About the Mystique of this race called “George Bass Surfboat Marathon”?

The George Bass is one of those very special events that has something for every competitor and in fact all the extended team members. It is a challenging, competitive, tough and enjoyable event & something you can share with your Bass mates for the rest of your lives. Every season we have many opportunities to race a surfboat in standard competition around the country but you only get to race the George Bass every two years.

The reason it is held every two years is that it is a hard race but as importantly it is unique in the world of ocean rowing of any kind. For that reason we make sure it is well organised, the towns you visit along the track are ready to welcome you and the volunteers that make it all happen are fresh and ready to deliver this wonderful experience. It also requires a good amount of organisation from every entering club so by having a 24 month gap it gives you time to charge the batteries and prepare. 

The ASRL Committee would like to offer their congratulations to all those Clubs and crews who managed to reach the finals at the recent Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, held at Scarborough Beach, Western Australia, 22nd March, 2009.

The following article is courtesy of Surf Life Saving Australia's Aussies 2009 web site

After finishing second behind heavyweights North Cottesloe in 2006 and 2007, Currumbin Beach finally claimed the open boat title at the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving championships at Scarborough Beach today.

The Currumbin Barbarians crew of sweep Lyall Clark, Nick Parr, Randall Martin, Glen Williams and Peter Atkins snuck home in a blanket finish that saw four boats cross the line on the same wave.

Three-time winners North Cottesloe were second, with Jan Juc third.

“Everyone knows how good North Cottesloe are, so many people thought they were next to impossible to beat, especially on their home beach and you wonder how often you have to come up against them,” Clark said.

“But to beat them here is just fantastic.”

North Cottesloe were seeking the opportunity to set a new standard as the first crew to win four consecutive open boat titles and for much of the race looked set to achieve their goal.
While never leading by much, they were in front all the way until within sight of the beach.

Then a wave came for the pursuing crews and suddenly it was neck and neck between North Cott, Currumbin, Jan Juc and Austinmer.

There was only a coat of varnish in it at the finish but that was enough to send the Barbarians, their clubmates and their supporters into ecstasy and leave the Perth crowd disappointed.

For Currumbin second stroke Glen Williams it capped off what had been an even more frustrating wait.

Williams had previously finished with silver in four boat finals and when asked how he felt, his prediction of “look out Perth” suggested he was planning to celebrate hard.

In other results the reserve boat final was won by Kirra, Mooloolaba won the open women’s, Austimer won the under-23 men’s, the under-23 women’s went to Palm Beach and Avoca Beach took out the under-19 men’s.

Click on Read more for full results...

And the winners are...Wollongong 2010-11 and Newcastle 2012-13

Wollongong City Beach - home to the ASRL Open 2010-2011

Newcastle - home to the ASRL Open 2012-2013

The Australian Surf Rowers League marketing strategy seeks to optimise its opportunity for major development to the Australian Open where it will become the largest participating stand alone “Surf Boat Event” in the world, with an annual increase in competitor numbers, stronger media support, and opportunity for future television coverage, off beach festivals, functions and entertainment.

The objectives for the Australian Surf Rowers League – Australian Open are to:

• Maintain and expand the ASRL Open event status to create a high profile quality competition here in Australia with an attraction to international surf rowing competitors.
• Increase financial support from corporate business to deliver additional benefits to all competitors.
• Deliver a strong National media / PR presence to promote and profile the event and the sport of surf boat rowing all over Australia.
• Provide additional attractions during the event 3 day window for competitors, supporters and sponsors.
• Improve the overall beach presentation with stage & stadium structures that incorporate hospitality suites.
• To produce a quality surf sports television program for global viewing that showcases the Aussie lifestyle beach culture of our sport and delivers an entertaining display of surf boat racing against the ocean elements.

READ ALL ABOUT THE REASONS & BENEFITS: 

The ASRL Open the next four years ….  A change that will see a new direction for a rewarding future;

    ASRL President Bert Hunt “Statement to all Members” ….. click here
    ASRL Marketing Peter Hickey “ Event Strategy” And the Winners are; ….click here

Victoria’s Jan Juc crew has been crowned 2009 ASRL Open Champions after winning the Open Men’s race at the Navy Australian Surf Rowers League Open by a hair at Broulee Beach on Sunday, 8 February, 2009.

Little separated the crews as they turned the cans and with flat surf, the race became a true test of skill and stamina.

All 6 crews crossed the line within inches of each other and the outcome of the race wasn’t known for some time as the judges deliberated on the winner.

Eventually Jan Juc was hailed the champion ahead of Mona Vale and Manly. Austinmer, Whale Beach and Wollongong made up the minor placings but only centimetres separated the crews.

“It was a tough race, it was long and the boys put in everything they had,” said Jan Juc Sweep Scott Tannerhill.

“We weren’t too sure who won when we hit the line, but they boys raced extremely well the whole weekend and we knew were in with a strong chance”.

“It’s a real honour to win the Navy ASRL Open, you’re competing against the best of the best and we’re stoked to win.”

Local crew Batemans Bay was crowned Reserves Division Champion after a stellar performance all weekend. The crew won every race bar one throughout the two days of racing and crossed the line in the final a nose ahead of Palm Beach and Caves Beach. In another close race Bulli, Coogee and Palm Beach’s second crew hit the shore within inches of each other.

South Curl Curl beat arch-rivals Mooloolaba to take out the Open Womens for the third year. The rivalry between the two crews has been strong for years. Mooloolaba took the lead heading into the can turn and looked sure to leave South Curl Curl in their wake as they soared back to shore. But a late surge by the Sydney crew saw the teams neck and neck. South Curl Curl found the extra energy to pull ahead just metres before the line to take the race.

“Over the past three years, nearly every major final we’ve been in Mooloolaba’s been there and it’s always been us and them 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd, so it’s great to get another big win in,”  said South Curly Stroke Kate Mortimer.

Fellow Queensland crews Met Caloundra and Kurrawa came 3rd and 4th.

In other races Austinmer took out the Under 23 Mens, Palm Beach the Under 23s Womens and Bulli the Under 19s Mens.

A record number of crews entered into this year’s Navy ASRL Open, making it the largest Surf Boat Event in the world. More than 350 crews came from almost every state in the country to compete.

Final Results for the weekend's racing:

You can view ALL the results, including Masters by clicking here

Click here to view a selection of photos from the weekend, kindly provided by Chris "Nugman" De Jong. Or, you can view the entire series on Chris's site by clicking here

There's also a large selection of event photos by George Scarfe (ASRL SA) - here

Check out the new official Navy ASRL Surf Rowers' National League Facebook site!

Here you'll be able to read news, view photo galleries and videos of the Series and add comments.  Interested members and guests are encouraged to join up as fans and share your own photos and videos with other fans.

You can view the official Navy ASRL Surf Rowers' National League Facebook site by clicking here

...and visit the new Navy ASRL Video Channel!

The Royal Australian Navy sponsors the Australian Surf Boat Rowers League, a sporting group that, just like the Navy, encourages fit, healthy Australians and gives back to the community. A total of 24 surf boat racing events have been held in every state over the summer. Watch now...