Thundercats tough it out

Strong winds and rain did not deter Thundercat Racing Team NZ when it held a raceday at Waihi Beach last Saturday.

Five teams took part, two from Tauranga, two from Hamilton and one from Auckland. Each boat had to complete five laps of the course, contending with the strong winds and large waves.

The Waihi Beach race-day was a part of the year-long series and was a "surf-cross" event where contenders start with a "Le Mans-style" start where the driver dashes out into knee-deep water to the co-pilot holding the boat.

The teams then battle it out over several laps on a rectangular-shaped course running parallel to the shoreline in as little as 300mm of water.

The finish is dramatic as boats skid up the beach for co-pilots to leap out the front of their boats and run to the finish line.