Sri Lanka’s first ever Surf Boat Rowing Competition will adorn the Mount Lavinia beach this Sunday.
A surfboat is an oar-driven boat designed to enter the ocean from the beach in strong waves. Once used widely for lifesaving missions, surfboat rowing has now become a popular recreational activity.
Crews of four oarsmen and a ‘sweep’ (a cox who stands on the stern with a large steering oar) row outward from the beach up to a buoy 400 meters away and then turn around and row back. Once on shore, a team member runs from the beaching boat to the winning post to claim their win.
It is extremely challenging for the athletes since they must battle waves, currents and the potential danger of tipping over in to the sea. These very same attributes make it very entertaining viewing for spectators!
On Sunday 28th at 7:00 am, rowers from Royal College, S.Thomas College, the Universities of Colombo and Moratuwa, and the Defense Forces, will take to the seas in this exciting competition. The event will start off from near the Belize restaurant on the Mount Lavinia beach. It will also feature power boat races and a Jet Ski Demonstration.
The Secretariat for Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Co-operation (IOMAC) in conjunction with the newly
formed International Centre for Oceanology and Surf-Boat Association has organised this event.
