The Club History

The Irish Surf rescue club has been set up on a voluntary basis to improve safety within our sport, but we are also keen to formalise procedures. With this in mind we will continue to meet with all relevant groups and organisations to see where this resource can be of help. In Hawaii and Australia and now even in the UK the jet ski is recognised as the most effective surf rescue tool available. We are very interested in getting PWCs a good reputation as for so many years there has been no laws and safety requierments  put in place. hopefully the club will prosper and give PWCs the good name they deserve and keep our beaches and public safer.

The club wishes to promote :

• The use of PWCs as rescue craft
• The safe use of PWCs in high surf conditions
• The training of all Tow-In Surfers to a minimum standard
• The need for an Irish Department of Marine

Each Surfer/PWC operator to hold:

• PWC licence
• VHF Radio Licence
• Beach Lifeguard / First Aid
• Rescue Craft Training
• Insurance
• Club Membership / Irish Sailing Association membership

Surfers spend vast amounts of time observing the ocean. Staring at points, reefs, slabs and offshore bomborras. As the surf climbs in size or proximity to the rocks these observations become critical. Developing strategies to access and exit the ocean and find a place in high surf conditions to successfully ride a wave, are the basic skills needed to push the limits of rideable surf.

In Hawaii in the early 90's the Strapped Crew on Maui evolved from the use of RIBs and Jet-boats to the use of Jet-skis or Personal Water Craft (PWC), using a tow line to place a surfer on a swell just prior to the wave pitching. The surfer then free surfed the wave. Around the same time Hawaiian Water Safety Officers were developing rescue techniques based around the PWC and the invention of the rescue sled. There are now International Tow-In Surfing events and recognition of the PWC as a premiere rescue craft.

Following the world wide spread of this trend surfers in Ireland began, in isolated pockets, to experiment in the use of Zap-Cats, Zodiacs and eventually PWCs  to access unreachable or unrideable surf.

The discovery of Aileens by a Surfer / Adventurer focused the attention of Surfers in Ireland on one point. Aileens attracted big wave, heavy water surfers of all disciplines as THE premiere challenge for their skills. It was here that like minded crew began to meet and share stories of their experiences.

Under the shadows of the cliffs it was decided that a life could be saved by bringing the tow-in surfing teams of Ireland together  for the purposes of training and the development of rescue skills. The first group gathered in March 2008 in Co Clare for three days of intense training in Personal Water Rescue Craft Techniques.

As the popularity of PWC use increased in the general population, the need for regulation grew exponentially. The Local Councils were tasked with this responsibility. How the Councils handle this is being monitored as Ireland is the only country in the EU that has NO department of the marine and this is a huge central government FAIL. 

Recording of VHF radio licenses is the responibility of the Dept of Transport and they have a responsibility to control PWC licensing and to preside over the councils to see that the Irish Constitution is upheld. On the part of Councils they have all been given good advise by the Irish Sailing Association. Numerous Tow-In Surfers believe that PWC use should be regulated by a License System. This fits logically and also fits the Irish Constitution.  These events led to a gathering of surfers, after an epic day of surf at the cliffs, in O'Conners Pub in Doolin. It was here that The Irish (Tow) Surf Rescue Club was formed. As our sport is both Surfing and Boating related we voted to affiliate with The Irish Sailing Association. Tow-In Surfing is also internationally recognised as a Surfing Discipline, and as such has bought many thousands of visitors to Ireland and attained World Wide Recognition for Ireland.

 

As a  Club we look forward to working with the relevant authorities such as Irish Water Safety, Irish Waterways, Irish Coast Guard and RNLI and The Dept of Transport to set minimum licensing and training standards that will allow our sport to progress and compete nationally in all counties without discrimination and then internationally. We also look forward to working with our friends at the Irish Surfing Association.