Row, row, row that boat

KNYSNA NEWS – A group of locals flew the Knysna Surf Lifesaving Club flag high when they took part in the recent Interprovincial Surfboat Championships on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 May.

Taking part as the only team from Western Cape, the team made up of Cameron Ward-Able (46), Jeffrey Willcocks (53), Ivan van Lier (54), Martin Els (39) and Steven van Lier (50) finished fourth out of six teams during the competition.

Team member Ivan van Lier takes us through the experience:

The Knysna team was offered a loan boat to use in Durban to avoid the arduous 15-hour road trip towing an 8m boat. Ultimately it was decided that the Knysna surfboat would be used despite the difficulties in transporting it to offer our sponsors exposure and to be using familiar equipment.

On arrival the tension was palpable as the locals from Marine LSC and Pirates LSC were talking excitedly about the biggest and most gnarly surf they had seen at Addington beach in years. Our excitement may have easily tilted towards nervousness as the heavy sets rolled in and strategies were discussed from the balcony of the hosting club, Marine LSC, among the constant flow of beers.

The format of the races is important to understand. There are different coloured flags on the beach 25 metres apart, corresponding to same-coloured buoys 400 metres into the ocean. The sweep draws a colour and that's the boat's starting position. The draw can be significant, as the shore break reacts differently to sand bar positions.

The Knysna team battles the surf.

Once positions are allocated the referees call 10 minutes, five minutes and two minutes, by which time the crew should be in the water and ready to start. The referees will wait for a break in wave sets to call the start.

To say there is tension at this point would be a gross understatement. The horn is blasted and crews careen towards the waves.

Once clear of the waves it's a hard pull to the buoys and even harder back with your heart feeling like it could explode. Catching a wave on the way back can be the difference between being mid-field and winning.

Day 1 – Knysna battled with poor start positions and our boat filled with water. It's hard to row with a ton of water in the boat. Two 4th positions, one 5th.

Day 2 – Better luck on the draw and some good exits through the shore break. One 2nd position, one 3rd position and one stone last… Boat crashed out on re-entry!

The Knysna team discovered that we can compete with the top teams and only minor modifications would be necessary to make the current boat competitive. The team will be competing in another derby in Gqeberha this weekend.

The Knysna club intends to develop the sport locally, with a women's team already having done their first practice. Any interested and dedicated persons can e-mail Cameron Ward-Able at cameron@ciconstruction.co.za. The crew is immensely thankful to our sponsors who have made our trip possible, namely: Forty Degrees, MC&R Construction, Woodmillers, Cape Island Construction, VSM Joinery, Island Pools, and Green Space.

The Knysna team battles the surf.