An official report on the powerboat crash that killed Stuart Smith last year will soon be in the Coroner's hands.

Marine policeman Lawrence Dean confirmed yesterday that he and fellow constable, Ian McMillan, had finished their investigation and recently submitted the report to their supervising inspector.

The latter will then pass it to the Coroner's Office.

Smith, 34, died on August 18 during the annual Round the Island powerboat race in which he was a co-driver. The New Zealand expatriate's body was returned to his homeland.

Meanwhile, Michael Araujo, who was driving the boat when he and Smith crashed off Coral Beach, underwent an operation on his right forearm on January 9 as part of his recuperation from the accident.

"They removed the old plate and put in a new plate. They also did a bone graft from my wrist for my arm.

"It's on the mend and I'm feeling better but when I go back up on March 3rd, that's when they are really going to say what condition it's in. It's hard to tell until they recheck it and x-ray it again," Araujo told The Royal Gazette.

Apart from having to be "very careful" with his injured arm, the powerboat enthusiast, whose surgery took place at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, USA, said he was "doing okay".

"It's still in a brace but I am fine. I would just like to see the end of this so I can put it behind me and move on," he added.