TATHRA has secured its first ever win in the George Bass Surfboat Marathon.
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It brings to an end an impressive drought, with the Tathra Surf Life Saving Club involved in the George Bass since its inception 38 years ago without ever recording a victory.
Until now.
The Tathra women’s veteran crew broke the club’s drought on Tuesday, taking out the category’s third leg of the competition.
The crew overcame tough competition to win day three of the 2013/14 Navy George Bass Surfboat Marathon.
It was a great day all-round for Tathra as the club’s men’s veteran team finished second.
Meanwhile, Bermagui’s mixed crew finished fifth in that race.
Tathra’s women covered the 22km journey from Tuross Head to Narooma in an impressive time of two hours, three minutes and 59 seconds.
The result means that Tathra sits second overall in the women’s veteran crew class.
Avalon surf club was runner-up and retains first spot in the overall rankings.
The Tathra team consists of boat captain Sharon Clarke, Linda Murdoch, Kate Whitton, Meg Quarmby, Maree Boulton, Melissa Meaker, Ankie van Harpen and Verity Kean.
Clarke said the crew was “super proud” to record victory.
“It’s Tathra’s first win in any George Bass Marathon, so we’re quite happy,” she said.
“It was really hard race, but we finished in a pretty impressive time.
“We only beat Avalon by two-and-a-half boat lengths, so it was a sprint all the way.”
Clarke paid tribute to the crew's sweep Alan Birchall, who she said played a major role in the victory.
She said it was particularly satisfying to win after the crew endured tough conditions in the opening two days.
Tathra’s crew finished second on day one, before crossing the line in fourth on Monday.
“The water will never be as bad as that first day – that’s the biggest surf I’ve been in,” she said.
Clarke said the crew hoped to finish the competition strongly, but added that “tomorrow’s another day”.
The George Bass Marathon continues on Wednesday as competitors row 24km from Narooma to Bermagui.
The biggest leg of the competition will be on Thursday, as crews travel 35km from Bermagui to Tathra.
Friday will see a 27km row from Tathra to Pambula, before the marathon finishes on Saturday with a 20km leg from Merimbula to Eden.
