While crews from NSW dominate the George Bass Marathon, one crew from the north of the country is quietly going about their business.
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Darwin’s Masters Women’s crew has traveled more than 4000 kilometres to compete in the event, a fact that has created some logistical nightmares.
The crew has had to borrow a surf boat from the Bermagui Surf Club just to compete in the event.
Sweep Bob Creek explained the process of finding a suitable boat.
“To bring our own boat down would have been too difficult, but one of our local girls put us on to Bermagui,” he said.
“The boat captain there, as well as the president and the committee, agreed to allow us to use their boat.
“They’ve followed us up every day since as though we were locals, and we’ve really appreciated that.”
Finding a boat hasn’t been the only challenge the crew has faced, but the reputation of the George Bass Marathon pushed the crew over every stumbling block.
“We heard about the George Bass over a number of years, but logistically it’s a big ask to come down from Darwin,” Mr Creek said.
“We thought this was the perfect opportunity. It has such a good reputation that we thought we’d like to have a go at it.
“To get eight rowers together and make the trek down here was a bit of an effort, but we’re really pleased.
“We’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
The crew have faced particularly challenging conditions this week, with strong southeasterly winds a hindrance to all crews.
“We do get choppy seas in the summer when our dry season comes through,” Mr Creek said.
“This is far more stringent and challenging than what we usually deal with.”
Day four was particularly special for the Darwin crew, as they had the opportunity to bring the Bermagui boat back home to Horseshoe Bay Beach.
“The girls have got a bit of a buzz out of it,” Mr Creek said. “We’re pleased now that we’re here for a couple of days where we can take in some of the sights.”
And while the crew are currently battling through the 2018 edition of the George Bass Marathon, Mr Creek expects another crew to tackle the next running of the event.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” he said. “We’ve also got a couple of girls who are very good ski paddlers.”