineers, a 23ft monohull raced by Mike Gerbic and Gordon Robinson, triumphing in a keen contest with Shannon Martin and Aaron Fletcher, racing Classic-class monohull Race 4 Life.
Auckland racer Max Carson, who with brother Jamie received minor injuries when boat D&H Steel was wrecked in the fifth round at Doubtless Bay in the Far North earlier this month, was back in action in a borrowed boat with sister Shara substituting for Jamie to resume the Sports 200 family rivalry with Red Steel, and Napier cousin Charlotte Carson.
It was the Napier boat that triumphed, although the Auckland team holds the upper-hand for class honours heading to Whitianga.
It wasn't so good news for Charlotte's father, Tony, who had opted out of her boat for the day to join Taupo racer Gavin McGrath in Classic boat Gull Force 10, which was withdrawn at the start with a possible blown valve, and leaking oil into the sea.
Only one other boat, Outlaw, also a Classic, did not complete the race, although it returned to the sea to join the fleet after running repairs at the launching ramp.
Among the finishers behind Race 4 Life in the Classic Class was Pist n Broke, the Sleekline monohull with which Tony Carson and brother Wayne won the national drivers' championship in 1993.