ANDY KELCKHOVEN CROWNED TINNIE RACING CHAMP
Interview by Andy Kancachian
For more than four decades, the Riverland Dinghy Derby has been one of Australia’s most demanding and unpredictable powerboat races. Held annually on the winding waterways surrounding Renmark in South Australia, the event tests competitors across more than 100 kilometres of open river, narrow creeks and challenging turns. Speeds approach 100km/h, boats skim over submerged hazards, and mechanical failures are a constant threat. Simply finishing is an achievement. Winning is something else entirely.
This year, Gold Coast racer Andy Kelckhoven achieved what no outsider had managed in the event’s 46-year history, becoming the first driver from outside the Riverland region to claim outright victory in the prestigious Dinghy Derby. The race attracted one of the strongest fields in recent memory. Kelckhoven and his young crewman, 20-year-old Henry Nuske, crossed the finish line first after completing the gruelling course in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 45 seconds. Local favourites Kodi Morena and Douglas Mowbray finished second, while Cameron Price and Luke Gordon secured third place.
The victory was remarkable for several reasons. Kelckhoven arrived in Renmark after a 2,000-kilometre road trip from Queensland, towing two race boats and sharing the journey with long-time friend and support crew member Glenn Kirkwood. The campaign was already facing uncertainty before it began when Kelckhoven’s regular swinger, Ace Pratt, was unavailable due to family commitments. With only days to spare before the race, he partnered with Nuske, a crewman he had never previously raced alongside.
Adding to the challenge was a completely new boat. Built from carbon fibre and based on a heavily modified tinnie design, the lightweight hull had undergone testing in calm Queensland waters but had never been raced in rough conditions or through the twisting Riverland creeks. The boat’s different handling characteristics required quick adaptation as strong winds and choppy water greeted competitors throughout the weekend.
Mechanical issues also threatened to derail the campaign. During Friday night’s Dash for Cash event, an ignition problem robbed the boat of performance and left the team finishing well down the order. The fault was traced to a failed ignition coil, which was replaced the following morning. With the engine restored and carefully tuned for the forecast conditions, confidence began to return ahead of the main race.
Kelckhoven’s background as a highly respected engine builder and marine technician proved invaluable. A member of the Surf Life Saving Australia Hall of Fame for IRB racing and a former coach of multiple Australian and World Championship-winning teams, he understands that endurance races are often won through reliability rather than outright speed.
That philosophy paid dividends. While several competitors suffered mechanical failures during the race, Kelckhoven’s package delivered consistent performance from start to finish. Even after clipping floating debris and damaging a propeller late in the event, the boat maintained enough pace to hold off the chasing field. The achievement carries extra significance considering Kelckhoven’s history with the sport. Several years ago, he suffered a serious accident when struck by another tinnie during a reconnaissance run, breaking his back. His recovery and return to competition demonstrated the determination that has become a hallmark of his racing career.
Off the water, there was little time for celebration. With his wife Mikaela expecting their third child just weeks after the race, Kelckhoven quickly packed up and began the long journey home to Queensland. The victory was shared with family, friends and supporters who helped make the campaign possible. For a racer who has spent years chasing success in one of Australia’s toughest powerboat events, the historic win represents more than a trophy. It is proof that preparation, perseverance and a willingness to take on long odds can still produce extraordinary results. In a race built on courage and endurance, Andy Kelckhoven’s 2026 triumph will be remembered as one of the Riverland Dinghy Derby’s most significant victories.
To contact Andy about tinnie racing, outboard parts and engine tune ups, visit www.outboardpartsaustralia.com.au
Published in print August-December 2026
