Jet-boating race crews finish tough week

Spectators watch as Gareth Munro (Christchurch) speeds under a bridge over the Dart River near Glenorchy in his A class boat on Saturday. Photos: Paul Taylor.
Spectators watch as Gareth Munro (Christchurch) speeds under a bridge over the Dart River near Glenorchy in his A class boat on Saturday. Photos: Paul Taylor.
Duayne "Dweeb'' Insley
Duayne "Dweeb'' Insley
Each boat sported a "Dweeb'' sticker in memory of Duayne "Dweeb'' Insley.
Each boat sported a "Dweeb'' sticker in memory of Duayne "Dweeb'' Insley.
Marathon runner-up Regan Williamson (right), of Queenstown, and mechanic Blair Christmas at Frankton Marina, on Saturday.
Marathon runner-up Regan Williamson (right), of Queenstown, and mechanic Blair Christmas at Frankton Marina, on Saturday.

Newly-crowned world jet-boat marathon champion John Derry says last week was one of his toughest in racing after the death of Glenorchy man Duayne Insley.

John Derry.
John Derry.
Derry, of Blenheim, held off Queenstown's Regan Williamson to clinch the UIM World Championship Jetboat Marathon title on Saturday in his gas-turbine powered boat NZ1.

The final legs of the marathon were held on the Dart River - home water to Mr Insley, who died while navigating in the marathon on the Waimakariri River in Canterbury last Sunday.

The marathon worked its way down the South Island's rivers though the week.

Mr Derry, at Saturday's ceremonial finish line in Queenstown, said: ''We had a few emotional words from the family this morning up there and that probably hit home for the racers.

''It's been a really long week, one of the toughest marathons I've done - a tough week with the accident.''

Saturday morning's course passed within a few kilometres of High Country Horses, which Mr Insley, known as ''Dweeb'' to the racing fraternity, owned and operated with his wife Deana.

He had won a world championship himself, with driver Dwayne Terry in the FX class in 2013, proposing to Deana before accepting the title in Monaco.

Hundreds of spectators watched the racing on Saturday morning.

Mr Williamson said there was a sombre mood among the scores of drivers, navigators, mechanics and support crew from around the world. Over the week, 39 boats competed.

''Everyone this week has been racing for Dweeb,'' he said.

''It just shows how tight our racing community is. Everyone's pulled together. It's been a tough week for everyone but it was quite humbling and a good honour to go and race that river in his name this morning.''

All the jet-boats and many of the vehicles carried a ''Dweeb'' sticker.

''This marathon was a tribute to him.''

A celebration of Mr Insley's life was held yesterday afternoon at Paradise Trust, Glenorchy.

On Saturday, the final leg with a mass start at Queenstown Bay had to be cancelled due to choppy conditions on Lake Wakatipu.

Instead, the three fastest boats, all in the unlimited class, did a victory lap on a course set around Frankton Arm.

And there were celebrations at the finish line at Frankton marina, as no doubt Mr Insley would have wanted, many said, with Derry and navigator Nick Smith showered with champagne and chased into the cold lake waters by his team and rivals. It is Derry's second world title, having won on New Zealand rivers in 2013. He is also five-time NZ champion.

''It's fantastic,'' he said.

''Both titles were won in the Queenstown area - it's a great place to race. We had amazing weather and a fantastic team.

''Some of my best mates were close to me, so a great battle.''

He was looking forward to getting some rest.

''I'll sleep tonight, I can tell you that. It's a big team, lots of racing around to keep the boat going and yourself going, so I'm definitely looking forward to some rest.''

Williamson, meanwhile, is targeting next year's event in Mexico.

''[The gap to Mr Derry] was three minutes, so we got a good hiding in the end.

''But last year we were third when we raced over in the States, this year second, so surely it's the next progression.''

He plans to fit a more powerful turbine to his boat.

Canterbury's Kevin Hyde was third of the quickest piston-powered race boats.

Christchurch's Justin Hill won the A class, while Queenstowner Mark Agnew in Alpine Jet took the CX Class, and Kaitangata's Greg Wilson won the FX Class.

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