A board lost in Runswick Bay, Saltburn has been reunited with its owner after drifting 400 miles to Shetland!
The Lee Brogans leash snapped at Runswick Bay on 20 November he thought that that was the last he’d see of his beloved Walden.
“Pretty futile hope that it turns up,” he posted on Facebook, “Last seen going out in a rip apparently. If it rocks up.. Please message me.”
And seemingly that was that…
Five weeks later however Stephanie Riise was out with her partner Jake Anderson in Shetland when they saw something strange – a bright yellow surfboard.
Stephanie says they often find strange things washed on the remote northern islands, but his was ‘definitely stranger than most of what we have found.” Steph posted her find on the Shetland seashore discoveries forum, and was instantly inundated with messages.
“Within and hour I had message saying we should be alerting the government, if they could have it, or saying they knew whose it was..” Steph didn’t believe most the messages so took the post down. However another surfer remembered Lees post and put them in touch.
“I was cautious at first says Step, but Lee sent me all the photos of him with the board and a link to his post, so it was clearly his. We could hardly believe it.”
Lee had given up on his beloved board of 10 years so was obviously stoked to see it.
“If it hadn’t been for lockdown I would have probably taken the a road trip to collect it.
75 days later and Lee and board were reunited!
“Good job it hit Shetland otherwise it’d have been a much longer journey to nowhere!
Just got the board back yesterday (3rd Feb). So stoked” says Lee
Save The Waves Coalition and partners have launched an international campaign to #SaveOurWavesMaldives
Save The Waves and international partners are supporting local surfers and grassroots organizations in the Maldives to protect waves under immediate threat from development and infrastructure projects that are compromising some of the Maldives’ most precious surf spots.
Many of the country’s numerous and pristine surf ecosystems have been affected or outright destroyed by construction and infrastructure projects aimed at protecting private development interests in recent years.
Now local surfers estimate that there are approximately 20 waves that are immediately threatened by an infrastructure project, or have already been damaged or lost due to development.
“The Maldives contain a treasure trove of surf ecosystems that have incredible biological, social and economic value, yet have not been protected from rampant coastal development – not to mention the long-term impacts from climate change,” noted Trent Hodges, Conservation Programs Manager for Save The Waves. “The government has an obligation and opportunity to protect these resources that provide measurable benefits for local communities and economies.”
Two of the Maldives’ best and most accessible waves, Chickens and Cokes, are under immediate threat from infrastructure projects that could significantly alter the wave and surrounding ecosystem.
Save The Waves is now working closely with local organisation ‘Save Our Waves Maldives’. The campaign is taking a regional approach to bring awareness to the many waves under threat, while also working directly with local partners and agencies on concrete solutions to specific development threats.
There is hope that this disturbing trend will change course.
The Government of Maldives and Blue Prosperity Coalition is committed to adopting a legally binding Marine Spatial Plan, including designating at least 20% of the Maldives’ waters as fully protected marine areas. Additionally, the Government of Maldives signed on to the Global Oceans Alliance earlier this year to protect 30% of global oceans by 2030. The Save Our Waves Maldives campaign is joining stakeholder meetings to ensure surf ecosystems are part of the strategy to protect the local coastline.
Sign the petition here
