Eighteen crews from Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia entered the open boat division. 

Broulee in the qualifying rounds had two wins, a second and a fourth to qualify for the six-boat open men’s final.

The six crews in the final were Henley Beach under 23s, Carlton Park (Tasmania), Clifton Beach A (Tasmania), Torquay under 23s (Victoria), Broulee under 19s and Clifton Beach B (Tasmania).

Broulee had completed nine races before the open final, rowing in the morning Young Guns Carnival in addition to the open men’s program. 

In the final, the crew started “extremely well” to lead by a clear length before extending its buffer by the turn. 

On the way home, the Broulee crew led into the wave area by a length and a half until a wave came for Torquay and Clifton Beach A. 

The hometown crew from Tasmania failed to get on to the swell but Torquay hooked on for the ride and approached Broulee at the line. 

However, the South Coast men held on and grounded on the line to create history by becoming the first under-19 crew to win an open boat race final in Tasmania. 

Clifton Beach A finished in third position.

Earlier in the Young Guns event, Broulee dominated against two Tasmanian crews Clifton and Penguin, and Currumbin from Queensland.

Broulee dominated the qualifying rounds beating the much fancied Queensland crew and during the final, led by three boat lengths and looked a clear winner until the wave of the day carried the Currumbin crew to the finish line to beat Broulee by the narrowest of margins. 

One source even said after the race: “Currumbin beat Broulee in a nail-biter of a finish however it was fair to say Broulee were the dominant crew of that division. 

“It was these two crews first and then a long way back to third.”

Broulee is now looking forward to its next race on January 5 in the South Coast Boat Series.