Perfect conditions greeted competitors for the return of the Club to Pub surfboat race on Saturday, with Tathra proving too strong taking out the open men’s division.
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A small swell with a 10-knot nor’easter provided rowers with ideal conditions for the 10 kilometre event.
Tathra completed the race in just under 55 minutes, from Narooma in second place.
The ladies open division was won by Broulee, with the Gerringong girls finishing in second place.
The Pambula vets men’s crew proved too strong in their division, claiming line honours from rivals Tathra.
However, Tathra turned the tables in the ladies vets, proving too strong for the Pambula ladies crew of Sweep Chris Briggs, Amanda Rafferty, Simone Shaw, Megan Quarmby and Kristi Papalia.
Narooma’s Nick Ziv won the surf ski event in a time of 55.5 minutes, from Pambula Surf Life Saving Club’s (PSLSC) Scott Deveril in second and Potts Kelly in third.
Pambula ladies made it a clean sweep in their surf ski race, with Kym O’Halloran claiming line honours from club-mates Wendy Wait and Beth Knox, who contested her first open water ski race.
The test of endurance saw crews basically sprint from Pambula Beach to Haycock Point, before the final leg to Merimbula’s public jetty located across the road from the Lakeview Hotel.
PSLSC boat captain and event organiser Chris Briggs said the Club to Pub was here to stay.
“It was a really good day and I’m happy with the whole event,” he said.
“It went off better than what I had planned and everyone that came said they will be back next year, and with them more crews.
“Word will get around about the event and how well it was run, so we can expect more boats next year for a bigger and better event.”
The race was completed in relatively quick time, with the times ranging from 55 minutes to one hour and 15 minutes.
“The conditions were perfect for rowing and luckily enough Saturday’s weather didn’t turn bad until after the event,” Briggs said.