Wedged up and raring to go!

A report from one of my cousins from the first surfboating race of the season.

(advisory - you may want to look away when you getting to the bottom of the report - picture contains some serious wedging!)

Dear Gurt

The pioneers of surfboating made their first official entry in the UKSRL this weekend, at Round 1 in Porthcawl, South Wales as the Bristol Barracudas.

Armed with a ratpack soundtrack the crew, Dom, Crush, Chris and Rus headed for the beach with their recently delivered surfboat, "Sweet Caroline". The surf was calm, showing barely 3 feet, but it was enough to provide some small amounts of fun.

Over three rounds the boys produced a second and two thirds. Picture of the day was the consternation shown on their faces when their 3 length clear water lead was eaten up by a wave, and they finished third. The other choice moment was seeing Dom exit the boat to commence his first sprint up the beach - only to find himself three feet deep in water, and face-planting. Genius!

The results in the heats was enough to get them into the "Golden Nugget" final.

After a strong start, a solid turn, and a monster wind-up the boys found themselves on a wave alongside four of the other five boats. Dom's sprint proved that a bunch of new boys can turn up, and throw the form book behind the bar with a second place finish.

A quick word about the Bristol Hermaphrodites. A top performance by the Surfboat novices, who learned how to start, and how to turn about 5 minutes before the first heat! Already brimming with enthusiasm for the next round, we are all hoping for a name change before they race.

I am leaving the next round in Saunton Sands (21st June) to you.

Your long lost cousin

Gethin Llush