Twodegreesnorth were just two minutes and four seconds outside the hour barrier. (Picture by Tim Prout, 0592261)

WHAT a difference the weather makes. In the sixth championship race of the year every class record was smashed by rowers who clearly relished some of the calmest waters of the season to date.

Twenty-two crews turned out for the 12km World Challenge race, the longest of the year so far, which took them south from Havelet Bay to Gabrielle then   east to Lower Heads buoy, north to Demi Ferriere and back.

The race originally formed part of the inaugural 2006 World Rowing Coastal Challenge Regatta and proved so popular it has now become a regular fixture for the racing season.

Drama surrounded the beginning of the race, when just seconds into the start the mixed pair FRM was accidentally hit by a Rib as it was unknowingly driven across the path of the racing boats.  Crew member Sam de Kooker narrowly avoided the blades of the outboard motor.