Surf Boat News

Speedos Ready: Watergate Bay Hosts Traditional Aussie-Style Surf Boat Racing

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 July, 2009 : - - Brute force, determination and technique will all be required at Watergate Bay next Saturday (11th July) as surf boat racing returns to the Cornish beach. Over 20 crews from the UK Surf Rowers League - including the current European Surfboat Champions - will compete at the Extreme Academy in the third round of the UKSRL Summer Series.

The traditional oar-powered surf boats will compete in a series of short, intense races which see crews first battle out through the incoming waves, then attempt to surf the breaking waves back to the beach. The first heats start at midday, with the finals due to be completed by around 2pm.

Inspired by the Australian tradition of racing surf rescue boats, the heats are hard-fought and exciting to watch.

The crews (made up of four rowers and a “sweep” standing at the stern) row 400 metres out to sea through the breaking waves, around a turning buoy, and attempt to catch a wave back into the beach before one crew member sprints up the sand to complete the race.

According to UKSRL Secretary Peter Gaisford, Porthtowan crew “Blue Bali” are the in-form crew in the Open races following their clean sweep at the UK and European championships last year. Peter Gaisford said: “We’ve already had two rounds this year at Saunton and Porthcawl, and Porthtowan Blue Bali are the gun crew at the moment, they’re a really good crew who are hard to beat.

“The Ladies series is much tighter; there are only a few points between the top three, Bude Runners, Porthtowan Blue Belles and the Perranporth Rebel Angels, so there should be some really tight races at Watergate Bay.” Each crew competes in three qualifying races, with the top six boats qualifying for the final.

For the safety of spectators and participants, a 500 metre section of the water will be closed to the public during racing. A small section of the beach will also be closed as the crews start and finish their races on the sand. Surfers and other water users will still be able to use the rest of the beach.

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Jim Michell

Industry - Surfersvillage

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