Still more than week before the competition starts at Batemans Bay, Woodford was taken to hospital and had eight stitches in his foot after a training mishap in Wollongong.

Showing the level of commitment to the cause, two of the open men’s crew are travelling from Queensland to compete, all in the name of defending Bulli’s crown.

“We floated the idea of getting the guys back together, but at first we weren’t exactly sure how to go about it,” Adam Barlow, the only remaining member of the 2014 winning crew, said.

“We thought about competing in the veterans competition instead, but decided Bulli needed to have an open team.

“Over time it’s become a bit more serious, we’re putting the work in with training, we want to have a good crack at it.

“Josh will have his feet up pretty much until we start the race now, but we’ll be ready to go.

“We’ve got guys who haven’t been rowing for 10 years, so it’s taken a bit of effort to make it happen.”

Now living in Queensland, Adam Hammersley and Chad Peterson have had their own training regimes, as well as flying back to be part of the Bulli crew when they can. Otherwise, it’s been left to a handful of Bulli club members to fill the void to help Barlow and the rest of the crew be ready for the January 3 launch.

There will be no shortage of sentiment when the race begins, after it was almost cancelled over difficulties securing an organising committee and related financial and insurance issues.

The race begins with a 31-kilometre leg from Batemans Bay to Moruya.

“It always sets the tone,” Barlow said. “Clubs change their crews around and new guys come in, so you never know exactly what you’re up against until the gun goes.

“Usually if you do well on the first day, it’s a good gauge for the rest of the race, although it didn’t quite work out like that for us last year.”

The race finishes at Eden on January 9, covering 190 kilometres.

Bulli struggled with on-board boat issues no day one last year, before bouncing back to take out the George Bass title.

“It means a lot and it means a lot to the club,” Barlow said.

“We haven’t won that many in recent times, so we don’t want to give it up without a fight, even with a different crew involved.”

Barlow said the crews will brace for the most demanding leg, on January 7, a punishing 35-kilometre trip from Bermagui to Tathra. 

However, he’s hopeful the conditions will not conspire against them like they did during this year’s event.

“It was treacherous at times,” Barlow said.

“When the seas are up and there’s a howling southerly, it can make life difficult.

“There are always back-up plans as far as changing the course if needed, but hopefully it will be a bit more favourable for rowing this time.”