Seventy-three surfers broke the world record simultaneously by catching and riding the same wave off the coast off South Africa, according to organizers of a world record surfing attempt.

Surfer Paul Botha who helped organize the event at Muizenberg Corner in Cape Town told AFP, "We have smashed the record." Botha told SAFM public radio "We have registered the claim and got a claim number.

All we need now is to get the footage edited and send it off [to the Guinness Book of Records]."

Over 300 surfers were participants in the feat. The competition was organized to raise money for a shark-spotting program off the coastline.

The surfers at Cape Town say they think they have beaten a previous record - when 44 surfers off the Irish west coast rode the same wave in May. Another attempt that remains to be verified is an attempt in Bali where 53 surfers took part in a competition there.