The Titahi Bay surf boat crew sealed a spot in the New Zealand team after dominant performance in the latest round of the national series in Whangamata on Thursday.

The Kapiti Coast crew of Nick Boyd, Jordan Te Paa, Dean Ellis, Jono Boyd and sweep Wil McDowell won a tight final over arch-rivals Piha, having also beaten them in the semifinals and in a four-race trial earlier in the day. Selectors confirmed their spot late in the day, with Wil delighted to be taking on Australia's best in Newcastle next month after his crew narrowly missed out last year.

The Omanu under-23 men's crew competing at today's Whangamata Surf Boat Spectacular. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services.

"It's been a big day and the boys were starting to feel it through the rounds but they found a bit extra in the semifinal and final," says Wil. "We had a good chat together and talked about the disappointment last year and how the only thing we could do was make it clear-cut for the selectors this year. Last year was definitely in the back of my mind and I think we all used it as motivation today."

Titahi Bay benefitted from the return of veteran Dean Ellis, bolstering his relatively youthful teammates who have come up through the under-23 ranks.

"Dean's been in New Zealand teams in the past and having that experience in the boat has just been invaluable. We had a good platform to work from but he's been a big factor in helping getting us to where we are today."

Mairangi Bay, featuring trans-Tasman rower Shaun Quincey, came through for third in the men's final, while Piha sweep Mark Bourneville provided a nice touch, wishing McDowell and his crew all the best in Australia after the final.

Titahi Bay are joined in the national ranks by Red Beach's champion women's crew, who beat Piha and Omanu in the female final.

Eligibility and injury issues meant the women's trial was abandoned, so Red Beach's Zita Talaic-Burgess said her crew was determined to make the rest of the racing count.

"We came prepared to do a lot of races and we had to perform no matter what, especially if we're the ones going to Australia," says Zita. "We've done lots of training, both on and off the water, to prepare for this season and we're delighted to be able to claim the win today."

The Red Beach ranks are Kelly Andrew, Katrina Gouldstone, Ashleigh Jenkins, Madison Smith and sweep Shane O'Halloran, with O'Halloran also sweeping the Red Beach under-23 men's crew to victory over Piha and Waihi Beach.

Waihi Beach, swept by 76-year-old veteran Dan Harris, had revenge in the under-19 men's final, while Paekakariki capped an excellent day by taking out both the under-21 and under-19 women's finals.

The next event in the series is the Piha Big Wave Classic in early February.

Results from the Whangamata Surf Boat Spectacular, the second round of the national surf boat series, in Whangamata on Thursday.

Men:

Open: Titahi Bay (Wil McDowell/Nick Boyd/Jordan Te Paa/Dean Ellis/Jono Boyd) 1, Piha (Mark Bourneville/Paul Gerritsen/Scott Lissington/Benjamin Richards/Ben Scott) 2, Mairangi Bay (Tim Cameron/Adam Jackson/Shaun Quincey/Richard Smart/Terrence Burbidge) 3.

Under-23: Red Beach (Ben Flight/Rhye Jacka/Shamus O'Halloran/Luke Tomlinson/Shane O'Halloran) 1; Piha (Cedric Bourneville/Ludovik Bourneville/Ben Kiely/Ryan Lester/Jean-Paul Smit/Cameron Sweetman) 2; Waihi Beach (Jack Kingsford/Mark Edwards/Luke Kingsford/Corkburn Van Day Boden/Tait Van Day Boden/Dan Harris) 3.

Under-19: Waihi (Luke Kingsford/Tommy Gwyllim/Tate Van Day Boden/Matt Heart/Josh Marston/Dan Harris) 1; Sunset Beach (Ryan Brash/Jack Morgan/Jack Boulton/Carl Morgan/Sam Hughes/Ted Marsh ) 2; Piha (Tom Jacob/Fraser Loughlin/Nicholas McDonald/Tom Rasmusseb/Tyler Waters) 3.

Women:

Open: Red Beach (Kelly Andrew/Katrina Gouldstone/Ashleigh Jenkins/Madison Smith/Zita Talaic/Shane O'Halloran) 1; Piha (Nathalie Bourneville/Jo Fyfe/Mare Haitsma/Lauren Kavanagh/Annelies Visser/Mariska Visser/Mark Bourneville) 2; Omanu Beach (Meghan Cook/Hayley Cowley/Laura Kuggeleijn/Katie Noakes/Clayton Kellett) 3.

Under-23: Paekakariki (Katie Burgess/Netta Cagney/Eleanor Craig/Andrea De Atouguia/Ursula Gordon/Steven Dickson) 1; Bethells Beach (Ellouise Bray/Madeline Disberry/Nikita Parkin/Olivia Sale/David Oldham) 2; Muriwai (Sara Eivers/Andrea Gerrard/Billie-Lee Haresnape/Ashley Timoko/Grace Joseph/Chris Deacon) 3.

Under-19: Paekakariki (Katie Burgess/Bridget Churchman/Andrea De Atouguia/Alicia Minenkoff/Steven Dickson) 1; Muriwai (Brittany Baltus/Ashley Clarke/Grace Joseph/Lucy Kelly/Chris Deacon) 2; Piha (Anna Karolczak-Young/Annie Lines/Jordan Pope/Mikaela Ryan/Nicholas McKenzie) 3.

Overall points: Piha 11, Red Beach 10, Paekakariki 10, Waihi Beach 6, Titahi Bay 5, Muriwai 4, Sunset Beach 3, Bethells Beach 3, Omanu Beach 1, Mairangi Bay 1.