Tenby’s SurfLink watersports club have recently welcomed the arrival of their new surf boat to South Beach.

The five-man oar-driven boat was a much anticipated new piece of craft for the club’s committee and members alike, especially having organised its shipping all the way over from Turkey.

The boat originally belonged to an Australian surf boat crew who, along with some more of their compatriots, had transported their boats over to Turkey in order to mark the centenary year of the ANZAC landings on the Gallipoli peninsula during the First World War. However, following the commemorations, the cost of returning the boats to Australia was deemed too uneconomic, therefore the UK Surf Boat League intervened and organised their import to the UK with the co-operation of watersports clubs such as Tenby’s own SurfLink.

Surf Boat racing is a popular sport on the Australian coast and it is also steadily growing in popularity in parts of the UK. Designed to enter the ocean from the beach in heavy surf, the boat had traditionally been deployed for lifesaving and rescue purposes, however surf boat racing is now more commonly known as a recreational pursuit due to its raw appeal of physicality and excitement out on the water.

The club’s sea rowers are particularly pleased with the boat and welcome anyone who is interested in trying out the sport to join and get involved.

Those who are already members at the club were quick to launch the craft out on its maiden trip along South Beach shortly after its arrival and are keen to get more enthusiasts on board.

Should you wish to see the boat in action, it will be taken to two surf boat racing events in Pembrokeshire this weekend with the commencement of the ‘summer series’. Round one will be held at Freshwater West beach tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 pm, followed by round two at Newport beach, Pembs, on Sunday at 10 am.

Should you want more information regarding the surf boat, this weekend’s events, membership or anything else in relation to what SurfLink has to offer, please contact SurfLink’s membership secretary at [email protected].