To qualify for the worlds they must finish in the top six in each of the three events they are targeting: the W6 500, the W6 1000 and the W12 500 at the January Lake Karapiro-hosted nationals. For the W12 event they can combine with a Horouta crew from Gisborne as they are from the same region - Te Uranga o te Ra.
"From what I hear there will be at least eight crews in the mix in each of our events at nationals so there will be some tough competition to finish in the top six. Qualifying times will be the goal. If we win medals it will be a bonus," Lenden said.
A key component of their build up to nationals was tackling a five-event Rotorua-based series from March to July to build endurance. The shortest race was 14km and the biggest 22km and the Rotoma, Rotoiti, Tarawera and Rotorua lakes were the venues.
Despite being the oldest crew and competing in the senior masters women's grade they won the series by five points from a Tauranga-based crew. They were so dominant with their win in the first four races they didn't have to compete in the final race of the series, which attracted five crews in their grade.
"It was the first time we had done the series and it was the first time we had been together as a grand masters women's crew," Lenden said.
Wellington-based Gaylene Sciascia was a triple gold medallist at the 2010 world championships, Waikato-based Linda Tomuli won five medals and Lenden two at last year's Rio-hosted world championships. Tauranga's Carol Andrews was also among the medal winners in Rio.
Jana Johnson of Hastings is the only member of the crew who hasn't competed at world championship level. However she is no stranger to collecting medals at national championship level.
Because crew members are scattered throughout the North Island, they meet only once a month for training sessions. Most are in Rotorua, which allows them to receive technical coaching from Tauranga-based experienced coach Corrina Gage. Their next training session with her is October 31 and their next regatta will be the Wellington regionals on December 5.