The George Bass surfboat marathon, a grueling seven-day race spanning 190 kilometers along the NSW south coast, celebrates its 50th anniversary. Crews from across Australia and New Zealand compete in this demanding event, known for its challenging open ocean conditions and high level of respect among participants.
The George Bass surfboat marathon claims to be the longest and toughest surfboat race in the world.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.What's next?abc.net.au/news/george-bass-surfboat-marathon-50-years-batemans-bay-eden/104706280The George Bass surfboat marathon hosted on the New South Wales south coast is not for the faint-hearted.
Rowing 190 kilometres is one thing, but doing it in the open ocean and against the raw elements is another."If you tell someone you've done a George Bass, I think you go up a level in respect."(The race originated in 1975 and is entering a milestone 50th year, with crews from NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and New Zealand competing.
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."Supplied: Bulli Surf Live Saving Club/ABC Illawarra: Sarah MossNow 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.
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."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.
Surfboat Race George Bass Marathon Surf Lifesaving Ocean Rowing
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