Surfboard Travels 2,400 kilometers across Tasman Sea, Returned to Owner
Raglan, New Zealand – A surfboard lost off the coast of Tasmania over a year ago has remarkably washed up on a beach in Raglan, New Zealand, a distance of approximately 2,400 kilometers. The amazing journey captivated locals and ultimately led to the board’s return to its grateful owner, Liam Bonham, in Auckland. The story highlights the power of ocean currents and the unexpected connections forged across vast distances.
The surfboard’s odyssey began with its loss from Tasmania. After drifting for months, it was discovered by raglan resident Bon, who embarked on a mission to locate the original owner. Bon’s persistence, aided by online resources, successfully identified Liam Bonham, and the board was returned to his family on Tuesday morning. This unusual event underscores the critically important role ocean currents play in long-distance dispersal and the surprising ways objects can travel across the globe.
According to a report by 1News, a physical oceanographer at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Edward Doddridge, explained the possible routes the board may have taken. “There’s this tiny, infinitesimal possibility that the surfboard went south, hitched a ride on a really fast part of that current, and went all the way round the world before washing up in New Zealand,” Doddridge said. He suggested the board could have traveled on either the East Australian Current or the antarctic Circumpolar current.
Bon reflected on the serendipitous nature of the discovery, noting, “The day I lost my kite, I found Liam’s board. Maybe there was a reason.” The surfboard is now making its return trip to tasmania – this time via air – completing an extraordinary trans-Tasman journey.
