Rough surf didn’t prevent the Kempsey-Crescent Head Surf Boat Club putting together impressive showings at the NSW State Titles on the weekend.
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The club sent four crews and all of them advanced through into the knockout stage of the carnival.
However, it was the Men’s Masters 240s who earned the best result as they finished in third place in the statewide competition.
The bronze medal was the crews second in consecutive seasons.
Carnival organisers faced a setback as on shore waves forced one of the Surf Boat race sections to be shut down.
“We were meant to have two areas but the big waves right on the shore made it dangerous to compete so they were forced to move all the races to the safer part of the beach,” Surf Boat Club Captain Scott Edwards told the Argus.
“It was really nasty weather, it was a little bit frustrating but the organisers did a pretty good job getting through the program.”
The Men’s Masters 200s entered the final confident of securing a medal as they had finished in the top two spots in all of their races but disaster struck the crew as they were crushed by a wave.
The men weren’t able to recover and finished the race in last position.
Meanwhile the junior crew reached the quarterfinals and the Open Women contested the semi-final but narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
The Surf Boat crews now turn their attention the final round of the North Coast Surf Boat Series at Woolgoolga this Saturday.
Kempsey-Crescent Head has wrapped up the overall standings but there’s still plenty on the line.
“All of our crews have a chance of finishing in the top three of their division and that’s definitely the goal for this Saturday,” Edwards said.
“That would cap off a great season for us.”
The Masters 240s have locked up the top spot while the Open Women can move into first with a win.
The juniors will finish in second position and the Open Men in third regardless of results.
Meanwhile the Masters 200s could push into second position and reserves have a slim chance of third.
Kempsey-Crescent Head are the defending overall champions from last year’s Surf Boat Series.