Surf boats: Omanu battle 4m swell to third place

The Omanu women's surf boat crew head out during the Piha Big Wave Classic on Saturday, the third round of the national surf boat series. Photo/Jaime Troughton/Dscribe Media Services.

Omanu were one of the few women's surf boat crews to race during Saturday's Piha Big Wave Classic run in thundering 4m swells.

Omanu sweep Clayton Kellett successfully negotiated his crew of Meghan Cook, Hayley Cowley, Laura Kuggeleijn and Katie Noakes out through the massive wave zone but they struck trouble trying to get back in, nearly pulling down a monster set but broaching and capsizing.

The crew were still able to make it in to the beach, finishing third overall and boosting their series standings before the final round in Waihi Beach next weekend.

The first round was cancelled due to severe gale force winds in Wellington, Omanu then got third at Whangamata and Saturday's third place puts them in contention for a top three finish in the overall series with next weekend's round to go.

Kellett said the best way to describe conditions was testing and certainly the surf skills of his crew were tested to the maximum. "Every now and then a massive set would come through but it was manageable if you were smart," he said.

Kellett explains what went through his mind when their surf boat got smashed by a massive wave as they came close to shore.

"When we capsized your first instinct is for your crew mates to make sure they are safe.

"There is a saying in surf boats that when you get in trouble you come up and you count heads.

"That is a good thing about surf boats that you are not alone, you have four other people in your crew who are looking out for you.

"The equipment is very expensive but sometimes you have to drag your thoughts away from the cost of the equipment and consider everyone's safety.

"It is impossible trying to stop a 200kg boat doing its own thing in the surf. Sometimes you just have to let it happen and let it go, and it will wash in eventually."

Kellett was pleased with how well his crew had performed this summer with little experience racing together.

"We are very much a fresh crew coming together this year and we are pretty happy with how we have gone."