MORE than 70 boats will contest a packed three day program when Taree Aquatic Powerboat Club conducts the Easter in August Classic.
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The event, which will feature four Australian championships, will run from August 6 to 8. This will include the 10th running of the Liberty Cup, a race for inboard displacement, unlimited outboard and 6 litre boats.
Taree Aquatic Powerboat Club was forced to postpone this year's Easter Classic due to the disastrous March floods. The 2020 classic was also scrapped because of the pandemic.
Powerboat club commodore Scott Godfrey said it was always the intention to run the classic this year.
"We need to get through the Australian championship program,'' he said.
"At this stage all the drivers who would have been here at Easter have indicated they'll be coming. We might even pick up four or five extra boats from the southern states if they're allowed to travel.''
Unlike the usual Easter Classic, Mr Godfrey said there'll be racing on the three days, starting on the Friday afternoon. At Easter Good Friday is usually restricted to practice.
"We'll probably start events from around noon on the Friday,'' Mr Godfrey explained.
"We're going to have such a big program so we'll have to race on the extra day.''
Mr Godfrey said Australian championship events will dominate racing on the Saturday.
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Sunday's program will include events traditionally run on the Easter Classic, including the Geoff Stephenson Memorial and the King of the River.
Paul Bennett's air show will also feature on the Sunday from around noon. Bennett, originally from Old Bar, is an aerobatic pilot who has won Australian Aerobatic Championships in advanced and unlimited categories. He was a big hit with spectators at the 2019 classic. He is now based in the Hunter area.
Big crowds usually flock to riverbank vantage points for the classic. Mr Godfrey expects this will again be the case this year, despite the event being held in winter.
However, he hopes the club will be able to return to Easter next year. "That's what we're planning, unless there's another pandemic or natural disaster,'' he said.
