However, mother nature came into play as Drysdale had to slow with a log looming in front of him, 500m from the railway bridge, and Bond pounced to pull out to a four length lead.
Coming to the 3km mark, the champion Drysdale had gamely pulled back some of that advantage, putting in 43 strokes per minute as Bond slowed to 32-33 before making the final push.
Coming into sight of supporters on the jetty at the Union Boat Club as they passed under Dublin St bridge, Bond had reasserted his four length advantage as both men were feeling the strain.
Bond would cross the line at around the 19m 29s mark, with Drysdale only two and a half lengths behind him after a big comeback, but ultimately the log had the final say.
There was a tighter bunch of about four boats in contention for third, with a Blenheim crew emerging as the podium place-getter.
Bond said he had to grip the oars so tightly in the current that he could not feel his forearms afterwards.
"The first 2km I just felt like getting run over by a steamroller.
"That was some of the toughest conditions I've raced in.
"I had to work really hard and came off to the side of the course Mahe was on.
"If Mahe got 5-6 lengths in front of me I knew I'd just be kicking myself."
Seeing his fellow Olympic gold medallist get tangled up with the log, Bond knew he just had to cover his side and then hang on at the finish.
"It was a bit ugly but I'm sure [Mahe] would say it wasn't the prettiest race of his life either."
Drysdale was not offering excuses.
"You never know would could have happened.
"Part of river racing is making sure your course is good but I got a little too far over. It's my fault.
"It was a pretty tough race, actually, that first 2km was really tough.
"Hamish got the good start and I couldn't peg it back."
For Christchurch's Spoors, part of the women's quad that came fifth at the world championships, untamed river racing was a new experience, probably not helped by the fact the standout athlete had competed in the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge the day before.
"Tougher than I expected because of the conditions," she said.
"I was just focused on staying in my boat for the first leg."
Spoors said she would love to bring her New Zealand crewmates back in 2016 to race them on the river, and the veteran campaigner Drysdale also confirmed he is likely to return.
"I think so, obviously the plan is to row through until Rio [Olympics] so I'll look to compete after that."
Meanwhile, it was a random draw for the starting lanes in the Aon Jury Cup's corporate eight challenge after Saturday's qualifying races were cancelled.
In the end, it was the defending champions Aon Risk Takers who were comfortable winners, maintaining a two boat length advantage while the Leading Edge crew from Wanganui District Council held out for second in a close finish with the Stringrays Haden & Custance.
As well as the Aon team, it was the second Jury Cup win for captain Pat Spriggens, who won with the Display Associates team back in the very first corporate race event.
"Rules were slightly different then - you were allowed four [regular] rowers in it," he said.