Record craft entries tipped

The annual Albany Surf Craft Challenge will be held on Sunday by Albany Surf Life Saving Club, which is confident of a record amount of entries for the surf boat and surf ski events.

ASLSC president Rob Mason confirmed almost 30 entries had been received for the 13km surf boat event, attracting boats from strong metropolitan clubs while numbers had also been strong in the surf ski race.

A 2km beach run will also be held on Sunday as part of the ASLSC-run event, with registrations taken on the day.

The run will also be open to children.

“It looks like being record entries this year,” Mason said.

“We have 29 boats already entered and that looks like being at least 30.

“There is also 30-odd ski paddlers entered, which is great but particularly the boats — we have lots of clubs from Perth.

“They just keep coming back because they love the event.” Albany will have three boats competing, with two female crews and one male crew both in the 160 years combined age group.

The course for the surf boats and surf skis starts at the town marina, heading out around the Cheynes II through the Attaturk Channel and along to a turnaround point at Griffiths Street, before heading to the finish in front of the ASLSC.

Registrations are still open for the surf boat and surf ski events, with those events starting from 8.30am while the beach run will be at 11am.