Tathra will enter a veteran men's and a veteran women's crew in the hopes of shaking up the leaderboard.

Club president and veteran men's rower Peter 'Pommie' George said both crews were hitting the water at least twice a week and the club was starting to buzz the event draws ever closer.

"The preparation has been quite exceptional and there is a bit of buzz around the camp now," George said.

The club recently accepted donations of two extra rowing machines and training has hit a peak of about six sessions a week.

"Everyone gets busy in life with work and everything, but they've still been putting in five or six sessions a week, both crews have put in so much effort," George said.

"Hopefully our early preparation pays off and all the pre-race training will keep us ready to go "

Tathra is expecting some fierce competition, specifically from the Sydney and South Australian clubs out of Wanda and The Grange. but he said the club were hungry to go as well as they could.

Tathra lifesavers have a proud history as one of only two clubs to contest every single George Bass since 1975 alongside Moruya.

However, George offers up some cheerful protest to the record.

"It's something that hits hard in our community is that we've always had a team, we've never missed a beat," he said.

"Moruya have always taken part, but a couple of those teams have been Canberra based, so we reckon we have the mantle over them," he says with a cheeky grin.

Highlighting this is three-time competitor Ben Barker who is stepping out of the rally car and into the rowboat, but George said its something that runs in his veins.

Ben's Dad and support boat driver Bob Barker was among the rowers in the maiden event back in 1975.

"It's that kind of heritage and history that separates us from the pack," George said.

He also said there had been incredible support from the community and both crews were hyped to row into their home beach on January 2.

"Tathra is a very strong little community and I personally believe the day when you row into Tathra is the biggest day of the week," he said.

"The town turns out not just to support only us, but also the other crews."

Two boat crews of nine will swell to more like 35 or 40 in camp George says with a throng of volunteers offering their time in the support boats, driving, cooking for the crews or just helping out where they can.

"It's a big machine once it gets going - and this being the biggest Bass since the early 90s, it's a massive operation," George adds.

Veterans mens

Peter 'Pommie' George

John 'Sheedy' Sheeds

Jed Cutter

John Gardner

Chris Thomas

Ben Barker

Jamie Meaker

Buff Britten

Brad Cole

Matt Christison

John 'Murph' Murphy

Ben Potter

Veteran ladies

Sharon Clarke

Val Schmidt-Oke

Stacey Defina

Lou Strachan

Penny Green

Meg Hergenhan

Stacey Miller

Sweep Scott Meaker

Team strength: The guys and girls that are very close and good friends - they've built a pretty sound relationship over the years.

Team Weakness: A few nerves around ocean swaps after spotting some sizeable sharks. "It's their ocean and that's how it is, but I reckon our changes will be pretty quick." George says.