IRB crews battle hostile elements

IRB RACE

While great for business at the video shop in nearby Kaitaia, Saturday afternoon's weather at the finish line of the 90 Mile Beach IRB Challenge race could best be described as bleak.

The event began at Scott's Point in calmer conditions at high noon which steadily and quickly deteriorated. Still, strong northerly winds, driving rain and sloppy onshore seas would have hardly been noticed by the 87 hardened lifeguards in 29 boats - representing clubs from throughout the North Island - contesting the annual parallel run.

The hostile elements would have actually been worse for the support crews, neutral spectators, media and race organisers than they were for those actually taking part. See, taking a bit of a battering from the wild and raw west coast elements was part and parcel of participating in an event regarded by some as the unofficial opening for the new summer of surf patrol.

The Sunset A team from the Sunset Beach club on Auckland's west coast was first to arrive at Ahipara in 2:28.54. Neighbours Red Beach were actually the first trio to cross the line but lost the bragging rights as one of several crews found guilty of showing a slightly callous disregard toward the rules such as going outside the surf line for example and which left organisers little choice but to penalise some boats' finishing times.

The local team arrived in 12th, lighting a flare as they hit the beach and ran toward the flags in slightly mischievous fashion under the dark and rainy sky.

Only 27 boats completed the challenge with the last being the all-girls crew, Bethells Stunners, from Bethells Beach club ("They had a ball, didn't even know it was raining!" event spokesperson Liz Arcus noted), in 3.48.10s. The Bethells Beach club came in force, rolling north with six teams and an entourage estimated at 50 to make up a sizeable part of the gathering enjoying the after-event prize giving celebrations - and Mat Radich's spit roast - at the Ahipara camping grounds later in the night.

The team travelling the furthest to contest the challenge was Maranui (from Lyall Bay in Wellington) which finished in eighth place overall in 2.38.28s.

Looking at the bright side, at least the conditions meant there would have been very few longliners and surfcasters out and about to interfere - albeit unintentionally - on the IRBs' southern journey along the 90 Mile. Apparently, the weather didn't deter several people from hitting the beach to collect scallops as a remarkable year for the shellfish being washed ashore continued.

* In other FNSR news, Liz Arcus and Simon Smith travel to Wellington on Saturday, to pick up the London Trophy after their organisation was recognised by Surf Life Saving NZ organisation, as having qualified the most lifeguards (per capita of members) last season.