An underwater club from Opua has won one of Northland's most peculiar - and longest-running - races for the seventh year in a row.
The Russell-Paihia Snorkel Scuba Race has become something of an institution since it was founded 30 years ago and attracts teams from as far away as
Auckland. It is basically a relay race in which competitors snorkel - and, in the case of the final team member, scuba dive - across the 3.5km Veronica Channel, using a decoy duck as a baton. The diver then has to shed his or her tank and flippers, sprint up the beach and down a beer.
Port Valley Opua completed Saturday's race in 39 minutes, a minute shy of last year's record but still comfortably ahead of second-placed Wettie Young Guns from Auckland. It was the seventh win in a row for the Opua club.
With the event clocking up its 30th anniversary, Bay of Islands Underwater Club secretary Dave Wadsworth said a real effort was made to promote the race and boost the number of teams entering. Thirteen took part this year, well up on last year's six.
"We're stoked that we got a lot more teams than normal. We picked up the baton with publicity this year."
