mmg.com.au

Hellrazor blitzed the field to claim its fourth straight Southern 80 title yesterday.

The Mark Cranny-driven super class boat’s time of 30min and 36.84sec was about a second faster than last year’s time, but was off its 2010 record of 30:32.

It was still more than a minute ahead of the super class runner-up 99 Psycho Clowns (31:41.94) and third-placed Merc Force (31:43.0).

Cranny said he was ‘‘ecstatic’’ post-race to have secured a win for the team.

This year saw the victorious 2010 and 2011 Hellrazor crew of Cranny, observer Damien Matthews and skiers Jason Walmsley and Peter Proctor reunited.

Proctor and Michael Kelly skied in last year’s win.

More Southern 80 action:

In all four wins between 2010-13 Hellrazor was faster than 31 minutes.

Cranny said the crew had changed the motor format during the winter months, but this year had produced tougher skiing conditions than last year.

‘‘We’ve got a little bit more punch (in the motor) this year. I think it was a lot tougher from the skiers’ point of view this year,’’ Cranny said.

‘‘It doesn’t feel like it here (in the Victoria Park car park), but there was a lot of wind and current in the water, so I think the time we’ve done, all things considered, is really good.’’

This was Cranny’s eighth Southern 80 win following wins with Hellrazor in 2002 and Hellbent in 2005-06 and 2008.

He said he and the crew loved the challenge the Southern 80 provided each year.

‘‘You come here and people’s predictions and expectations are that we can bloody win, but it doesn’t always work that way,’’ he said.

‘‘A lot of things have got to go right... to make it all happen.

‘‘The challenge of it is what makes us come back here every year.’’

Hellrazor qualified to lead yesterday afternoon’s racers down the course after winning the Bakers Blitz on Saturday in 6:37.53.

Gassa finished second in 6:53.80 and 99 Psycho Clowns came third with 6:54.52.

Cranny said his team had had a good lead up to the Southern 80 this year and winning the Bakers Blitz on Saturday had been a perfect primer for yesterday’s success.

‘‘We’ve had a pretty safe and uncomplicated, I might say, campaign for this year’s Southern 80,’’ Cranny said.

‘‘That’s important to put a good time down on Saturday so you don’t have any interruptions along the way.’’