WAUCHOPE-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club were on the receiving end of a controversial decision at the state titles at Blacksmiths Beach at the weekend.
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Despite having their protest upheld, the under-23 men’s crew were still on the wrong end of the referees decision after being impeded in the race out to the cans.
Boat captain Tony Kee was frustrated with the decision which effectively cost them a semi-final spot.
“At the start of their last race they were put under a wave from the start which usually means a restart, but that didn’t happen,” he said.
Their approach to the cans was then interfered with by another crew and despite a successful protest after the race, the carnival referee ruled against the Bull Sharks progressing to the next round.
While disappointed the crew didn’t have the opportunity to test themselves at the pointy end of the competition, Kee was still pleased with the result.
The decision didn’t go our way, but unfortunately that’s surf boats.
- Boat captain Tony Kee
“To make the quarter finals at the state titles where there is another 20 or 30 crews is still a great effort,” he said.
“The decision didn’t go our way, but unfortunately that’s surf boats.”
In conditions rarely seen this season, crews not only had to compete against each other, but waves measuring between six and eight feet.
Unfortunately it was also too much for Kee’s open men’s crew who were looking good until they were swamped by a wave when they neared the beach.
“The reserve men’s crew had a good start in their first race and were second into the cans before they got stuck,” he said.
“We then caught the same wave as everyone else on the way back.
It was a bit rough and a bit harrowing trying to right the boat. Was a pretty spectacular crash by all reports and it meant the end of our day.
- Tony Kee
“Then we had a big roll over and were thrown out of the boat.
“When you roll your boat you end up with a DNF.
“It was a bit rough and a bit harrowing trying to right the boat. Was a pretty spectacular crash by all reports and it meant the end of our day.”
Kee was happy with the decision to allow the races to go ahead in the challenging conditions.
“There were no warm-up races, we just went straight into it,” he said.
“It was good for us to get out there and have a race because that’s where our training comes in out in the ocean.
“If they moved it to the lake, whoever leads past the cans leads all the way because there are no waves to catch on the way home.”
Bonnies’ masters women’s crew had their state title campaign moved from Blacksmiths Beach to Lake Macquarie after the surf hazard rating read beyond 20.
“They finished equal sixth and didn’t make the final,” Kee said.
All crews will now return to training ahead of the Australian titles at Tugun on March 29.
