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CLUB OF THE YEAR
JuniorSurf AGM
19th May 2012
 The Annual General Meeting for the club’s JuniorSurf division will be held on Tuesday 5th June, 7.30 pm at the Red Beach Surf Clubrooms, Ngapara Street, Red Beach. The election of officers will be held for the 2012-13 season.
Should anyone be interested in one of the Officers roles and joining the JuniorSurf committee, please contact Sally Mellor on 0210 263 4423, or email sallyjmellor@gmail.com and then come along on the night of the 5th June. Parents and members are encouraged to attend.
Ocean Waves
14th May 2012
Photo # 116 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
New breakfast menu
19th April 2012
 There’s a brand new Sunday breakfast menu in place at the Red Beach Surf Club.
Give your Sunday a kick start with a Quiche Supreme or a Clubman Special. Or try Adam & Eve on a Raft. But if you’re really hungry, go for the Big Breakie.
Enjoy breakfast over the bay – a great way to start Sunday – at the Red Beach clubrooms where the meals are just as superb as the view. Available every Sunday from 9.00 am – 12 noon. And while you're at the club, enjoy our popular Espresso coffee.
To check out the Sunday breakfast menu, click here.
Ocean Waves
19th April 2012
Photo # 115 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Events coming up
19th April 2012
Sun 6 May Surf Lifeguard Award exam, Red Beach.
Sat 12 May SeniorSurf Prize Giving Night. 'Formal to Normal' theme.
Sat 30 June SLSNR Awards of Excellence Night, Ellerslie Events Centre.
Sun 22 July SeniorSurf AGM, Clubrooms, 2.00 pm
4-18 Nov Rescue 2012 - Life Saving World Championships, Adelaide, Australia
7-10 March (2013) NZ Surf Life Saving Championships, Mt Maunganui
Fishing competition
11th April 2012
Fishing fundraiser lures close to 200 anglers
Norm Blunden with his prize catch of a 12.86 kg kingfish.
 Red Beach Surf Club’s recent fishing contest pulled in close to 200 entrants, and organisers have deemed it a huge success.
The fundraising venture, sponsored by Hutchinson Consulting Engineers, has reeled in around $7,000 towards the purchase of surf lifesaving equipment. Anglers met with fine weather but lumpy seas as they cast their lines in a wide variety of fishing spots.
The biggest fish landed was a 12.86kg kingfish, caught by club lifeguard Norm Blunden in the Tiri channel. It took the top prize in the section for open species table fish, sponsored by Orewa New World.
Other major sponsors were Kern Consultants (biggest snapper), Hiway Stabilizers (biggest kahawai) and Todd Cooper of Harcourts for the junior section.
The weigh-in at the Red Beach Surf Club.
One of the heaviest snapper caught on the day.
Al Presland, left, and Ken Lee filleting freshly caught fish for the barbecue.
This John Dory was one of the biggest caught.
Handing out the generous spot prizes in the clubrooms.
Fishing competition co-organiser Wade Downey, left, presents Norm Blunden with a new rod & reel for winning the open species table fish section.
Russ Kern, right, of Kern Consultants with the winner of the biggest snapper caught in the competition.
The auction for the 12.86kg kingfish. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Photo competition
11th April 2012
The club’s recent photo competition attracted a high standard of entries and we announce the winners and runners-up. The judge was Bill Sheridan, honorary photographer with the Collaroy Surf Club in Sydney.
Click on the first 3 photos to enlarge them.
1st Place: Submitted by Sharon Turner. Taken at the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships in Gisborne. Judge’s comment – “Fantastic action, level horizon, the lack of sharpness is acceptable”.
2nd Place: Submitted by Frits Beneka. Kade Scheib competing at Oceans ’12 at Mt Maunganui. Judge’s comment – “Action well caught, photo cropped appropriately, nicely exposed”.
3rd Place: Submitted by Frits Beneka. Izaak Scheib and Jake Morgan-Kemp at the start of the Diamond event at Oceans ’12 at Mt Maunganui. Judge’s comment: “Good exposure, sharpness and action”.
Runner-up: Submitted by Sue McLeely. Louise Aitken and Georgia Lloyd in the U19 board rescue event at the NZ Championships. Judge’s comment – “A great record, it’s sharp and well exposed”.
Runner-Up: Submitted by Jan Campbell. Club competitor negotiating the shore break at Oceans ’12. Judge’s comment – “Great action and sharpness”.
Surf patrols closed
11th April 2012
 Volunteer surf patrols at Red Beach have ended for the summer. The red & yellow patrol flags went into storage when the final patrol came off duty on Monday 9 April.
Summer patrols at Pakiri finished on 12 February. Patrolling for next summer will resume at Red Beach on Saturday 20 October, the beginning of Labour Weekend.
Flashbacks …
10th April 2012
Series 20 … photographs from yesteryear
March 1993: Red Beach Surf Club’s Nipper representative team which won the Cath & Eddie Millar Cup at Mangawhai Heads in March 1993.
Can you spot the following team members? Vaughan Skiffington, Serena Ball, Steven Ferguson, Chris Whitehead, Philip Taylor, Justin Taylor, Isaac Kett. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
February 1981: Red Beach Surf Club’s first IRB, launched at Red Beach on 21.2.81, two years before the opening of the new clubrooms. The presentation of the IRB was made possible through joint sponsorship from the Northcote and Birkenhead Lions Clubs. Pictured, from left: Rob Ferguson and Malcolm Beattie (both from Auckland SLSA), Trevor Hefford (Birkenhead Lions), Lance Earney (Northcote Lions).
January 1996: Red Beach and Collaroy lifeguards at Mt Maunganui for the NRC’s. It was the summer of the inaugural Lifeguard Exchange between the two clubs. At left, Vaughan Skiffington and Hugh Roberts who travelled to Collaroy in December 1995, with Blake White and Nathan Tucker from the Collaroy Surf Club.
Adelaide to host Rescue 2012 event
10th April 2012
Lifesaving World Championships in South Australia
Christies Beach, Adelaide, South Australia
 Rescue 2012 will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, from November 7-18, 2012 and will include five separate competitions … the World National Team Championships, the World Interclub Championships, the World Masters Championships, the World Surf Boat Championships and the World Inflatable Rescue Boat Championships.
Rescue 2012 is open to all proficient lifesavers. The Masters competition is open to all proficient lifesavers who are 30 years of age or above.
Beach, National teams and all IRB events will be held at Glenelg Beach while Christies Beach will be the home of all Masters, Interclub and surf boat events. The Adelaide State Aquatic Centre will host all Pool events. Read more ...
Check out the tides
10th April 2012
The tide chart is a popular link on this website. If you're wanting to know the tide times for a specific day on either coast, right through 2012 & 2013, click here.
Athletes at Aussies
10th April 2012
Red Beach Surf Club sent eight of its young athletes to the Gold Coast in March to compete at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. Surf conditions at Kurrawa forced the transfer of the event down the coast to North Kirra Beach where this pic was taken.
Standing, from left: Daniel Cairns, Briar McLeely, Kelsi Boocock, Courtney Spencer, Madeline Readman, Matt Thetford. In front, Louise Aitken & Lauren Bailey.
Click on the photo to enlarge it. Photo by Bill Sheridan.
Red Beach quinella at Rookie Challenge
10th April 2012
Red Beach teams finish first & second at Omaha
The Red Beach White team which placed first in the Rookie Challenge at Omaha Beach. From left: Jacinta Borer, Adrian Vasiljevic, Nicholas Wilson, Lewis Gjaltema, Sinead Payne.
Red Beach took out the top two placings at the Pub Charity Rookie Challenge at Omaha Beach in March.
A total of 17 teams, representing eight Northern Region clubs, took part in the event.
The winning White team scored 197 out of a possible 205 points, heading off the club’s Blue team which finished with 186 points. Red Beach’s Green team came home fifth.
The overall result was a fitting finale for Rookie instructor Debra Cairns who is stepping down after six years in the role, having notched up five wins in that time.
To view all placings & points, click here.
Members of Red Beach’s White, Blue and Green teams at the Rookie Challenge. All move into the club’s under-16 ranks next summer. Photos by Jill Payne.
Check the weather
10th April 2012
To check out the weather forecast over the next 5 days, click here and enter your city in the search box.
Red & White Night !
10th April 2012
Red Beach Surf Club members and supporters were big on numbers at the club’s recent Red & White Party Night to celebrate the successes of the season. The dress-up theme, naturally enough, was Red & White with MC Vaughan Skiffington pulling no punches during the Kangaroo Court proceedings. We were there to capture the crowd on camera.
Madeline Readman, Courtney Spencer and Kelsi Boocock at the Red & White Night.
Janet Gurr, Chris Gurr, Mike Taylor, Wendy Taylor.
Back row, from left: Jake Hurley, Lachlan Chambers, Jordan Downey, Campbell Busby, Adam Jenkinson. In front: Ben Jenkinson, Jack Lloyd.
Whooping it up at the Red & White Night, from left: Caitlin Ryan, Glenda Thetford, Naomi Young, Georgia Lloyd.
The Readmans were decked out in red & white. From left: Mark, Madeline, Blake, Jenny.
Matt Dillon, Matt Hanson, Cherie Dillon, Joshua Everitt.
Red Beach boaties at the Red & White Night, from left: Madison Smith, Jenny Randell, Ashleigh Jenkins, Zita Talaic, Christa Hanson.
The Grant family, from left: Stuart, Chelsea, Sandy, Mitchell.
Also at the Red & White Night, from left: Karl McMurtrie, Nic Myers, James Hanson, Thomas Burton, Jacob Lee, Zac Van Der Water.
From left: Vicki Reid, Duncan Reid, Chris McCullough, Nikki Darroch.
Serena Ball, Erin Taylor, Naomi Young.
Serving up chicken baguettes as a fundraiser for their trip to the Australian Championships: Matt Thetford, Daniel Cairns, Lauren Bailey, Louise Aitken.
Al & Robyn Presland with Nicola & Kevin Cornish. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Uniden helps keep managers in touch
10th April 2012
Club lauds its communications at NZ Championships
Team managers Mark Readman, left, and Tere Ryan using their UHF radios on Midway Beach.
Wireless communications company Uniden was right with the Red Beach Surf Club during the recent NZ Surf Life Saving Championships in Gisborne.
Uniden loaned the club six UHF radios that enabled its coach and team managers to maintain constant contact, no matter where they were located on Midway Beach. The radios, once fully charged, provided all-day use.
“The radios were great in that they helped us to keep in touch, enabling our communications to run very smoothly,” said Mark Readman.
The Red Beach Surf Club extends its thanks and appreciation to Uniden for helping the club with its on-the-beach communications.
Ocean Waves
10th April 2012
Photo # 114 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
204 National Titles
10th April 2012
Red Beach Surf Club has garnered 204 National titles during its 59 year history. The club's first title was won in 1958 at South Brighton, Christchurch when the Senior 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation team took out the Nelson Shield, the blue riband event of the NZ Championships.
The greatest number of gold medals collected by the club at a national event was in 2006 at New Plymouth when 17 titles were won.
At the 2012 Nationals held at Gisborne's Midway Beach, Red Beach won a further eight titles to take the overall tally to 204.
The club has won the Allan Gardner Memorial Trophy for overall points at the NZ Championships on four occasions. The wins came in 1991 (Gisborne), 1992 (New Plymouth), 1993 (Mt Maunganui) and 2006 (New Plymouth).
The Allan Gardner Memorial Trophy which has been won by Red Beach on four occasions.
Looking ahead 3 yrs
 10th April 2012
We take a diary look at some major events coming up during the next three years …
2012 Rescue 2012 : Lifesaving World Champs, Adelaide, 7-18 November
2013 Oceans ’13 – NZ U14 Championships, Mt Maunganui, 21-24 February
2013 NZ Surf Life Saving Championships, Mt Maunganui, 7-10 March
2013 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, Queensland, 18-24 March
2013 Red Beach SLSC 60th Jubilee plus 40th Anniversary of Red Beach SLSC Nippers & JuniorSurf
2014 NZ Surf Life Saving Championships, Whakatane, 6-9 March
2015 'The Gallipoli 100' surf boat event, April 2015. Anniversary of Gallipoli landing
Kelsi scores a bronze
1st April 2012
 Talented teen Kelsi Boocock (14) has collected a bronze medal at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Competing in the under-15 women’s Rescue Tube Race at Kurrawa, she swam into a fourth placing in her semi-final then put in a determined effort in the final to achieve a podium finish.
In Australia, this event does not include a patient; it’s a straight race to the marker buoy wearing fins and towing a rescue tube.
Kelsi also swam in the final of the U15 women’s surf race but was unplaced. She is one of eight young Red Beach athletes with coach Vaughan Skiffington on the Gold Coast for the Aussies.
Ocean Waves
1st April 2012
Photo # 113 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Erin Taylor named in 2012 Olympic squad
27th March 2012
Kayaker set to become a double Olympian
Erin Taylor during a kayak training session on Lake Pupuke.
Red Beach lifeguard Erin Taylor has been named in the NZ kayak squad to compete at the London Olympics in August.
Erin, who became the country’s first-ever female kayaker to compete at an Olympic Games – Beijing in 2008 – will partner Lisa Carrington in the K2 500m event in London.
The duo were successful in winning this event at the Australian Nationals at Penrith in mid-March, posting a new personal best time. At the Games, Carrington will also compete in the K1 200m event.
The male athletes named for the squad, yet to be ratified by the NZOC, are Ben Fouhy, Steven Ferguson and Darryl Fitzgerald.
For the news article from Radio Sport, click here.
For the announcement from Canoe Racing NZ, click here
Lisa Carrington, left, and Erin Taylor at Takapuna's Lake Pupuke.
Ocean Waves
27th March 2012
Photo # 112 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Eau dear …
27th March 2012
In lifesaving competition, the surf can be the great leveller. It can also result in bloopers and unplanned outcomes. We caught the following quirky moments on camera during the NZ Championships at Midway Beach in Gisborne.
Another exhilarating moment for an open men’s canoe crew.
Maddy Readman’s cap flies off her head during the Diamond event in Gisborne.
“If you can’t beat ‘em, crush ‘em”.
A Masters competitor spills off his ski at Midway Beach.
Another day at the office for a canoe crew.
When the judges’ stand in the boat arena became a paddling pool.
Mt Maunganui and Orewa competitors ‘paddle locked’ in the final of the U19 double ski event.
Trialling a new 2-man canoe event at Midway Beach.
A spill during the Masters ski event at Midway Beach.
“It’s those Red Beach canoeists again …”. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Club finds success in testy Gisborne surf
25th March 2012
• Top Auckland club at NZ Championships
• Briar McLeely the club’s most successful competitor with 4 Gold, 1 Bronze
Briar McLeely, left, managed to hold off a Fitzroy competitor to win the final of the U16 women's surf ski event.
Red Beach’s surf athletes ran, swam, paddled and rowed their way to a total of 19 medals at the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships.
Competing at Gisborne’s Midway Beach, they collected 8 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze medals over three days of intense competition.
In the quest for the Allan Gardner Trophy for surf lifesaving supremacy, the club finished in fourth place on overall points. A total of 41 clubs – represented by more than 1,200 competitors – took part in the event. Read more …
Red Beach's competitors and supporters had a great vantage point to watch the NZ Championships unfold at Midway Beach.
Ocean Waves
25th March 2012
Photo # 111 in our series on ocean waves. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Club hauls in 4 more titles on final day
18th March 2012 (Day Three at Nationals)
Red Beach’s female athletes to the fore on the last day of the NZ Championships
The winning of the open women’s ski race title was a major coup for Caitlin Ryan, standing on the dais with the Wales SLSA Trophy.
Red Beach athletes collected a further four national titles – all of them by the club’s female competitors - on the third and final day of the NZ Championships.
The last day in Gisborne saw a more subdued surf of around 1.5 metres which made for better conditions on a day jam-packed with finals. See pics for the winners.
Silver medals went to Georgia Lloyd in the U19 women’s board race as well as in the U19 women’s tube rescue when she paired with Lauren Bailey to finish second.
Meanwhile, the Red Beach Sirens boat crew rowed into second place in the final of the women’s long course surf boat event. Earning the medals were Zita Talaic , Ashleigh Jenkins, Lorraine Murray, Madison Smith and Monty McGougan (sweep).
The Roosters surf boat crew collected two bronze medals for their third placings in the U19 short course and long course events. The crew comprised of Matt Dillon, Joshua Everitt, Matt Hanson, Nick Teesdale and Craig Dillon (sweep).
On overall points, Red Beach ended up in fourth position from the 41 competing clubs.
Overall Points for Nationals (top 15 clubs): Midway (102.5) 1, Mt Maunganui (98) 2, Papamoa (89) 3, Red Beach (58) 4, Mairangi Bay (52) 5, Piha (35) 6, Lall Bay (33) 7, NPOB (31) 8, Ocean Beach Kiwi (27) 9, Waikanae (26) 10, Orewa (25) 11, St Clair (24) 12, Wainui (21.5) 13, Westshore (19) 14=, Fitzroy (19) 14=.
For the Sunday results, click here, go to 'Results'
Courtney Spencer, left, and Kelsi Boocock took out the title in the U16 women’s tube rescue event.
Briar McLeely was all class in winning the final of the U16 women’s ski race. She ended the Nationals with four Gold and one Bronze medal, making her the club’s most successful competitor.
The winners of the U19 women’s ski relay, from left: Georgia Lloyd, Lauren Bailey, Briar McLeely. Photos by Ross Malyon.
Three more titles
17th March 2012 (Day Two at Nationals)
Club wins 3 Gold and 2 Silver medals on second day of NZ Championships in Gisborne
The trio of AJ Maney, Chris Moors and Jared Pouwhare were a class act in the 2.5 metre Midway surf. In the open men's board relay event, they led through all the transitions to emerge as clear winners.
Red Beach athletes were in top form to haul in a further three titles at Midway Beach today. Competing in a surf that came up overnight, sending in waves of around 2.5 metres, three teams and two individuals added to the medal tally.
The club took out the Open Men's and U19 Women's board relay titles, as well as the U16 Women's surf teams race. In the beach flags arena, Naomi Young collected a silver medal in the Open Women's event while Jake Hurley also took a silver medal in the U16 Men's division.
Overall points after Day Two: Papamoa 47, Mt Maunganui 41, Midway 37, Red Beach 32, Ocean Beach Kiwi 21, Lyall Bay 20, NPOB 19, Mairangi Bay 14, St Clair 12, Orewa 12.
For the Saturday results, click here, go to 'Results'
Clear winners of the U19 Women's Board Relay in the very challenging Midway surf, from left: Georgia Lloyd, Louise Aitken, Briar McLeely. When this photo was taken, the second and third placegetters were still to cross the finish line.
Winners of the U16 Women's Surf Teams race, from left: Briar McLeely, Courtney Spencer, Madeline Readman, Kelsi Boocock. The title was won at Waikanae Beach when all U16 events were transferred to take advantage of the more subdued surf conditions.
Photos by Ross Malyon.
Gold medal winners!
16th March 2012 (Day One at Nationals)
Club's first gold medal won by U16 beach relay team
Red Beach's U16 beach relay team gave it their all to run away with the title at Midway Beach. From left: Mitchell Grant, Jake Hurley, Campbell Busby, Jordan Downey.
Red Beach athletes picked up a Gold, two Silvers and two Bronze medals at Gisborne's Midway Beach today. We bring you the medalists in the photo essay below.
For the Friday results, click here, scroll to 'Results'
AJ Maney, left, teamed up with Chris Moors to pick up the Silver medal in the open men's board rescue event.
Silver medalists in the open women's beach relay, from left: Lauren Johnson, Georgia Lloyd, Lauren Bailey, Naomi Young.
Matt Thetford and Reid Blackall came home third for the bronze medal in the U16 men's board rescue event.
Briar McLeely, left, and Kelsi Boocock collected the bronze medal in the U16 women's board rescue.
Athletes in action ...
Scott Williams, right, competing in the U19 men's run-swim-run event.
Maddy Readman qualifying for the U16 women's ski race final. Briar McLeely is another qualifier. Both athletes are also into the final of the U16 board race.
Ethan Hutchinson and Josh Davison in the U19 men's board rescue event.
Red Beach's U19 women's canoe crew in action. From left: Anna Harkin, Jessica Cornish, Jaime Busby, Georgia Cox.
Caitlin Ryan and Serena Ball in the open women's board rescue event.
Pierre Gjaltema in a heat of the U16 men's beach sprint.
Louise AItken, left, and Georgia Lloyd sprint for the finish flags in the final of the U19 women's board rescue.
Photos by Ross Malyon.
Masters in Gisborne
15th March 2012
Marie Stutz collected three gold medals at Midway Beach for the board, ski and Ironwoman events in the 50-59 years division.
Red Beach competitors showed their mettle at Gisborne’s Midway Beach today during the NZ Masters Surf Life Saving Championships.
Marie Stutz, competing in the 50-59 years division, won the ski, board and Ironwoman events to pick up three gold medals.
The Cab Savs boat crew won all three of their races to emerge as overall winners in the short course event and collect the title.
The men’s surf team in the 160+ years division also finished first on points to take out the win.
Meanwhile, Red Beach’s Coffee Club surf canoe crew put in some solid paddling to collect gold in the 160+ years women’s division of the short course event.
For the full set of results, click here, scroll to 'Results'
The Cab Savs surf boat crew in action at Midway Beach. The crew of Chris McCullough, Gordon Williams, Phil Wihongi, Duncan Reid and Monty McGougan (sweep) won all three races to take the title.
Kevin Cornish of the Flying Malyons canoe crew sprints for the finish flags in the short course event.
Winners of the surf teams race in the 160+ years men's division, from left: Dean Pouwhare, Ian French, Mark Readman, Steve Moors.
Red Beach's Coffee Club canoe crew took out the overall points win in the 160+ years short course event. From left: Robyn Presland, Carol Gjaltema, Michelle Downey, Stephanie Busby.
Lifesaving legend Reg Harker competing in the 70-79 years beach sprint.
Wade Downey of the Simply Red canoe crew heads for the finish flags.
Dylan Turner, Mark Readman and Al Presland in the sprint arena at Midway Beach.
Red Beach competitors at the NZ Surf Life Saving Masters Championships at Midway Beach, Gisborne. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Photos by Ross Malyon.
Eau dear …
8th March 2012
In lifesaving competition, the surf can be the great leveller. It can also result in bloopers and unplanned outcomes. We caught the following mishaps on camera during the current summer season.
“Hey sweep, I’ll use this foot as a brake.” Snapped at the Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival in January.
“Woman overboard” incident at the Owen Chapman carnival.
A surf boat belly flop by an U19 crew member at Whangamata.
The Simply Red canoe crew came in for a dunking at Whangamata in December.
A competitor stumbles at the start of a Run-Swim-Run event at Mangawhai Heads.
Competitors stumble in the shallows at Mt Maunganui during an U16 surf race at the ERC's.
A competitor about to take a tumble during the U14 Surf League at The Mount.
An IRB driver with the NSW rep team grapples with the problem of an overturned craft in the Mt Maunganui shore break. It happened at the start of the Dearlove Relay during the Lion Foundation Surf League.
A stumble during the Open Mixed Rescue Relay at the Surf League.
An IRB crew member heads for a bumpy landing during the Surf League at The Mount.
Above and below, young surf athletes struggle in a fierce Mt Maunganui shore break at Ocean’s ’12.
Photos by Ross Malyon.
Swell forecast
2nd February 2012
Want to know the sea swell forecast for the next 7 days around the New Zealand coastline? Click here.
Owen Chapman pics
23rd January 2012
The Owen Chapman photo gallery has 60 pics available for viewing. To check it out, click here.
High and dry …
31st December 2011
Surf boat on wall of clubrooms to commemorate the BH Heron sponsorship which began in 1978
Olympians from Red Beach club ranks
31st December 2011
 It’s a little known fact that there are nine Red Beach surf club members, past and present, who have competed at the Olympic Games.
All have represented New Zealand in kayaking, while Steven Ferguson has also represented his country in swimming. Ferguson, along with older brother Alan, was a member of the club’s JuniorSurf division for three seasons in the early-nineties. Those to have worn the Silver Fern are:
Don Cooper & John Leonard (both in 1976), Ian Ferguson (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992), Edwin Richards (1984), Stephen Richards & John MacDonald (1988, 1992), Mark Scheib (1992), Steven Ferguson (swimming 2000, kayaking 2004, 2008). Red Beach's very first female Olympian was Erin Taylor, above, who competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. She joined the club's JuniorSurf ranks at the age of 12 and went on to become a top competitor in surf lifesaving.
Flashbacks …
6th June 2011
Series 19 … photographs from yesteryear.
1992 : Hayden Reece, winner of the NZ Ironman event at New Plymouth and a key competitor in Red Beach's winning the Allan Gardner Trophy that year. Reece was the last competitor from the Auckland region to win the Ironman at the Nationals until Red Beach's Chris Moors picked up the title in March 2011.
1967 : The Red Beach March Past team at a Muriwai surf carnival. The day included a competition between an Auckland team and a visiting USA team. Auckland won the event.
1981 : Above & below … the wreck of Red Beach’s Blue Bonnet surf boat in big surf during the Auckland Championships at Piha.
The Gallipoli 100
29th May 2011
Gallipoli landing by surf boat crews
 Surf boats will feature in the 100th anniversary of the famous landing on Gallipoli by the ANZAC’s.
To take place in April 2015, the Gallipoli 100 is a surf boat race involving 100 surf boats manned by Australian and New Zealand lifesavers. Surf boats are to be shipped to Turkey for the event which will feature 100 surf boat crews racing over a 100km distance with the location being the Dardanelles, Aegaen Sea and Gallipoli Peninsula. The crews will proceed to a beach near where the ANZAC’s landed 100 years before.
Back in 1915 there were many lifesavers and future lifesavers who fought at Gallipoli, however, a number of the pre-war lifesavers did not return home.
To check out the Gallipoli 100 website and watch a short video on the event, click here.
Boats land at ANZAC Cove in April 1915.
Flashbacks …
22nd November 2010
Series 18 … photographs from yesteryear.
March 1981: Every one an Iron Man! Two well-known father-son combinations … the Kennys of Australia and the Harkers of New Zealand, each one of them an Iron Man in surf lifesaving. From left ...
Hayden Kenny – Australia’s first national Iron Man champion when he won the title in 1966.
Grant Kenny – The first Australian to win both the Junior and Open Iron Man Championships at the same Australian Nationals. While in New Zealand in 1981, Grant also won the Senior and Junior Iron Man titles at New Plymouth.
Kim Harker – An Otago Iron Man representative at the 1981 Nationals at Oakura Beach.
Reg Harker – Regarded in surfing circles as the Iron Man of surf lifesaving in New Zealand during his era. Photo by Ross Malyon.
November 1972: The Red Beach surf boat crew of the day in its brand new “Schweppesmanship” craft, competing in a boat race from Muriwai to North Piha. The crew, from left: Jack Young, Colin Brady, Paul Ranby, Terry Marsh, Paul Von Zalinski.
Days after the event, the boat was signwritten and given an official launch at Westhaven by the Mayor of Auckland Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson on 14.11.72.
November 1972: Following the official launch ceremony, the crew of “Schweppesmanship” took the new boat for a row through the Westhaven breakwater.
January 1975: Red Beach club members who attended the Piha Lifeguard Training School held over four days, from left: Ted Taylor, Geoff Small, Ross Malyon. All are current Life Members of the Red Beach club; Geoff is also a Life Member of sister-club Collaroy in Australia.
Club Cap Colours
3rd August 2010
Click on the chart to enlarge it.
Flashbacks …
15th June 2010
Series 17 … photographs from yesteryear.
1973: Red Beach club members during a lighter moment at the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships, Oakura Beach, New Plymouth.
1976: NZ Championships, Paekakariki. Mandy Glover became Red Beach's first female competitor to win a National title. She was presented with a new rescue tube by Reg Harker for winning the open women's tube rescue event. Standing alongside her is the rescue 'patient' Carol Harker who also received a gold medal.
1982/83: A Red Beach surf boat crew competing on the west coast. The wearing of life jackets during racing was compulsory. Ted Taylor is sweeping the boat.
Flashbacks …
16th May 2010
Series 16 … photographs from yesteryear.
1958 Nationals: Red Beach’s March Past team at South Brighton Beach, Christchurch for the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships. Standing, from left: Fred Dennerly, Doug Ellis, Gary Chapman, Roy Woodall, Ross Warman, Tony Marsh, Graham Wolf, Paul Ranby. In front: Allan Anderson, Reg Harker.
NRC's Carnival 1980: Red Beach's U-18 Taplin relay team at Mt Maunganui. From left: Bryce Brown, Tony Olsen, John Alderman, Andrew Olsen, David Ross, Eamonn Murphy.
Clubrooms 1983: The Red Beach Surf Club just prior to its official opening in March 1983 by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. The sandy area became the tarsealed car park during the summer which followed.
Flashbacks …
4th August 2009
Series 15 … photographs from yesteryear.
1963 Nationals: The legendary Reg Harker heads off Maranui's Brian Crowder to win the final of the open men's surf race at the NZ Championships held at Westshore Beach, Napier in 1963. Harker was aged 25 at the time. Brian Crowder passed away June 2009. Photo from the Westshore SLSC collection.
Flashbacks …
18th June 2009
Series 14 … photographs from yesteryear.
1985 Touring Team: In December 1985, Red Beach sent a team of 16 junior lifeguards – all aged 14-18 years – on a 12-day tour to Queensland.
Primarily an educational visit, the team members were able to check out lifeguarding operations and compete against their counterparts on the Gold Coast.
Training for the team began in April 1985 with regular sessions at Red Beach and pool swimming at Auckland’s Tepid Baths.
Fundraising got under way at the same time to raise the $25,000 required to fully finance the tour.
The team managers were Geoff Small and Ted Taylor. The team was coached by Chris Gurr, Lance Richards and Paul Kayes.
The touring party was hosted by the Southport Surf Life Saving Club and used the Southport Nippers surf headquarters as their base and for accommodation.
Flashbacks …
10th June 2009
Series 13 … photographs from yesteryear.
November 1980: Red Beach Surf Club's original clubrooms in a dilapidated state, two years before the building was demolished. The premises were opened in 1959 and served as the club's headquarters for 24 years.
Early-December 1982: The old surf clubrooms just before the demolition team moved in.
7th December 1982: Demolition of the building is well under way. It was put out to tender and went for $1,800. The new clubrooms, nearing completion, can be seen in the background.
December 1982: A week prior to Christmas, the old surf club was completely gone. At left is the old toilet block which has since been replaced by a more modern convenience. Landscaping along the beachfront took place in the years that followed.
The land occupied by the old surf club is now the Red Beach Waterfront Reserve on which the Owen Chapman carnival prize giving takes place each January.
Club’s first 50 years available on DVD
9th April 2009
 A DVD on the Red Beach Surf Club’s first 50 years is available for purchase.
This is the presentation which won acclaim when shown at the club’s 50th Jubilee celebration banquet in May 2003. It’s a memorable combination of film and photos spanning 50 great years of club activities and competition.
The response from people wanting to purchase the DVD as a keepsake resulted in good sales, to the point that remaining stocks are low and there won’t be a production repeat.
The DVD is now back on sale, available for the low price of $15.00 plus packing & postage. To print out an order form, click here.
Flashbacks …
10th March 2009
Series 12 … photographs from yesteryear.
1992: Winning the NZ Championships for the second time. Red Beach club members on Oakura Beach, New Plymouth after winning the prestigious Allan Gardner Trophy for overall points at the championships.
Early 1900's: Red Beach, surrounded by farmland, at the turn of the century. The leaning pohutukawa tree in the centre of the picture has become a Red Beach landmark and thrives to this day.
Flashbacks …
24th February 2009
Series 11 … photographs from yesteryear.
1991: Winning the NZ Championships for the first time. Red Beach club members on the dais at Midway Beach, Gisborne after winning the prestigious Allan Gardner Trophy for overall points at the championships.
1975: Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival at Red Beach. The legendary Reg Harker (centre) with son Kim and daughter Carol, limbering up before the start of the events.
Flashbacks …
5th February 2009
Series 10 … photographs from yesteryear.
1959: The opening of the Red Beach clubrooms. The building served as the surf club’s headquarters for 24 years before being demolished in 1983 when the club’s existing clubrooms were opened. This building was situated on the land which is now the Red Beach Waterfront Reserve.
1989: The Red Beach Masters March Past team competing in the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships at Mt Maunganui.
Flashbacks …
20th January 2009
Series 9 … photographs from yesteryear.
1976 : Red Beach club member Andrew Olsen receives the Cath & Eddie Millar Cup from cup donor Eddie Millar following the club's overall points win in 1976. The trophy was first contested in 1975.
1991 : 1st World Masters Surf Life Saving Championships. Red Beach Surf Club hosted this inaugural event which drew a very large turnout of New Zealand and overseas competitors for three days of masters competition.
Held from 29 November to 1 December 1991, it was an outstanding event conducted in fine, warm weather. Red Beach fielded the second largest team of competitors, 43 in total.
The organising committee was made up entirely of Red Beach club members and drew high praise for the event which is still talked about to this day. One of the highlights was the erection of a viewing stand capable of seating 600 people which extended out over the water. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Red Beach landmark
20th January 2009
The big leaning pohutukawa on Red Beach is one tree which has to be measured by its length rather than by its height.
If it hadn’t been for a stiff south easterly one January day in 1918, the old tree would be much taller today.
A man who lived at Red Beach probably longer than anyone else, the late Mr Stan Bayes, remembered the day the tree went over.
He and his older brother, Arthur, had been down at the beach watching Auckland holiday makers working on their boats. They left the beach just five minutes before the tree went over.
The Bayes family owned a farmhouse, which is still standing, and tended most of the land which is now in the Red Beach suburb.
When the boys returned to the beach from the house they were amazed to see the tree nearly on its side. The pohutukawa was then nearly 30 years old and it did not occur to anyone that it should be removed. Just as well.
Gradually over the years the tree, still bound by its roots to the bank, appeared to right itself by continuing to grow upward.
Stan Bayes regarded the tree as a great landmark and a really important part of the beachfront scene. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Flashbacks …
6th January 2009
Series 8 … photographs from yesteryear.
1988: Heron surf boat launch. The very first surf boat provided by Bryan Heron to the Red Beach Surf Club was given a champagne launch at Red Beach in October 1988. It was part of a sponsorship package from B H Heron Plumbing which included a new double ski, sponsored shirts and other club gear.
1988: 6-Man team. Red Beach's 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation drill team competing in a surf carnival at North Piha on Auckland's west coast in December 1988.
1914: Red Beach, surrounded by farmland, in a photo believed to have been taken around 1914.
Flashbacks …
29th December 2008
Series 7 … photographs from yesteryear.
1975: The launch of Red Beach Surf Club’s new surf canoe “Big Rooster” by Robert Muldoon, seated in the canoe, just days after he was elected Prime Minister of New Zealand in November 1975.
1957: Owen Chapman, the donor of the cup to foster surf lifesaving competition amongst the four Auckland east coast clubs of Red Beach, Orewa, Mairangi Bay and Eastern United who patrolled at Browns Bay.
The inaugural event was held in early-January 1957 to entertain the campers and holiday-makers from Pinewoods Motor Park. The Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival now spans more than 50 years.
To read the history of the Owen Chapman Cup, click here.
Late 1950’s: The 4-Man Alarm drill event being contested by a Red Beach team at an Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival. The spectators were holiday-makers from Pinewoods Motor Park and the surrounding areas.
Flashbacks …
22nd December 2008
Series 6 … photographs from yesteryear.
1958: NZ Championships, Christchurch. The fledgling Red Beach club, just five years old, was competing at the National Championships for the very first time. The venue was South Brighton and the club was there to compete in a number of events including the 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation drill event.
The sea conditions were turbulent and most event finals were cancelled. However, the 6-Man R & R final went ahead and Reg Harker, an outstanding surf swimmer, drew the marble to swim as the beltman. There was a massive rip running and it was very cold. Harker reached his buoy long before any of the other beltmen; two of the finalists did not make it to the buoys.
The time difference gave the Red Beach team a distinct advantage when converted into points. When all drill points were calculated, Red Beach emerged as the winner of surf lifesaving's blue riband event to take out the coveted Nelson Shield.
1958: NZ Championships, Christchurch. Red Beach's Reg Harker (right) has just completed a remarkable swim through turbulent seas to reach the marker buoys in the final of the 6-Man R & R event. He prepares to step out of his belt and hand it to reelman Graham Wolf.
1958: Red Beach's first New Zealand title. Winners of the Nelson Shield for the Senior 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation event at South Brighton, Christchurch.
Back row, from left: Graham Wolf, Ross Warman, Doug Ellis, Roy Woodall. Front row, from left: Allan Anderson, Toby Mitchell (Club President), George Perry (Coach), Reg Harker (Captain).
Footnote - The 6-Man R&R event has ceased to be a competition event in surf lifesaving. It's final appearance was at the NZ Championships in 2001.
Flashbacks …
1st December 2008
Series 5 … photographs from yesteryear.
1966: Club competitors from the 1965-66 season. Two of the group are current Life Members of Red Beach.
1976: Club members at Red Beach prior to a Paddlenduro fundraising stint which raised $5,000 towards the new surf clubrooms.
The surf canoe sponsors at the time were Big Rooster, Jerry Clayton Motors, Orewa Trust and Chrysler Outboards. During the mid-seventies, Red Beach was the dominant club in surf canoe racing with five open men's canoe crews.
1976: Millar Cup Winners. Red Beach Nipper members after winning the Cath & Eddie Millar cup in March 1976. Cherie Dillon, kneeling second from right, was one of the members.
Flashbacks …
18th November 2008
Series 4 … photographs from yesteryear.
1974 : The first female lifeguards. Although the Red Beach Surf Club was founded in 1953, female lifeguards were not part of the club until they were officially accepted as members in 1974.
Pictured above, six of the eight female members who obtained their Surf Medallions in 1974 to become fully qualified lifeguards with Red Beach. From left: Mandy Glover, Carolyn Hogan, Sally Glover, Ruth Mannall, Carol Harker, Carol-anne Clarke.
1950's: Owen Chapman Carnival. The Red Beach 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation team being judged during an Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival at Red Beach during the late 1950's.
1972: Surf boat launch. The club's new surf boat "Schweppesmanship" being given a lemonade launch by the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson, at a ceremony held at Westhaven on 14.11.72.
The crew, from left: Terry Marsh, Colin Brady, Paul Ranby, Jack Young, Paul Von Zalinski.
Flashbacks …
4th November 2008
Series 3 … photographs from yesteryear.
1973: The first Nipper members. At the start of the 1973/74 season, the Red Beach club introduced Nipper members to its ranks. Initially there were 20 boys aged from seven - 13 years with Gary Faircloth as their instructor.
At the time, the Red Beach Surf Club was an all-male domain. Female lifeguards were not part of the surf club until they were officially accepted as members by way of a change to the club’s constitution at the AGM in July 1974. The Nipper division was re-named the JuniorSurf division in later years.
1981: The demise of a surf boat. Red Beach's surf boat "Blue Bonnet" met with a tragic ending while being rowed at the Auckland Championships at Piha on Auckland's west coast. While charging down the face of a 5m wave and full of water, the boat decided it wanted to be a submarine and kept going until it met the sandy seabed.
The 'Auckland Star' evening newspaper ran the story and it was picked up by the Metropolitan Life Assurance Company who went on to donate a new surf boat to the Red Beach club. It was appropriately named "Metropolitan Life" and its launch coincided with the announcement of a $150,000 sponsorship of the Metropolitan Life Youth Programme. The sponsorship was to support the country's nine surf lifesaving districts with recruitment and training for Nippers.
Flashbacks …
28th October 2008
Series 2 … photographs from yesteryear.
1950’s Red Beach: The beachscape featured on a colour postcard.
1978: The start of the B H Heron sponsorship. Bryan Heron, standing at left, made a presentation of two rescue skis to Red Beach club captain John Glover while surrounded by some of the club’s Nipper members. Thus began a remarkable era of Heron sponsorship which flourishes to this day.
1972: Cyclone fury at Red Beach. In the aftermath of Cyclone Carlotta which struck the country in January 1972, waves pounded the Red Beach foreshore, forcing the lifeguard patrol to close the beach for the period of the high tide. Onlookers stood on the beachfront, watching the surging surf in awe.
The result of Cyclone Carlotta was a huge surf which formed 300m beyond the reef at Red Beach. The club’s surf boat crew launched “Miss Rothmans” and rowed out past the breakers. Rather than risk being smashed against the rocks while returning to the beach, the crew put into Stanmore Bay where the surf was much more subdued.
Flashbacks …
14th October 2008
We bring you our new pictorial series featuring photographs from yesteryear.
Series 1 … black & white pics from the archives.
1959: The opening of the Red Beach clubrooms. The building served as the surf club’s headquarters for 24 years before being demolished in 1983 when the club’s existing clubrooms were opened. This building was situated on the land which is now the Red Beach Waterfront Reserve.
1965: The legendary Reg Harker after winning the NZ Belt Race title for the first time. On the same weekend in Christchurch he also won the NZ Surf Race title to achieve the 'double', the most popular success among all lifeguards at the championships. He went on to claim the Belt Race title on four consecutive occasions and he won the Surf Race title four times.
Harker became known as the ‘iron man’ of surf lifesaving in New Zealand during the 1960’s because of his outstanding abilities in competition. He was made a Life Member of the Red Beach club in 1967 and currently lives with his wife Faye in Christchurch.
Red Beach, Peru
3rd September 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Peru, the third largest country in South America, is located on the continent’s west coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Paracas is a small fishing village 250km south of the capital of Lima, or three hours by road. It’s at the entrance to the Paracas National Reserve, one of the world’s most valuable and impressive coastal habitats. It’s where the desert and the sea come together in spectacular landscapes.
Red Beach is located on an astonishingly beautiful stretch of coast, surrounded by rugged cliffs, a desert and a lot of sand which make up the National Reserve. It is also known as La Playa Roja (the red beach) with the colour of the sand coming from the granite cliffs. The scenery is beautiful and it was in this rich area that ancient civilizations once flourished.
Paracas is a natural wildlife sanctuary and aquatic life flourishes on the coast. The winds, the sea temperature and other weather factors have created a habitat for more than 200 bird species along with marine life including sea lions, penguins, red and white flamingos and the visiting huge Andean Condor.
Paracas National Reserve also has huge sea lion colonies. Scores of sea lions can be seen lazily basking in the sun while condors and giant sea turtles ease their way through the water. Offshore are islands with a wide range of bird species including penguins, cormoranes, gulls, puffins and many others.
Red Beach, Komodo Island, Indonesia
4th July 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Among the thousands of small islands of Indonesia is one called Komodo, a mountainous stretch of volcanic rock covered with grass, palms and small pockets of jungle. The island, at 35km long, is part of Komodo National Park, 200 nautical miles to the east of Bali. The park is a World Heritage site and encompasses a number of islands, the largest of which are Komodo, Rinca and Padar. The region has around 4,000 inhabitants.
Red Beach, located on the eastern side of Komodo Island, is an exotic white sandy beach tinted pink by fragments of red coral. This popular anchorage is known for its beautiful underwater scenery which ranks it amongst the best in the world for snorkeling which is excellent over a healthy shallow reef. Diving is at the reef edge where the bottom drops down to 25 metres. Above the water, many wood carving and pearl jewellery entrepreneurs ply their wares by boat.
In the sea, the vibrant colours and exotic life enchant divers and snorkelers alike as endless schools of fish ride the waterways rushing up from deep sea vents. Below them the seabed is covered with a thick carpet of fluorescent corals and marine invertebrates - an underwater photographer’s paradise. The island, along with a few others nearby, is the sole habitat of the world’s largest lizard, known as the Komodo Island monitor or more popularly, the Komodo dragon. Red Beach is located just in front of the old dragon feeding station, directly across the bay from Komodo Village.
Komodo dragons can reach 3 metres in length and weigh up to 100kg. They are the top predators in their habitat and feed on wild boar, deer, water buffalo, dogs, goats, rats, snakes, smaller dragons, and once in a while – humans.
They hunt by ambush, hiding in the scrub brush along trails. Despite their lumbering appearance, they can move with alarming speed when they want to. They can’t sustain a long chase, but all they need to subdue their prey is one bite. The Komodo dragons carry poisonous bacteria in their mouths so if they don’t immediately catch their prey, the attack is often fatal. Using their long forked tongues, they track the scent of their prey as the wounded animal slowly weakens from the infected bite, a process that can take several days.
The Komodo dragon is an endangered species and there are approximately 6,000 in existence.
Red Beach, Crete
16th April 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
With its cobalt blue waters, sun-bleached cottages, ancient ruins and red sandstone cliffs, Crete's Red Beach is picturesque to say the least. It’s a famed 'clothing optional' beach located near Matala in the south of Crete, the largest of the Greek islands which lies approximately 160km south of the Greek mainland.
Made famous in 1968 when hippies from across Europe flocked to its shores, the resort at Red Beach has remained a favorite for its rustic charm and its tolerance.
Beautiful yet secluded, it can be reached only by water or on foot which involves a steep climb followed by a steep descent, in about half an hour from the village of Matala.
Red Beach takes its name from the ochre colour of the sand. While it doesn’t necessarily exude the same stunning red colors of Red Beach Santorini, it is indeed picturesque in its own right, set against golden hills and cliffs which provide a setting for some sparce, green vegetation.
Most often during the busier summer months, you can rent shade umbrellas and beach lounging chairs, but at times there are no rentals and it’s just you, your towel and whatever else you bring.
Matala View, on the hill above Red Beach, looking towards Matala Village. The ascent is steep but the view is worth the trouble and the effort. The tricky hike down to Red Beach affords some sweeping sights of the beach and the water, set against the coast’s cliffs.
At the north side of the beach the rocks are carved into ancient Minoan and Egyptian shapes, carried out a number of years ago by a Belgian man by the name of Gerard.
Red Beach Crete is primarily known for its affiliation as a 'clothing optional' beach. Predominantly, this section of the beach is kept at the northern side, however there is no strict rule against straying from this section without covering yourself.
But, do not think that you have to strip to enjoy Red Beach Crete as there is ample tolerance for all.
Red Beach, Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
3rd March 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Red Beach, also known as Playa Caracas or Playa del Corcho is one of the best-loved beaches on the small lush island of Vieques, 6 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. The beach is a long stretch of powdery white sand, leading into the crystal-clear Caribbean water that turns shades of turquoise and green as it gets deeper.
Vieques Island was once the site of a large US Navy base. It found its freedom in 2003 when the Navy pulled out, creating conservation land where the bases once stood, and the island is just beginning to get its ‘tourism legs’.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States and the Navy used Red Beach for recreation before they left, whiling away the time on this stunning beach with soft sand and even softer water.
Snorkeling here is excellent. You won’t get the variety of colours that a coral reef or rocky pier would afford but you will see stingrays, schools of smaller fish and possibly even a dolphin if you go out far enough.
The beach is framed by gently rolling green hills in the near distance. A number of small uninhabited islands and outcroppings can be seen not too far offshore. But while you’re on the beach you can pamper your feet on the soft white sand, get the perfect tan and enjoy life the Caribbean way.
Red Beach, Rio
6th February 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues ...
Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) wins over the tourists with its exotic, luxuriant and strange glamour. Surrounded by coconut and bamboo trees, this place is just another charming oasis of peace and calm in Rio de Janeiro, blessed with cacti, orchids, bromeliads and grassy bushes.
Praia Vermelha, known for its steeply sloping sands, is well sheltered at the foot of the Urca hill. It is found in a predominantly residential neighbourhood with an intimate small-town atmosphere. Boating is popular here.
The beach offers a stunning view of the Sugar Loaf mountain, named for its shape, which rises 396m above sea level. It offers a breathtaking panorama of Rio’s majestic beauty, with built-up areas nestled between magnificent bays and dazzling beaches on one side and abruptly rising mountains from the water, on the other side, in Guanabara Bay.
Red Beach, Greece
24th January 2008
Our new pictorial beach series on Red Beach locations around the world …
Red Beach, found on the Greek island of Santorini, is a mesmerizing stretch of red sand that is set against a stunning backdrop of scaling red cliffs. As if Santorini weren’t beautiful enough, with its volcanic landscape and picturesque caldera, Red Beach adds the extra touch that helps to make the island one of the most desired tourist destinations in the Aegean Sea.
The crystal-clear blue waters contrast the stunning red-coloured sands, all set against a prolific cliff background.
Located on the southern coast of Santorini in the area named Akrotiri, Red Beach is truly majestic and you would be hard-pressed to find a beach anywhere in the world that mixes such a color scheme. Often busy during the peak summer months, beachgoers to Red Beach Santorini may find it a bit crowded, especially due to the fact that the close proximity of the cliffs to the water leaves a fairly thin strip of beach.
Some who visit Red Beach Santorini merely park the car and stand atop the cliffs for a view down, but it is worth it to make the trek down to get the full experience. The beach can also be accessed by boat from the port of Akrotiri and the port at Fira. The sun can be very strong here, and the sand is not the most comfortable to sit on, thus many choose to bask under shade umbrellas and beach lounging chairs. Nearby there are taverns and eateries offering meals and snacks.
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