There’s a touch of tension hanging over the tiny town of Tathra as a group of local women prepare to tackle one of the longest, toughest races in the world.
While the NSW south coast town has long been associated with the bi-annual George Bass Surfboat Marathon – a former club president helped create the event – this is the first year they’ve entered a female team.
Sharon Clarke and seven of her now-closest friends will be among 26 surfboat crews and 20 surf ski paddlers competing over the week of January 1-7, paddling from Batemans Bay to Eden. Tathra is just one of the overnight stops where spectators can see the crews arrive at the end of a day’s racing, or set off on the next leg the following morning, but it marks the longest day of the event, and the local surf club has a connection with the race that no-one else can match.
“Our former president ‘Curly’ Annabel helped create the George Bass which kicked off in 1975, and we’ve had a male crew in every event but this is the first for the girls,” says Sharon.
The George Bass is a huge commitment. Because it covers 190km over seven days, in fair weather or foul, with blisters and exhaustion guaranteed, the training demands commitment and focus. “It’s a tough call for anyone who enters but I think it’s an especially big juggling act for women because of the time involved,” Sharon says. “All but one of us has a family, so we’re constantly on the run between home, the surf club and work too, but we help each other out with all those things and we’ve become such good friends as a result. We know it will not be an easy event, but we’ve become a good team and we’re all really excited about getting out there and seeing how we go.”
Sharon has been involved with the surf club since her own childhood and she’s encouraged her children to be a part of it too, but the decision to compete in this gruelling event was only made recently.
“I watched the boats come in during the last Bass in January 2010. It was a beautiful day on Tathra beach, the sun was out, and the tall ship Endeavour was anchored nearby, and everyone was so excited – I just knew I wanted to be part of it.
As a divorced mother of two boys, Sharon says the decision has given her another focus in life. She says it’s the first challenge she has given herself in life so it makes sense it’s a big one! She admits to being a bit nervous about what lies ahead and has her fingers crossed for calm weather – especially since one of her sons decided to share some worrying information with her. “He heard on Mythbusters that sharks are more attracted to wee in the water than blood! That’s a bit of a worry when you consider we are out there for hours at a time and drinking heaps of fluid to keep ourselves hydrated! If it’s true, I think we’ll be working hard to make sure we stay in the boat!”
DATES AND PLACES: GEORGE BASS SURFBOAT MARATHON January 1: Batemans Bay – Moruya – 27km January 2: Moruya – Tuross – 19km January 3: Tuross – Narooma – 22km January 4: Narooma – Bermagui – 24km January 5: Bermagui – Tathra – 36km January 6: Tathra – Pambula/Merimbula – 27km January 7: Pambula/Merimbula – Eden – @ 20km (depending on actual landing spot) BACKGROUND TO THE RACE The George Bass Surfboat Marathon was the brainchild of Bega newspaper editor ‘Curly’ Annabel. The concept was to trace part of the journey of early explorer Surgeon Commander George Bass in 1797. Bass, with a crew of six navel oarsmen, rowed a longboat not unlike surf’s original double-ended clinker down the NSW coast and around the southern end on Victoria, mapping the coastline as they went. REGIONAL
INFORMATION Located on the far south coast of NSW, the Sapphire Coast is only three hours’ drive from Canberra via Cooma or a six/seven-hour drive from either Melbourne or Sydney. The area is also easily accessible by plane, with daily flights from Sydney or Melbourne via REX Airlines into Merimbula.
There are also regular bus services to the area. For more information about the Sapphire Coast, and accommodation bookings, please visit the website http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au or call toll-free on 1800 150 457.
PHOTO CREDIT: WARWICK KENT. SHARON CLARKE AND CLUB PRESIDENT SCOTT MEAKER NEAR TATHRA WHARF
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