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The "Dial before you Dig" George Bass Ski Marathon was held over 7 days, 7 legs, 182km on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia between the 30th of December 2007 and the 5th of January 2008.
Over $5000 AUS dollars was on offer for the overall top 10 with small cash prizes for each leg. The South Coast has some of the best coastline Australia has to offer and is an ocean paddler's paradise. The event is held in conjunction with the George Bass Surf Boat Marathon tracing part of the journey of early explorer Surgeon Commander George Bass in 1797. The race takes place every second year due the scale of organisation and sponsorship involved and is a Surf Life Saving sanctioned event. Competitors compete on SLSA specification skis. [Editor: Kurt said that they were hoping that the event would open up to long distance skis in 2009.]
At this time of year the North East trade winds are predominant; with a tropical cyclone positioned in South East Queensland there was the recipe for big swell downwind racing over the 7 days and we were not disappointed. 21 ski competitors lined up for the event including 3 women hoping to become the first female competitors to complete the whole event in its 6 race history. Competition was decided in a points system rather than time so position was more critical then making time on competitors.
Day 1. Batemans Bay to Moruya. 31km.
A two-meter swell with a building 15-20 knots North East wind made good downwind conditions on day 1, with a new start at the river mouth in the Batemans Bay Township. Over 2000 spectators watched the start. The first 5km of the course was in relative calm and slight incoming tide of the bay before we headed into the open ocean and the waiting wind and swell. The field began to split up and chase their lines with Kurt Jones of Batemans Bay and Doug Ripper from Narooma leading the field in the early stages. The North East wind began to increase in intensity with waves white-capping and the runs coming more freely as the race progressed down the coastline past the many headlands and beaches. At the finish Kurt Jones took the first day in a time of 2 hours 19 minutes, 4 minutes clear of his nearest competitor Glen Sweeney.
 Day 1 start: Batemans Bay
Day 1 Results
- Kurt Jones 2:19.02
- Glen Sweeney 2:23.09
- Simon Stenhouse 2:25.51
- Doug Ripper 2:26.06
- Norm Leenehen 2:26.08
 Doug Ripper of Narooma
Day 2. Moruya to Tuross. 19km.
Day 2 was shaping up to be one the most eventful days of the race, with a good 2-3m swell at the start of the race, predicted to build due the tropical cyclone in South East Queensland plus North East winds of 10-15 knots. The field was immediately split up due to the conditions and competitors never sighted each other again until the finish line where the swell at Tuross had built to a solid 4-5m. With a deep water finish, competitors had then to negotiate the huge break to return to shore. Few ski and boat competitors made the shore still in control of their gear. Much equipment was damaged and lost in the ensuring carnage. On the other hand, the large swell helped to produce fast times for the 19km.
Day 2 results.
- Kurt Jones 1:14.48
- Glen Sweeney 1:15.31
- Scott Carver 1:16.54
- Gavin Granger 1:18.00
- Doug Ripper 1:19.00
 Some of the clean up at Tuross
Day 3. Tuross to Narooma. 22km.
Conditions shaped up brilliantly with a 3m swell and 15kt winds blowing at 8am and building. Unfortunately the support craft were not able to cross the treacherous Narooma bar and event organiser took the option to move the day's events to the safer conditions of Corunna Lake south of Narooma covering a flat course of 13km. The decision disappointed the more experienced paddlers but was meet with relief from the rest. Simon Stenhouse from Moruya went fast from the start clearing the trailing pack of Scott Carver, Glen Sweeney, Doug Ripper and Kurt Jones. Simon showed his still water capabilities holding the pack off to the finish line. A miscalculation in the finish line saw me lead the pack in a premature sprint to the finish line only to realise after putting my paddle down that there was a further 500m to go around the top turn and return to the finish line! Glen made the best of the mistake taking second place in front of me.
Day 3 results
- Simon Stenhouse 55.52
- Glen Sweeney 56.31
- Kurt Jones 56.32
- Scott Carver 56.39
- Doug Ripper 56.44
 Kurt Jones and Scott Carver
Day 4. Narooma to Bermagui. 24km.
With a 2m swell and 15kt tail wind, the wind gods had again shined on the George Bass competitors. The competitors just had to negotiate a difficult beach break to get to the start line out the back.
The less experienced struggled, with one paddler taking no fewer than four attempts over an hour to reach the start line beyond the waves, and unfortunately the three lady competitors were unable to make it out.
Three ski paddlers had to be rescued and ten boat competitors rescued with some sustaining minor injuries.
The points system allows a paddler not to complete a leg of the race but they then take the maximum points for that day. After a 40 minute delay the race began with competitors close to each other for the first half of the race. Scott Carver then elected to take a line closer to the shore while I opted to go further out to sea looking for a fast finishing swell. Glen Sweeny took a more direct path to the finish line between the two of us - and this more direct line paid a dividend and he took day 4.
 North Steyne Ladies crew moments before losing their sweep
Day 4 results
- Glen Sweeney 1:49.00
- Kurt Jones 1:50.27
- Scott Carver 1:50.39
- Gerard Kelly 1:52.05
- Doug Ripper 1:52.45
By day the 4 the overall points had Glen Sweeney pulling back the lead I had built on the first 2 days to be on equal points for the overall lead. Scott Carver was in 3rd place overall with Doug Ripper not very far behind with many other battles for minor positions going further down the list of competitors.
Day 5. Bermagui to Tathra. 37km.
Our run of downwind days had come to an end - and of all and of all the days to paddle into a headwind, it was the longest day: 37km straight into a 15-20kt cool southerly wind. Some competitors rounded the first headland and decided to turn straight back.
The group split as it met the southerly. Doug Ripper and Gavin Granger took a direct line straight into the wind with the rest of the field heading to shore looking for protection from the headlands - it didn't have a noticeable effect.
Doug and Gavin built a lead at half way of about 400m over me and Scott Carver. At times we were paddling straight into white-capping waves and skis were being pounded and were finding air over the crest of many waves as the wind varied in its intensity.
The swell was confused with some remnants still of the North East cyclone swell. Fresh new 2m southerly swells combined with reflected waves from rock faces made it tough going.
At 25km I caught Doug in the lead and with Scott Carver only 100m behind we continued to battle our way down the coast. I had pulled away from Doug in the last 7km but now the race referee had another problem: there were reports of a missing paddler and support boats were unable to locate him.
I crossed the line in first place in a time of 4hours and 23 minutes and air search had been called for the missing paddler. Only three minutes before the search plane took off, the missing paddler, Gerard Kelly, crossed the finish line in second place only 16 seconds in front of Doug Ripper! He had snuck tightly along the coast line - much to the relief of many involved. A special mention has to be given to Karen and Wendy of Pambula on the double ski taking 7 hours and 12 minutes in difficult conditions to complete the day's leg. The race Doctor treated 30 cases of hypothermia and exhaustion on this day (mainly boat competitors).
Day 5 results.
- Kurt Jones 4:23.42
- Gerard Kelly 4:31.24
- Doug Ripper 4:31.40
- Gavin Granger 4:31.59
- Scott Carver 4:37.47
Day 6. Tathra to Pambula. 27km.
The Southerly wind exhausted itself overnight and we were greeted with smooth conditions and only a light 2-5kt easterly breeze with a 1.5m swell from the North East. The pack again split with Scott Carver taking the an inside line and Glen Sweeney and me going seaward.
The support boats reported large packs of sharks in the area (great time to be sitting 3km out to sea). I spotted Scott Carver level with me 800m into shore with 6km to go. Holding my line out to sea and using the swells for a faster run to the finish line, I held Scott out for another first place with Scott 2nd and Glen in 3rd place.
Day 6 results.
- Kurt Jones 2:15.23
- Scott Carver 2.16.08
- Glen Sweeney 2:17.37
- Gerard Kelly 2:22.45
- Doug Ripper 2:25.36
 Gavin Granger and Dom Hides heading to finish on day 6
Day 7. Merimbula to Eden. 22km.
A 1.5m North East swell and 10-15 knots northeast wind combined to give us another downwind day. Competitors worked their way across the first 6km to turn Haycock point and work with the swell. Glen Sweeney put in a solid last day's performance to take the win with me 2nd and Scott Carver 3rd for the day's results.
 Merimbula Day 7 start
Day 7 results
- Glen Sweeney 1:44.27
- Kurt Jones 1:45.21
- Scott Carver 1:46.24
- Doug Ripper 1:49.36
- Gerard Kelly 1:50.02
 Kurt Jones
Overall results (based on points).
- Kurt Jones 11 points
- Glen Sweeney 17 points
- Scott Carver 26 points
- Doug Ripper 31 points
- Gerard Kelly 39 points
- Gavin Granger 46 points
- Peter Mitchell 57 points
- Jeff Banks 60 points
- Greg Shaw 68 points
- David Schofield 72 points
- Mick Pheeney 81 points
- Shaun Ryan 92 points
- Rob Hodge 93 points
- Dom Hides 106 points
- Rick Farrell 111 points
- Karen/Wendy 120 points
- Jacki Keogh 127 points
- Simon Stenhouse DNF
- Mick Ginman DNF
- Norm Lenehan DNF
The overall event was well organised and a credit to the organisers and sponsors. It was well attended by spectators each day and the boat event captured extensive media attention every day. Live video footage was broadcast on the Defence web site, one the major sponsors (of the boat event).
For Gallery and video footage visit http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/navy/georgebass/
[Editor: Looks as though there might be space for an ultra-marathon World Series - this event along with races like the 144km PE to EL challenge in South Africa could form the basis of a series... how about it, guys?]
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Stuart