Surf Club welcomes new inshore rescue boat

WHEN Rainbow Beach Surf Club Captain, Shane Handy, says his new Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) really flies, he means it literally.

Picture: Craig Warhurst

WHEN Rainbow Beach Surf Club Captain, Shane Handy, says his new Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) really flies, he means it literally.

The new boat was put through its paces at Sunday's training session by members of the Noosa Surf Club who were in town helping out with surf patrols.

The Noosa crews couldn't wait to take on the waves in front of Rainbow's main beach in the rubber ducky and had beach goers holding their breath as they crashed through waves and flew through the air.

Mr Handy said the new IRB would make the beach at Rainbow safer for swimmers.

“The new boat is six weeks old, we acquired it with a Telstra grant,” Mr Handy said.

“It is an Achilles rigid hull with a 25 horsepower Yamaha outboard.

“It is faster, has a softer ride and punches through waves better than the old one.

“Basically it will allow lifesavers to get to patients quicker.”

Originally published as Surf Club welcomes new inshore rescue boat