The women’s masters’ crew, who has rowers that have completed the demanding race three to five times, lines up against crews from Pambula, Angelsea, Tathra and Warriewood.

While the crew is competitive, rower Kerryl Davie said it would not feel pressure to be the lead boat as the goal was to finish in good health as a quarter of the crew was over 50 years of age.

“Every day is a race within itself,” Davie said.

“We want to basically get from Batemans Bay bridge to the beach at Eden in one piece.

“If we get placings along the way that will be a bonus.”

The Bats’ rowers are spread from Long Beach to South Heads and Davie said the training in the lead-up had been “pretty intense”.

“We had two teams (racing) one on one, probably once a fortnight, but we were in the boat three times a week,” she said.

“We were training at Corrigans and going around to Casey’s Beach, doing a swap over so we got a bit of everything.

“We’re as a ready as you can be.”

Sweep Darren Reidy will be on board again which gives the crew confidence.

“(He) has looked after us previously and managed us really well considering we’re not spring chickens, apart from Kimberli,” Davie said with a laugh.

“He has done an amazing job with us.” 

Davie praised a Batemans Bay business for its sponsorship which sliced another layer of pressure off in the lead up.

“It will help with fuel costs and getting our team to the event,” she said.