Lost Surfboard's Incredible Journey

A custom-made surfboard that fell off a boat in Tasmania nearly 18 months ago has been discovered off the west coast of New Zealand, having drifted an astonishing 2,400 kilometers across the Tasman Sea.

The remarkable find was made by Alvaro Bon, a French kitesurfer living in New Zealand. While kitesurfing in Raglan Harbour on the North Island, Bon spotted the barnacle-covered board. Intrigued, he shared photos of his discovery on various online surfing forums.

Days later, a friend of the board's owner recognized it and connected Bon with the Australian owner, known only as Liam. The surfboard, which had been blown overboard in May 2024, was deemed irreplaceable as its designer no longer makes surfboards.

Bon's discovery came on a day when he had to make a split-second decision to let go of his kite due to strong currents. This twist of fate led him to find the lost surfboard, which he sees as a meaningful coincidence. 'Sometimes you need to let go of some stuff to find better,' Bon reflected on his unexpected find.