Coromandel Life Spring/Holiday 2014

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for the bone-shaking punishment it would
endure in the competition, thanks to the
generous support from the Canadians. Kiwi
races are as short as ten minutes, but this
Nanaimo 57-59 km ocean race weaves up the
coast and around some islands.
The operator sits in the tub, ups the throttle
and the boat flies over the water, kicking up
a keen spray and often going airborne when
hitting a wave or wake. Each racer is escorted
by a personal chase boat and wife Chrissie
was aboard John’s (bedecked with the NZ
flag) ready to aid and assist.
Booker swept up to shore with his Stock
Class racer, stumbling on shaky sea legs
(as most racers did) uphill to ring the bell
on the finish platform. He trailed the overall
winner Nathan Barlow (in the speedier Super
Modified class) by 37 minutes. He was told in
most races over half of the competitiors don’t
finish. John tells TV interviewers at the finish
line (above) that he had fuel line problems and
had to bail the boat out twice during the race.
John jokingly added that he stole the tub from
his wife’s bathroom for his first boat because,
as John shared, “In NZ, competitors must
use a real bathtub and its base has to stick
through the bottom of the hull.” (Regulations
for the Namaimo race allow tub ‘shapes’ to be
made from fibreglass and the hull can cover
the tub itself.)
When asked “why the heck did you come all
the way from New Zealand for this!?” John
answered “I’m addicted.”
Plans are in the works to build a boat and
have it stored in Nanaimo for Kiwi champs to
use every year.
Plumbing
Fixtures
Drainage
Gas Fitters
Fireplace inserts
EMERGENCY?
Call us now on
07 866 4838
Robbie: 027 492 8639
Anthony: 027 295 3243
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Repairs & Installations
30 Campbell Street, Whitianga
Pl
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before 6th September 2015
to be in the draw to WIN.
For full terms & conditions see rwwhitianga.co.nz.
This promotion is only available through
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Wh i t ianga
Blue Water Real Estate Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008) trading as Ray White Whitianga
Heather
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0274 487 567
heatherbenson.raywhite.co.nz/
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Corley |
027 294 0909
taracorley.raywhite.co.nz/
Licensee
Salesperson
Continued from previous page.
43 COROMANDEL LIFE LATE SPRING/HOLIDAY