The organiser of the GB Oceanski Series of surf ski races is today facing severe criticism after rescue services were called out to help competitors during bad weather on Saturday’s race from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove in Dorset.

One competitor was airlifted to hospital and a search went on for some time for another who was suspected missing. The Portland Coastguard said it had not been informed of the event, which involved some 40 surf ski paddlers. The race featured some top names in the sport, including multiple marathon world champion Ivan Lawler and former DW race winner and ex-GB marathon canoeing team member Simon Dark.

Portland Coastguard, however, declared: “We spent two hours trying to ascertain if people were missing or not. All due to the fact that whoever organised this event did not see fit to inform us. The swell was bad, the wind was high and it was not the place to be in a kayak. It was really bad planning – there could have been a tragedy.”

The race organiser, however, hit out at ‘incorrect’ reports in the media, adding that it had had Coastguard approval of its risk assessment for the event.
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