Beach wedding awash with love

It is not your typical preparation for a wedding — the open ocean and a couple of oars on a sunny Sunday morning.

But for one Perth couple, it was just right.

Chris and Cathy Hainsworth, far right, took the longest row down the aisle last Sunday, tying the knot on Middleton Beach after the 13km surf-boat event at the Albany Surf Craft Challenge.

The proud groom said it was a fitting celebration.

He said it had been the plan to tie the knot at the Surf Craft Challenge for quite some time.

“We have been involved with the surf club for a long time now and we do the challenge every year — we are regulars down there in Albany,” he said.

“We have plenty of boatie friends down there, so we thought it would be a lovely spot to get married.

“We were so blessed with the weather. It was beautiful.

“After we rowed into Middleton Beach, we pushed the boat up the sand and began the cere-mony. We stood up the back of the boat and our celebrant stood up the front.”

Mr Hainsworth said it was lovely to be surrounded by boaties, friends and family, who had travelled to Albany.

“It was absolutely amazing. It was mind-blowing having all the boaties there around us,” he said.

“As far as I know, it was the first wedding that has happened at the event.”

Albany Surf Club’s Ainslie Mason said the couple were well known in the boating community and their wedding had added excitement to this year’s event.

“They are from the Sorrento Surf Club and have been coming down for the Surf Craft Challenge event for the last 10 years plus,” she said.

“The ceremony was on the beachwere oars up in the air as a tribute to the celebration.”