PRIOR to Saturday at Kingscliff Beach, the Wauchope-Bonny Hills' Boatettes hadn't climbed to the top of the NSW country championship surf life saving mountain.
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The talented crew led by sweep Steve Monaghan, daughters Lucy and Grace along with Jesse Willis and Emma Eggins changed all that with four race wins in the under-23 division.
The result was a country championship gold medal - one of the few things they hadn't previously achieved together.
"Going to the country championships is pretty special and it's traditionally been a good carnival to see where we are at country-wise," Monaghan said.
"For Emma, Jessica, Grace and Lucy, it was their first country medal together."
Lucy only took up rowing last year, but the family couldn't attend the 2019 country championships following a death in the family.
It's what made this year's success more special for the Monaghan's.
"My father took ill and passed away this time last year so we had to turn around and go back which was a bit of a shame so it was a bit emotional this time around," Monaghan said.
The Boatettes also claimed a silver medal in the open women's division - only beaten by the more fancied Woolgoolga crew.
Monaghan said it was a strong performance as they were "definitely the youngest crew there and about half the size of Woolgoolga who took out gold."
"They're gaining confidence and consistency and putting whole races together which is the big difference ... I guess you could say they've matured," he said.
Wauchope-Bonny Hills then navigated their way through a tricky shallow second bank to beat Woolgoolga in the last race of the day.
We're trying to get rid of those little tired lapses we sometimes fall into, but they're really good at chasing waves home with really good surf skills.
- Steve Monaghan
"It made for a few surprises on those banks because waves would pop up and stop you or on the way home they'd pick you up and send you a bit sideways," Monaghan said.
"But we're happy with how we're racing at this stage.
"We're putting together solid races all the way through - out and back which is what we're after.
"We're trying to get rid of those little tired lapses we sometimes fall into, but they're really good at chasing waves home with really good surf skills."
The Boatettes will have a weekend off before they again travel down the east coast of Australia when they head to Mollymook for the 2020 Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL) Open from February 14-16.
It is the surfboat equivalent of the national titles.
"There is about 325 crews that go from all over Australia so it's massive," Monaghan said.
"That's where you find out where you sit in the pecking order; any finish around the top you know you're on the money."