George Bass rowers embark on ‘longest and toughest surfboat race in the world’ The George Bass surfboat marathon claims to be the longest and toughest surfboat race in the world. (Supplied: George Bass Surf Marathon) It’s deeply rooted in surf lifesaving culture and it is no coincidence the teams hail from surf clubs across the […]

George Bass rowers embark on ‘longest and toughest surfboat race in the world’

The George Bass surfboat marathon claims to be the longest and toughest surfboat race in the world. (Supplied: George Bass Surf Marathon)
It’s deeply rooted in surf lifesaving culture and it is no coincidence the teams hail from surf clubs across the country.
“It was a long, painful experience,” he said.

4 hours agoSat 28 Dec 2024 at 8:37pm

women rowing in a surfboat at sea — The race begins each day out at sea, not from shore, but rowers must pass the wave break either way. (Supplied: George Bass Surf Marathon)

In short:

The race begins each day at sea rather than the beach and four-person crews plus a sweep race in shifts for about 30 minutes.”That what attracts everybody. They’re all mad,” race director Andrew Holt said.

What’s next?

“It gets mentally difficult about day three when you’re exhausted and you’re not even halfway yet.

The speed of the rowers highly depends on swell, currents and whether they are facing a preferred northerly breeze or a not-ideal southerly. He said it was his duty to keep the women going and ultimately get the gold.Competitors must row 190 kilometres over seven legs before finishing at Eden on January 4.

“When I say endurance, it’s backing up day after day for seven days, and it’s a sprint,” Ms Byrne said.

Once teams finish a leg, their times are recorded and they return to shore where they rest for the night before doing it all again the next morning.

a photo of a surfboat crashing into waves — “We don’t know what the weather gods are going to give us.”

ABC South East NSWRowers have been training for close to a year in preparation for a brutal race, and the risk of injury is not lost on those taking part.By Adriane ReardonThe course can be changed if the weather deteriorates and conditions become dangerous, but completing the George Bass is the ultimate achievement for many. “I try and keep the morale up, keep the technique correct, make the boat go as fast as it can and try and come first,” he said.

a black and white photo of a man tying a surf cap on, next to a modern day version of it — “You have to have done it to understand how good it feels to finish the race.

Competitors must row 190 kilometres down the NSW south coast. (Supplied: George Bass Surf Marathon)“I think the adrenaline is rushing so much and you just want to get yourself into that boat that you don’t even think about it,” said Kirsty Byrne, captain of a Pambula-based female veterans crew.

The race starts on Sunday morning in Batemans Bay and continues to Moruya, Tuross Head, Narooma, Bermagui, Tathra and Pambula before finishing in Eden on January 4.

Now 71, Mr Mercer is believed to hold the record for the most George Bass events rowed and will compete again this year in the Super Veterans category.

It’s a marathon and a sprint

Chris Mercer, from the Bulli Surf Life Saving Club in Wollongong, raced in the debut George Bass when he was in his 20s and remembers how challenging it was. “It was a brand new race, no-one knew anything about it and no-one knew what we were up for.””I’ve actually lost count,” he said.Rowing 190 kilometres is one thing, but doing it in the open ocean and against the raw elements is another.The shortest leg is on day two at 19 kilometres, while the longest leg is on day five at 36 kilometres, which is where fatigue really kicks in.

a woman smiles at the camera — The seven-leg, seven-day race from Batemans Bay to Eden claims to be the longest and toughest of its kind in the world.

“Everyone should have it on their bucket list.”The George Bass surfboat marathon hosted on the New South Wales south coast is not for the faint-hearted.Twenty-six surfboat crews and 18 surf skis are taking part this year, nearly double the numbers of the 2023 race.Being so far out to sea and in deep water makes it an intimidating task.

The George Bass is a seven-day surfboat marathon on the NSW south coast from Batemans Bay to Eden, said to be the toughest race of its kind in the world.

a landscape photo of surfboats in the water — The sweep on Ms Byrne’s crew, Chris “Briggsy” Briggs, will be steering the boat for the entire week with no breaks.

“I just hope I can make it to the end.”Surf skis were introduced to the race in the 1990s. (Supplied: George Bass Surfboat Marathon)Rowers from across the country are taking part in the race, which is celebrating its 50th year.

Battling demons

This will be Kirsty Byrne’s seventh time competing in the George Bass. (ABC South East NSW: Adriane Reardon)“You’ve got to push your limits and mentally, you have to battle those demons,” Mr Holt said.

George Bass marathon — Topic:Surf Life Saving

“If you tell someone you’ve done a George Bass, I think you go up a level in respect.”Chris Mercer competed in the first George Bass in 1975 (left) and continues to race today. (Supplied: Bulli Surf Live Saving Club/ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)The race originated in 1975 and is entering a milestone 50th year, with crews from NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and New Zealand competing.The rotation between crew members takes place in open water, as rowers swim from an accompanying support boat to the surf boat and quickly haul themselves on board.