Wild wind wasn’t enough to deter spectators from lining the banks of the Hawkesbury River at Governor Phillip Park at the weekend for the running of the 2017 Windsor Powerboat Spectacular.
While some of the races were rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday due to dangerous winds, event organisers were able to find space to run every event over the course of the weekend.
John Davoll from the Upper Hawkesbury Powerboat Club said the wind didn’t stop some outstanding performances on the water, from the 75 entrants from across the country.
“Before the wind interruptions local Wilberforce driver Damon Thurgar in his boat Chevy Chase took out the Les Spears Trophy for Unlimited Inboards on Saturday,” Davoll said.
“We were fortunate enough to have perfect conditions on Sunday and the large crowd were presented with a great day of racing. Wisemans ferry local Rhys Coles was once again the star of the show taking all the heat wins to take out the Ron Beasley Silver Shield and also win the Cross Invitational.
“Lower Portland local Chris Pugsley was having a stand out day winning the six litre Miscreant Cup.”
The last race on the program was the King of the River, a race where the fastest inboards verse the fastest outboards.
Coles was winning before encountering engine problems, to see the prize go to Cranebrook local Greg Banks in his unlimited F1 outboard GBR.
He was once a crewman for racing legend Craig Bailey in the CC Grand Prix team, and at the weekend Simon Troy won the Gold Cup named after him at the 2017 Windsor Powerboat Spectacular.
Troy beat local lads Damon Cohen in boat CBR Anglomoil who finished second and Corey Davoll in CD Marine, third.
The Craig Bailey Gold Cup was one of the biggest races on the program for the Spectacular, which was held over two days, Saturday and Sunday.
Troy thanked his family and team for their support in preparing for the Spectacular and his fellow competitors on the water.
“I’d like to thank my dad and my grand dad, who do a lot of work at home to help keep me going,” Troy said.
“To win this race is a massive thing for me as I helped Craig for many years racing, travelling all over the countryside, so I’m very happy to win it.
“Also, to come here and race Corey at his home track. I knew I had to bring my A game to beat him.
“This was Damon's first competitive weekend in 120 in his new boat and he definitely ruffled a few feathers so congratulations to him as well.”
Cohen’s podium finish was an overwhelming result for the new comer to the F2 division.
“Standing up here between Corey and Simon who I have been watching for a number of years as a junior boat driver is overwhelming.
“I know we were all here to win the Craig Bailey Cup this weekend, so I’m a bit overwhelmed (to have finished second).”
Local lad Davoll praised the efforts of his competitors and the organisers of the event.
