Surf Boats

My Surf Boat Page is under continual change, please save to your Favourites and check frequently for quick access to sites of interest to Surf Boat rowers.

Surf Boat rowing has been an integral part of Australias' iconic Surf Life Saving movement since 1905 when double ended planked whalers were used for rescue. Now used for competition only with glass fibre boats equipped with carbon oars the boat area of a Surf carnival is where the action is. Starting in the shallows in

heats of six the crews leap into their boats rowing out through the break urged on by their sweep to the turning buoys some 400 metres out to sea. Turning the cans they head for home chasing any wave the sea will offer to be first to the line back at the beach. This page is devoted to the Boatie and to give the uninitiated some insight to what attracts fearless men and women from under 19 to over 60 to this great sport.

"Using craft discarded as unserviceable by Captain Cook they train like men possessed for nine months of the year in gyms, rivers, lakes and surf. Then showing brawn can out manoeuvre brain, they begin a classic preparation for major races in an ancient and ritualistic way. Firstly, they protest about the depth of the water, then about the bouys and the distance of the race. When they get through protesting, they perform a barbaric and sometimes erotic ritual.....they pull their costumes so tight as to expose the cheeks of their behinds. At the starter's gun they jump in and row like madmen, backwards into crashing waves, so as not to anticipate the moment of impact as legs and arms might be shattered. Through all this, one man reigns supreme, the sweep. While the crew is lashed by wind and water, he has full wetsuit or is dressed in football gear, showing at least one man in five has intelligence." Peter Lacey, Surf Lifesaving Australia 75th Anniversary Dinner.

An idea that has long been in my mind is to create an Around Australia Surf Boat Safari, briefly a couple of boats with oars etc, perhaps 10 or more boaties/ ex boaties of our vintage ie. retirees, semi-retirees inc. spouses, with the time and inclination to embark on such a venture, planned well in advance. It could be aligned with promotional sponsership, fund raising for a well known charity and the surf movement including recruiting, raising public awarness etc, etc. I'm sure media interest could be enlisted and perhaps even producing an video. The safari with boat/s and travelling accommodation eg. caravans, camper trailers would trek around Australia on a pre-organised route seeking out both well known and lessor known sites, cracking waves, raising funds for the charities mentioned through street appeals and in particular raising awareness of surf lifesaving and water safety in more remote areas, and of course having bloody good fun into the bargain.

If anyone is interested please contact me. I think it would one of those great once in life experiences for those involved.

Warwick "Arch" Archer, ex-Boat Captain & Life Member Brighton SLSC (current Fremantle & Cottesloe SLSC's). Click Homepage then go to Contact Information

“THE BRIGHTON BOATING CLUB”

By Blair Blunt

It was there on the foreshore, just south of the Esplanade Pub,
That they formed an institution called the “Brighton Boating Club”.
They were lean and massive Boaties (as massive boaties go),
And a boat was never planked that these Boaties couldn’t row.
But their style of rowing boats was irregular and rash,
They had mighty little science, but a mighty lot of dash.
And they rowed on mountainous seas in currents dangerous and strong,
Though their boats were quite unpolished, their strokes were powerful and long.
And they used to train those Boaties, sculling Bundies in the Pub,
They were demons were the members of the “Brighton Boating Club”.

‘Twas further down the coastline just below yon lighthouse beam,
That a surfing club existed called the “Quiche and Creampuff Team”.
As a social institution there were many marvellous sights,
For their members were distinguished by drunkenness and fights.
They had natty little blackcaps that were nice and smooth and sleek,
For their inebriate owners ironed always twice a week.
So they started up the coastline in pursuit of sport and fame,
For they aimed to show the Brighton boys just how to play the game.
And they took their valets with them – just to give their boats a rub,
‘Ere they started operations on the Brighton Boating Club.

The race commenced with language, such that blackhead sweep could preach,
But when the Brighton boys got going it was time to clear the Beach.
And the race was so intense, the cans were barely turned,
One Judge in boat’s leg was broke, some say deservedly well earned.
And they clashed with one another, till the sea was strewn with dead,
While the race kept so even, that neither crew got ahead,
And the “Quiche and Cream puff” Sweep when he tumbled off to die,
Was the last surviving boatie, so the race was called a tie.

Then the sweep of the Brighton crew raised himself slowly in the boat,
Though his wounds were mostly mortal and he fought to stay afloat,
There was no-one to oppose him – all the rest were in the deep,
So he scrambled to the quarter bar for his last expiring sweep,
For he aimed to give the effort to get victory for his crew,
So he swept for the line and crossed it, then passed into the sea deep blue.

And on coding esplanade sands when off shores ripple the glass,
There’s a row of little gravestones the R & R boys never pass,
For they bear a crude inscription saying “Stranger have a beer”,
For the “Quiche and Cream puff” rowers and the Brighton Boys lie here.
And on misty moonlit evenings while the Kurl Kadets prowl around,
You can see their shadows flitting down that phantom rowing ground,
You can hear the loud collisions and the flying oar blades meet,
And the rattle of the rowlocks and language indiscreet.
Till the terrified spectator runs like blazes to the Pub,
For he’s been haunted by the spectres of the “Brighton Boating Club”.

Back in the mid to late '70's Brighton SLSC (SA) was enjoying great success in the boat area. During that period Saturday afternoon carnivals were popular, particularly with the 'boaties' who saw it a a good chance to build up a thirst. After one such carnival at Port Noalunga south of Adelaide, the Brighton boys retired to the popular Frangipani Gardens at the local Pub. After winning every race in every division a high time was had by all. On the way home the renowned Tony "Fritter" Park was towing the boat and coming to a T junction, instead of turning right to go back to Adelaide, turned left and drove straight through the security gates of the Port Stanvac Oil Refinery much to the amazement of the Security Guard who stood there dumfounded with clipboard in hand. After realizing the mistake the boys circumnavigated the Refinery with 26' of Surf Boat in tow and drove out the gate without stopping and the Guard still standing frozen in astonishment.

Sadly, Fritter passed away in early 2007 and is greatly missed and fondly remembered by those whom he steered home in huge seas.

The First Triathlon in Australia
Sri Chinmoy Triathlon (abridged results)
22/03/1981
West Lakes SA
1.6km swim/ 43.2 km cycle / 15km run

Pos Name               Cat Pos    Swim Pos   Cycle Pos     Run Pos   Total
1   Malcolm Mackay     Male 1 0:29:47 15 1:22:27 14 0:58:49   1 2:51:03
3   Andrew Smith       Male 3 0:22:57   2 1:19:47   6 1:16:16 41 2:59:00
8   John Hood          Male 8 0:26:53   7 1:20:28   7 1:14:27 30 3:01:48
11 Grant Caldicott    Male 11 0:26:45   6 1:21:35 10 1:14:40 33 3:03:00
14 Warwick Archer     Male 14 0:30:11 18 1:29:16 45 1:06:02   6 3:05:29
18 Greg McCloud       Male 18 0:27:24 10 1:25:15 29 1:16:06 40 3:08:45
29 Gilbert Dashorst   Male 28 0:34:34 46 1:21:18   9 1:19:58 52 3:15:50
34 Barry Hancock      VetM 2 0:31:23 29 1:35:03 61 1:13:37 28 3:20:03
73 Craig Caldicott    Male 59 0:32:27 34 1:28:08 43 1:47:12 114 3:47:47
120 Glynn Boyce        Feml 11 0:49:59 106 2:07:26 118 2:04:39 119 5:02:04

All of the above (in bold) were members of Brighton SLSC, except No's 1 & 120 (last) which I have left in for the record. This was the very first triathalon ever in Australia & was organised by a rather cosmic character called Sri Chinmoy whom I believe is still around.

Andrew Smith won Australian gold with Brighton SLSC in the Junior 6 man R & R at Kingscliff in 1978. I think he also won a Cadet surf teams bronze medal at Clifton Beach, Tasmania 1976.

John Hood was top Ski & Board paddler and won an Australian Double Ski Bronze medal at Clifton Beach Tasmania in 1976 (with Grant Caldicott - No.11). He became a top State triathalete and surfer and later moving to Tasmania as Chief Brewer for Cascade.

Grant Caldicott won his Australian Double Ski Bronze medal with John Hood above. Known as a gruelling competitor who did not appear to be aware of pain as a concept. Grant is an epileptic and the night before the Double Ski final had a very severe fit which lasted several hours. He looked absolutely exhausted in the morning but it is a measure of the man that he not only competed but pulled of a medal at Australian level, I know, I was there. In August 1981 Grant and I ran the Gawler to Adelaide Marathon. Showing more guts than science Grant ran the race in a pair of worn out Dunlop K26's so worn that his toes were sticking out the end. He ran 4 hours 10 min.

Warwick Archer was Brighton SLSC Boat Captain and early in the month had rowed in the Brighton 'A' crew winning the South Australian Open Boat Final. A month after this event he had very bad car accident and used the Gawler to Adelaide Marathon to rehabilitate completing it in 3 hours 27 min. "Triathlons were very casual in those days and after the swim leg we went up to the West Lakes Rowing Club change rooms and had a shower before changing and proceeding to the bike leg. This would have added at least 10 minutes to the final elapsed time." He later moved to Western Australia thus relieving his club mates of one of the grumpiest boat rowers ever.

Greg McCloud is still a member of Brighton SLSC and was a good allround competitor particularly in R & R and boards.

Gilbert Dashorst came to Brighton from Seacliff SLSC and became a good swimming competitor. He swam out the the wave recorder 1.5 km's off Brighton beach in an act of bravado. He is now a leading S.A. artist and I believe is contracted to the S.A Museum & Botanic Gardens.

Barry (Hank) Hancock, a mountain of a man, was one of the greatest S.A. Ski paddlers ever winning 14 State single ski champs and a host of Double Ski titles with long time ski partner Gerry (The Gerr) Cornelius. Although he paddled in 10 Australian open Ski finals luck evaded him at Aussies titles but won an Australian Single Ski Bronze at Warnambool, Victoria in 1964 after leading all the way only to be dumped in the shorebreak. He took me through my Bronze in 1964. In the '70's he took up sweeping and swept a Brighton Junior crew to a Bronze at Pt. Leo in the 1985-86 season. A retired High School Teacher he now lives at Tugun on the Gold Coast.

Craig Caldicott, brother of Grant Caldicott is long term member and committee member of Brighton SLSC, good swimmer and a prominent Adelaide lawyer.

Right. Great shot of Brighton SLSC Open Womens Crew at 2006 South Australian State Titles dispels the rumour that S.A. has no surf. Ask anyone who has been out the back at Middleton or has rowed 1 kilometre out to sea in Goolwa's 'Shark Alley'!

Crew: Kevin 'Breaky' Watkins, Sweep; Rebecca Eichner, Stroke; Innika Visser, 2nd Stroke; Fiona Starr, 2nd Bow; Marni Ahmer, Bow.

Left. Cottesloe Masters 2004, W.A. 200+, W.A. State Champions; 4th' 220+ National Titles, Kurawa Queensland.

1st. Masters State Titles, Leighton Beach, Western Australia. 3rd, 220+ National Masters Titles Kurawa, Queensland.

L-R Warwick Archer (Bow), Alan Thompson (Sweep), Dave Roper (Stroke), Tom Locke (2nd Bow), Jeff Dunstan (2nd Stroke)

Cottesloe SL.S.C. Masters Crew 1984-85 over 35 & over 40, W.A. State Champions, Danny Kaye, Sweep; Ken Gathercole, Stroke; Colin Burling, 2nd Stroke; Warwick Archer, 2nd Bow, Barry Jarrot, Bow.

A fine action shot of Fremantle S.L.S.C. 1987 Masters & Reserve Grade Boat crew, Colin Duffield, Sweep; Roy Sojan, Stroke; Larry Tilbury, 2nd Stroke; Warwick Archer, 2nd Bow; Colin Moysey, Bow.

Right. Fremantle 200 + Masters Crew Australian Titles, Kurrawa Queensland 2000, Colin Duffield, Sweep; Warwick Archer, Stroke; Maurice Vaughan, 2nd Stroke; Joe Conway, 2nd Bow; Colin Moysey, Bow.

Left. AMSCOL Surfboat Brighton SLSC. This was a discarded all wood Barnett Surf Boat found at Bondi Surf Club, purchased for $300 in 1974 and refurbished by South Australian Surf Boat building legend 'Snow' Wallace. The 'AMSCOL' survived surf boat races over many years that no plastic boat could hope to emulate. Between 1974-79 it competed at all carnivals in South Australian winning many races and State Championships. In Victoria it competed at Torquay, Apollo Bay, Lorne, and the 1977 Australian Championships at Bancoora . Kevin Marks & I spent many long, cold winters nights in Snows Boat Shed repairing, sanding, rubbing down and re-varnishing to keep her seaworthy.

Right. Brighton SLSC Reserve Boat Semi Finalist in action Australian Titles Maroochydore 1980.

Tony (Fritter) Park, Sweep, Ray (Obby) Wright, Stroke, Warwick (Grumpy) Archer, 2nd Stroke, Peter (Dreamy) Germein, 2nd Bow, Paul (Clubby) Martin, Bow.

Brighton SLSC surfboat coming home after crossing St. Vincents Gulf 1978, 74 km from Stansbury to Brighton in 11 hour 23 min.

Crew: Sweep; Kevin Watkins, Rowers; Dave Wallace, Warwick Archer, Alan Boyes, Willie Williams.

Barry Hancock, Jon Donaldson, Grant & Craig Caldocott & Keiren Hogan paddled Skis on the same crossing.

(Left). Members of the "Brighton Boating Club". Brighton 'A ' Open Boat Crew, 1981 South Australian State Champions,

L-R, Kevin 'Breaky' Watkins, Sweep; Kevin Marks, Coach; Paul Martin, Bow; Ray Wright, Stroke; Steve Muggleton, 2nd Bow; Warwick Archer, 2nd Stroke, Boat Captain.

L- R, Ray Wright, Stroke, Warwick Archer, 2nd Stroke, Daryl Walker, 2nd Bow, Tony (Fritter) Park, Sweep, Steve Muggleton, Bow.

Old planked double-ender there for the ride, probably pre WW2 at the Fairy Bower, Sydney, New South Wales.

A great action shot of Jan Juc boat crew (Victoria, Australia) getting airborne!

The Boat area at the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast, Queensland. With 7500 competitors the 'Aussies Titles' is the second largest multi-discipline sporting event in the World after the Olympic Games . Held over 6 days and including Masters events the 'Aussies' are an annual pilgrimage for many of the 100,000 members from over 250 clubs all over Australia. Primarily an all volunteer organisation to provide safety on the beach, since founding early last century it has saved 500,000 lives. Competition provides a great way to hone surf skills with many of the top competitors attaining Olympic level. Some 500 boat crews compete including over 100 womens crews.