Come To Cornwall’s Watergate Bay

Surf powerboats and traditional surf boats will both race in the waves of Watergate Bay in coming weeks as Zapcat Racing and the UK Surf Rowers League return to the Extreme Academy. Brute force and determination will abound as the UK Surf Rowers League test their mettle against the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday 11th July. The traditional oar-powered surf boats first battle out through the incoming waves, then attempt to surf the breaking waves back to the beach in a series of thrilling races.

But first, the all-action Zapcats come to the Extreme Academy for a weekend of surf powerboat racing. Two rounds of the 2009 UK Championships will be held on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June, and points earned here will also help to decide the stand-alone “King of the Surf” trophy for taming the Cornish waves.

“Watergate Bay is the Zapcat Mecca. It’s where you see the sport at its most exciting and it’s the venue the crews all look forward to,” said Martin Jupp of Zapcat Racing.

“The boats were designed for running through big, heavy surf and that’s where they are at their most spectacular. Watergate Bay is by far the most exciting venue for spectators, and for drivers. Racing in big surf is more strategic, it’s a different kind of race. It’s not a case of who has the lightest crew, or who has their boat set up the fastest. To win in the waves there’s more skill involved: crews need to be able to read the waves.”