Whitianga, New Zealand, April, 2008 – It was inevitable that one round at least of the 2008 New Zealand Offshore Racing Championship would be served true ‘offshore’ conditions and Whitianga delivered the seas to test all the teams to the max.
Race day dawned with steady rain, overcast conditions and ‘no wind’ but by 1.00pm - race start time; this had changed completely, with a good 15 -20 knot onshore winds blowing into Buffalo Beach. Driver Greg Brinck wasn’t impressed with what met them, “We did our customary practice lap to check where the course markers etc were.
On the long leg out to Pinnacle rock I knew it was going to be an arduous day. The seas were short and steep like a launching pad, not ideal conditions for our Force F19x.
Luckily we had anticipated these conditions so we had the boat full of fuel and full of ballast to try and keep it in the water”.
The other 4 class rivals suffered from swamping, lost engines and broken gear leaving Team Konica Minolta to win their class and valuable points in 60 mile Championship.
Eldon was quick to compliment the boat. “For a boat that is ideal in light to medium conditions, the Evinrude E-TEC™ 225 HO powered Force F19x handled it well. There were times when we almost stopped as we slammed into the swell. The incredible torque and response of the Evinrude E-TEC™ engine just popped us back on the plane so quick, & once we got into a steady rhythm, we managed to catch and pass the two larger Classic Class boats, Marine Works and Spirit of Cheyenne.”
Eventually the race was called off after lap 4 due to the deteriorating conditions and the attrition rate amongst the competitors. “There was definitely a big sigh of relief when we saw that chequered flag at the end of the 4th lap. At that point the body was already telling me it had had enough” said Greg after the race.
Again Evinrude E-TEC's DQR (Durability, Quality, and Reliability) reinforces how confident the company is with their product. BRP has chosen to offer a full 3 year warranty on all Evinrude E-TEC motors, even in the racing environment!
It's the combination of lightweight and high torque that make E-TEC accelerate faster and achieve higher top speeds than almost any other outboard in its class. 90° V6 with 3.3 liters of displacement for the ultimate in power and torque No maintenance for three years. No oil, no problem. Longer engine life.
Cleanest engine in the world - Uses less fuel - Runs quiet - Full-throttle from day one - Less corrosion.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo® and Lynx® snowmobiles, Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Evinrude® and Johnson® outboard engines, direct injection technologies such as Evinrude E-TEC™, Can-Am™ all-terrain vehicles and roadsters, and Rotax® engines and karts.
www.brp.com
®™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.
For Information:
For Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands:
Helen Bromage
Events Co-ordinator, BRP Australia Pty Ltd
+ 61 (02) 9794 6632
helen.bromage@brp.com