On Tuesday, the Batemans Bay women’s crew lined-up for what could be their final tilt in the masters scene.

The crew of Danielle Heron, Barbara Van Luin, Karen Gleeson, Tracy Innes and sweep Neil Innes swept through their three round robin races to make masters final against North Cottesloe and Broome.

The crew battled against “nasty” shore breaks and a strong wind that was making life difficult for all boats.

“We slewed a few times as did every crew I believe,” Innes said.

In the final, the Bay crew charged off the beach and through the break zone before race officials shot the gun to call a restart.

“If the judges feel the start isn’t fair they’ll call it back,” Innes said.

The Waverunners were “30 strokes” in the clear and headed towards the turning can before the race was called back which caused controversy on the beach. 

“You could hear some people saying ‘let the girls go’,” Innes said.

The other two crews got tangled up after getting through the break zone due to the strong winds.

The crew got away to another successful start in the restarted final and were two boat lengths in the clear on the run home when the Waverunners hit the dead zone. 

“We were in front of the wave and North Cottesloe pulled in to it,” Innes said. 

“We finished together and the race judges gave it to the other crew by a coat of paint.”

Innes said he was a “bit devastated” for the crew who he thought deserved to win.

“The girls dominated the rowing part of the race but it just didn’t work in our favour,” he said.

“We’ve won races like that before, that’s how it goes.”

Innes praised the effort of his crew in what might be their final crack in the surfboat scene.

“They rowed magnificently,” he said.

“Two of the crew a grandmothers now and a few are talking of retiring.

“It’s a younger persons sport so they’ll let some younger girls step in to the fold.”

The Waverunners will compete in the open’s event today as well as the open men’s crew Starrett. 

Read next Wednesday’s Bay Post/Moruya Examiner for race coverage.