Cards on the decks

By ROBIN BAILEY


A new form of family boating that incorporates an element of friendly on-the-water competition is growing increasingly popular in New Zealand. It's the Poker Run, created in the United States.

The first run in New Zealand was in 1998 from Gulf Harbour to Pauanui. For that event a set of guidelines was developed by a team of enthusiastic people, some with a powerboat racing background.

One was Barry Thompson, magazine editor and former offshore racer. The next year the first NZ Propeller Magazine/Swashbucklers Poker Run was staged on the Hauraki Gulf.

Next Saturday (February 14), the fifth event he has organised will be held and it is shaping up to be huge. It will break new ground because, as well as a range of prizes with a nod to the commercial end of the marine market, there is a boating safety component.

Coastguard Northern Region will have one of its craft taking part and will be urging Poker Run contestants and their crews to increase their boating qualifications by giving away Day Skipper courses at the post-race prizegiving.

The format is simple. Five poker cards are handed out before, during and after the event. Card 1 is mailed to entrants with their information pack for the run. Card 2 is collected from a checkpoint at Rakino Island and the third is at Kawau Island.

Competitors break there for lunch at Pah Farm, before a sprint back to Auckland and the fourth card pick-up at the finish point off Rangitoto Lighthouse. The last card is retrieved at the event headquarters, Swashbucklers Restaurant at Westhaven, also the prizegiving venue.

All cards are in sealed envelopes and all is not revealed until the fifth envelope is opened.

Thompson emphasises that any sort of craft can enter. Previous fields have included jet-skis, launches, aged former offshore powerboats, inflatables and ski-boats.

"By far the biggest category is made up of family cabin runabouts, trailerable production boats from 5m to 8m in aluminium or GRP," Thompson says.

"Power can be anything from single outboards to twin sterndrives but, because speed is not a criteria, the winner can come from any type of entrant.

"I have run in everything from a high performance powercat to a 7m Haines Hunter and even an inflatable and the buzz comes from knowing you have just as much chance of a prize as the speed freaks."

Skipper of the boat that won last year's run was Mark Cleave, from Ocean Rafting, the Viaduct-based adventure ride operation. He took 20 people out on the company's triple-rig speedster and one of the paying punters took out the big travel prize.

Cleave has been a regular entrant with a variety of rigs, including an 850 Rayglass that performed well in 2002.

Kevin McRae and wife Ange have competed in every event despite coming home last at their first attempt in 1999. This year they have entered their new boat, a 25ft (7.6m) Donzi. The American import is a high-performance cruiser that still has all the home comforts aboard.

"The great thing about the runs is that even though it's not a race, and going fast won't win any prizes, there is a competitive element," says McRae.

"When you are plugging along at a comfortable clip and come alongside a similar boat or even a group having a bit of a tussle, it's impossible not to join in for a serious blast. It gives family boating the sort of buzz nothing else provides."

Cut-off date for entries has been extended to 5pm on Monday, February 9, to give organisers time to post out race information packs.

For entry details, phone (09) 309 5947 or e-mail doug@prop.co.nz