George Bass Marathon start

The race starts in Batemans Bay on December 31 and finishes in seven days at Eden.

Crews from as far afield as Darwin, Perth, Sydney’s North Shore and the Far South Coast are competing in the endurance rowing event.

Surf ski contestants were the first to leave Batemans Bay at 9.30am, heading to Moruya on the first leg of the seven-day, seven-leg event.

They were followed by male and female surfboat crews in open and masters categories.

Hear what North Cronulla’s crew thought before the race:

And Russell Lamb explained what the North Shore and WA combined crews had on their minds: