At the end of it all, their under-23 Kockatoos (men's) and Boatettes (women's) crews finished in the top 12 in Australia while the club's open and reserve men registered top 20 finishes.

Boat sweep Steve Monaghan said they had to navigate their way through the challenging conditions at Mollymook and Batemans Bay knowing there would be bumps and bruises along the way.

"The swell was massive, there was a lot of backwash and there were boats going sideways into the barrel; at some points it was double overhead," he said.

"It was really entertaining to watch. We climbed over some beasts and there was plenty of carnage, although we got out of it fairly well."

The Kockatoos and Boatettes progressed to the elimination rounds on Sunday after their divisions had to move location due to the increasing swell and lack of available stretches of beach.

"The boys and girls bombed out at the same time, but it was really close because the boys just got unlucky, didn't put the best turn in at the can and lost a length," Monaghan said.

"They got pipped on the line with the other three crews progressing to the medal rounds.

"It's always great to make a final, but under-23 is a red-hot division and you're mixing it with the best so it's nice to compete against the best in Australia.

"There are no mugs in the top 12."

Monaghan said the Boatettes were on fire in the early heats.

"They were up amongst the lead in every race and were flying off the beach because there was a good shorebreak there and they handled it well," he said.

All of the club's four crews made it to the elimination rounds with their open men and reserve men's crews surviving several cuts to the competition.

"They were in the biggest categories and there were about 60 boats in their division so they bombed out when there was about 20 left," Monaghan said.

Wauchope-Bonny Hills ultimately cost themselves a shot at a North Coast Surfboat Series title in the reserve men's division with Woolgoolga overtaking them at the weekend.

"We were ready to sacrifice it (a North Coast title) because you don't get that experience locally that you get at ASRL," Monaghan said.

Wauchope-Bonny Hills will be represented at the NSW Surf Boat Championships at Blacksmiths Beach from March 19-21.

The season concludes with the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Sunshine Coast from April 19-24.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: