Tathra Surf Life Saving Club boat captain Peter George said he was incredibly grateful.

“[We’re thrilled] they’ve made the kind gesture of donating the boat,” Mr George said. 

Tathra Beach Country Club manager Ben Potter was the catalyst for the donation as a former Shire boy himself. 

“Wanda are big supporters and regulars in the George Bass Marathon and Ben got to talking with them during the Club to Pub surfboat race earlier in the year,” Mr George said. 

“They've been competing for a long time and the last George Bass they finished second in the veteran class against us.”

Valued at about $10,000, Wanda club officials said it was a way of paying forward their support to the Tathra community after the devastating bushfires earlier this year. 

The donation will expand the Tathra fleet to three surfboats, with the as yet unnamed boat to join the existing Curly Annabel and Zel Caddy.

Curly Annabel was the founder of the George Bass and Zel Caddy was named after a prominent member of the club through the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Mr George is in the process of making necessary adjustments, but expects a quick turnaround with fresh paint and branding to be done in the next couple of weeks. 

Once it is ready for the water, Mr George said it would become the main competition boat for the ladies squad, who have about 14 regularly rowing. “It's only six years old, similar to the Curly,” Mr George revealed. 

With a further 14 men’s rowers, there was always a need for a timetable to share the boats previously, but the new one creates more freedom. “It's been a bit of a time-table,” he said with a laugh. 

“It's a big boost to how many people we can get out on the water at any time,” Mr George explained. 

The Tathra women’s crew will head to Narooma this weekend to compete as part of the South Coast Boat series. 

Mr George said he was eager to launch the new Tathra boat in the lead up to the George Bass.  “After Christmas we’ll be ramping up the training with two teams likely to go in.”