TWO Mount Gambier mates are set to put it all on the line in Round 5 of the 2018 Riverland Dinghy Club Championship Series tomorrow.
Nick Neave and Anthony Tos will join the competition for the endurance event this weekend in their first foray into the sport.
The exciting sport sees small, customised “tinnys” with big engines complete runs through the open rivers and creeks around Renmark on the Murray River.
Teams of two compete in a two-lap time-trailed course.
Tos and Neave will compete in the 30hp standard group.
Tos said he looked forward to participating in the high-octane series and while it is their first time competing, they are no strangers to the format.
“We have been there before to watch the event and have always been interested in it,” he said.
“An opportunity came up to do it, so we have gone all out.
“Obviously we have been there and watched it on YouTube, but do not really know what to expect, as the river height changes and conditions vary.”
Tos and Neave rebuilt their 3.2m Stacer tinny and trailer.
The tinny has been modified extensively, lowered, with extra bracing to take the pounding expected in the event.
The boat runs a 30hp Yamaha engine and can reach speeds up to 73kph.
A special wrap finished the build, which Neave was pleased with.
“If we are not going to win, we better be the best looking team there,” he said.
“But it did not matter what condition the boat was in, we were always going to race.”
Neave will take the controls and drive the tinny, while Tos has the job of navigating, or “swinging” at the front end.
The two are under no illusions the competition will be easy.
“This will be a bit of a test run to see how we will go next year,” Neave said.
“The season starts with the big Dinghy Derby race which is pretty famous.”
The two spent countless hours preparing the boat, along with practice runs at the Valley Lakes, with more than one race in mind.
“We entered without anything ready so I have been up until 1am for the past two weeks working on the boat,” Neave said.
“There’s been a lot of help from our sponsors and we could not have pulled it off in such a short time without them.”
Neave said other competitors were very secretive about their setups and tactics, leaving much of it to guesswork for the rookie team.
During an event it is not uncommon to see boats crash and sink, but Neave has a simple philosophy.
“To achieve anything in this game, you must be prepared to dabble on the boundary of disaster,” he said.
Although the boys are the only South East competitors this round, other friends of theirs have boats in the works for future events.
“Hopefully more people from the region will take an interest in the sport,” Tos said.
“Maybe one day we will have a similar race down here if enough people join in the fun.”
Whatever the outcome, the pair look forward to the challenge and the enjoyment of the weekend ahead.
“It is great to be in a team with one of my best mates,” Neave said.
“We cannot wait to get up there and see how it all pans out.”
Tos and Neave’s event will begin at 10am tomorrow.
