SURF BOAT THRILLS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1935, Page 5

SURF BOAT THRILLS

TRIAL MADE AT NEl£ PLYMOUTH. NEW DEPARTURE IN DISTRICT. A new development in surf life-saving practice at New Plymouth took place on Saturday and yesterday, when for the first time Old Boys and Fitzroy crews spent some hours learning the art of shooting and taking breakers in a surf boat. The boat used was Maranui No. 1, the only surf boat in New Zealand, brought to New Plymouth for the national surf championships and left temporarily at Strandon. Under the guidance of Mr. T. Hewitt, a member of the Maranui club executive, about 12 learned the rudiments of a useful extension of life-saving methods that is also a thrilling sport. The surf boat’s advantages over the reel and line and beltman method are obvious, particularly in making rescues from water at the foot of cliffs, as the boat carries a box life-line outfit. In the heavy Australian surf thrilling boat races between clubs attract as many thousands of spectators as dirttrack racing. Competition reaches its peak and the crews are- trained to a high pitch of efficiency. The surf was not very big at Strandon and Fitzroy beaches during the week-end, but an occasional breaker three feet high was enough for the learners, who. were watched with interest. The first crew to go out on Saturday comprised T. Hewitt (Maranui, capt.), C. Allen (Old Boys, stroke), N. Gardiner (Old Boys) and R. Clayton (Fitzroy), W. J. Thomas (Old Boys, bow oar) and K. Rea (Old Boys, patient).There was little difficulty in launching the craft, and after getting the feel of the oars Maranui No. 1 was brought in on a likely-looking swell, but slewed sideways and canted over. A second attempt brought success. Other crews took the boat out. Club members were unanimous in their approval of the boat, and expressed satisfaction with the experience. There is now a movement on foot, sponsored by the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association, to obtain a second boat, which would enable races to be held.