Tracey Innes, Nea Otis, Tania Campbell, Sally Gatsby and sweep Neil Innes convincingly beat the competition to win their division at the titles event in Umina.

Competing against nine other boats, the team won both their heats and the final by at least six to seven boat lengths. Another local team, Moruya Women, finished in second place and Avoca was third.

The women have competed as a crew for only the past six months and, apart from Tracey Innes, the other three members are novices to open water racing. It is the first time stalwart sweep Neil Innes has won a gold after many years of trying.

Fresh from their gold medal win, the crew entered the open women's and finished in the top 24.

"It's pretty unheard of that a crew with three first-timers can win a medal, especially gold," Tracey Innes said.

"We were surprised and we did it in tough conditions - it was flat all day when we raced."

Neil Innes said he was very proud of the crew but he had hoped they would have placed higher in the open women's event.

"I'm very proud of the girls," he said. "I wasn't surprised by their success but we did make a few fundamental mistakes in the open that cost our chances in the finals."

The other Batemans Bay crews didn't fare as well as the women. The men's A crew, reserves and juniors were all out after the repecharge due to some very tough competition.

"The racing was that close that you could have thrown a blanket on all the crews as they came onto the beach," Neil Innes said.

"None of the crews who competed in the Warilla Cup did well and usually we're all up there amongst the best."

Neil Innes will now focus on the Australian titles at the Gold Coast next week, although the women's crew will not compete.

"The boys will settle back into training this week and we'll be working on our technique," he said.

"The Aussies (titles) are a whole different ball game and with the tropical cyclone (Ingrid) moving in on the coast we expect some big seas and that's when we row at our best."