Gisborne's Justin Martin gave Auckland crews a wake-up call at the Auckland IRB surf championships at Muriwai.
The Wainui club team, led by Martin, dominated the single and assembly rescue series of races and could have made a clean sweep of all three major events had they brought another two patients to have three available for the mass rescue series.
The Gisborne team's success was achieved as much by their precise preparation as their ability on the water.
Martin and team members, crewman Nathan Teutenberg and patient Cara Colquhoun, made sure that the outboard motor was set exactly at the right depth and the vertical angle gave the IRB (inflatable rescue boat) the maximum forward thrust.
The Wainui team were just as interested in gaining race experience as they were in their medal count.
Martin was recently named the IRB operator for the New Zealand team, the Southern Mako, to contest the Australian Surf League next month.
"It was as important to build up race experience for the Australian league series as to win medals at these championships," he said. "We have only a few weeks before the series in Australia."
The successes of the Auckland teams were evenly spread among Mairangi Bay, Muriwai and Piha.
Lifesaving: Gisborne IRB crew rock Auckland boat
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.