SOS - Sweep or Swim

On a visit to Piha Beech on the west coast of New Zealand we literally stumbled upon the Piha Big Wave Classic surf boat competition. Australian and New Zealand life saving crews were competing for top honours. They faced high swells which led to some interesting situations...at least for the onlookers.



A large wave suddenly separated a Sweep (helmsman) from his boat - you can just see his head to the left of the oars. He could easily have waited to be rescued, but apparently that wasn't a consideration for him.



"Hey Mate, have you seen our Sweep?"
Doggedly he struggled with the high swells and made his way back to his boat.



However the Tasman Sea wasn't about to make it easy for him to regain his position in the back of the boat.




But Sweeps are a stubborn lot, and he wasn't about to let a mere two metre swell get the better of him.





Finally aboard he hurries to regain his position.




And this boaties crew once again has some direction.