BLAXLANDS RIDGE resident Nathan Mills won the Double Dash outright at the weekend.
The Double Dash, which has replaced the Upper Hawkesbury Power Boat Club’s Bridge to Bridge race, was hosted on the Hawkesbury River at the weekend.
Mills had never won the Bridge to Bridge, but was thrilled to hold off some close competition to win the race.
Mills had to wait until 5pm on Sunday at the trophy presentation to find out he was the winner, after a tight battle with David Minton, who claimed second place in Mills’ class.
“David and I were pretty much side by side for most of the second leg and it was really enjoyable,” he said.
“He pipped me to the post right at the finish and luckily enough I had a better run in the first leg.”
Mills was lucky to avoid an incident on the water, when a boat crashed, although luckily no one was injured.
“There were four boats in the lead pack and one boat blew over backwards,” he said.
“We all slowed up and had our belts off and lids open ready to jump in the water if we had to. Once I saw he was ok, I was off again.”
Mills said he was still figuring out the best way to drive his boat, Phoenix.
“I am learning to drive it better and better each time and hopefully this win is the first of many,” he said.
“The boat has only been on the water for 18 months and I'm very happy with how it is going.”
Upper Hawkesbury Power Boat Club commodore John Davoll said the race was nearly hiccup free in its second year.
“We only had one major accident near Sackville on the first leg up. The boat is repairable I think and Doug Smith walked away injury free,” he said.
“The event was a success. We had the SES helping out with the surveillance boats down the river, which helped us run the event.”
Davoll said it was ncie to see youngsters from ages nine and up taking part in a mini-race from Windsor to Wilberforce and back.
Adam Lees in Doctor Evil was second outright, while John Timbs in Race Craft came home third.
Davoll thanked all the volunteers, including the SES, who helped with the event.
