The banks of the Whanganui River proved a popular spot for spectators taking in the action during the Wanganui Motor Boat Club's annual regatta. Photo/Bevan Conley
The banks of the Whanganui River proved a popular spot for spectators taking in the action during the Wanganui Motor Boat Club's annual regatta. Photo/Bevan Conley
A spanner was thrown into the works of the North Island title races at the Wanganui Motor Boat Club's annual feature regatta.
Club commodore Jason Buttimore said yesterday competitor numbers were down at the weekend after many craft sustained damage at a regatta the previous weekend in Foxton.
"We endedup with 26 boats from throughout the country at our regatta and that's slightly down on previous years," Buttimore said.
"There were quite a few that sustained (mechanical) damage at Foxton the week before and couldn't line up in Wanganui, so the decision was made to cancel some North Island title events that we would normally have hosted."
Despite the numbers and the abandonment of the North Island feature events, Buttimore said the regatta was a success and went ahead without incident.
"It's a pretty popular regatta and free entertainment for spectators. I was in the start boat most of the day and there appeared to be a lot of people lining both banks of the Whanganui River watching the action."
Buttimore said racing action had come to an end for the season as winter loomed.
"That was our final regatta for the season and our feature event for the year. With winter arriving, we wind down."
