Currumbin’s Ocean Thunder surf boat series defence in tatters after boats destroyed in encounter with kangaroo

A LATE-night encounter with a kangaroo has left Currumbin’s surf boat season in tatters after two craft were destroyed in an accident.

Damage to Currumbin's surf boats after the trailer carrying them rolled when the bus towing them back from an Ocean Thunder series event swerved to avoid hitting a kangaroo.

A LATE-night encounter with a kangaroo has left Currumbin Surf Club’s surf boat season in tatters after two craft were destroyed in a bid to avoid hitting the creature on the road.

Currumbin officials were towing two surf boats while returning to the Gold Coast from Sydney after competing in a round of the Ocean Thunder series at Dee Why beach when they swerved to avoid a kangaroo on the road in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The bus towing a double-decker trailer containing two surf boats jackknifed and hit the bus, causing it to snap an axle, while the boats and trailer rolled, almost forcing the bus containing several rowers down an embankment.

Boat captain Joe Fraser estimated the damage at $80,000.

While the club is covered by insurance, it could take months to source new boats, oars a trailer and signage, throwing the club’s surf boat season into turmoil.

The incident has certainly left the Currumbin Barbarians’ Ocean Thunder title defence in tatters, while the club’s ability to train and race has been decimated with damage to the second boat, raced by the club’s second men’s crew and Chaos women’s crew.

But Fraser was thankful for small mercies, with no one in the bus injured.

“We’re in a bit of a pickle at the moment but at least everyone is safe,’’ he said.

“Obviously, it’s disappointing about the gear but as long as everyone was safe, that was the main thing.

“It could have ended up a lot worse than a couple of broken boats and a bus.’’

Currumbin’s women started the season strongly, finishing third at the weekend, while the defending champion “Baa Baas” were disqualified in the quarter-finals after running to the wrong flag.

But things are likely to get more difficult for the club ahead of the second round of competition at Dee Why on December 10.

“We’re all rattling our brains to work out where we go from here, basically,’’ Fraser said.

“It’s not just the boats, it’s trailers that we use, our oars, boat covers, even signage on the boats, the list goes on, on the costs that are going to come up.

“It’s definitely a disaster for the club.

“We have got insurance but the turnaround is going to be months and we’re right in the middle of our competition at the moment.

“A lot of blokes put a lot of time into training and getting competitive and now they’re going to have to get another boat, so it’s affected a lot of people.’’