Pair claim Jet Boat Marathon title

Photo: Mike Smith/SSS Engineering.
Photo: Mike Smith/SSS Engineering.
Blenheim’s John Derry, and navigator Brent Hefford travel through the Shotover Canyon under the Edith Cavell Bridge at Arthurs Point on Saturday, on their way to claiming the 2016 New Zealand Jet Boat Marathon title. 

Derry, the race organiser, took the title from 23 drivers over the 16-stage event. 

Queenstown’s Shaun Kelly came second and Greg Simpson, of Marlborough, came third.

Saturday was the final day of the week-long competition, in which  entrants first raced from Glenorchy Ramp to Beansburn, on the Dart River, and back again before taking the action to Queenstown.

Crowds gathered at Queenstown Bay, where the scent of avgas filled the air as boats slowly circled waiting to speed past  TSS Earnslaw on their way to the Edith Cavell Bridge on the Shotover River, via the Kawarau River.

The final leg of the event was the return leg from the bridge, ending at the Frankton Marina.

Derry took the 2016 title with an overall time of 5min 33.09sec, followed by KJet’s Kelly (6min 24.26sec) and Simpson (7min 16.01sec).

Next year, New Zealand will host the World Jet Boat Marathon, which will follow the same course as last week’s event. 

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