The last time this was achieved was in 1981, when Moruya took out the iconic 190km, seven-day event from Batemans Bay to Eden.

This year, Vikings made easy pickings of their nearest competitors, Bulli and Wollongong City.

In the women’s division, again it was the Canberra Vikings crew combined with Metropolitan Caloundra who took out top honours, fending off fierce competition from the Woolamai first and seconds crew, who came second and third respectively overall.

Stephen Mawby from Noosa Heads, paddling in his third ski marathon, claimed top prize in that event, while Peter Gallagher from Mooloolaba and Craig Vipond from Kiama finished second and third.

Winning men’s sweep Gavin Hunt said it was extra special to take out every leg.

“We last took out the event in 2006, but I think we dropped one of those legs, so for us to be able to back it up through the whole week was really good,” he said.

“We worked our guts out yesterday trying to get the record, and were feeling fatigued today when Wollongong and Bulli really gave it to us. We had to dig in really hard to win today.”

Caloundra sweep Jason Bean said his crew had been training for about six months working in the gym and on the water.

“I’m really proud of the girls, its good to have the rivalry broken down between Canberra and Queensland and we worked really well together.”

Marathon Director, Bert Hunt commended all crews for participating in this year’s event.

“Win lose or draw every single competitor can be proud of completing this tough, gruelling event,” he said.

“The Bass is the longest and toughest surfboat race in the world, and conditions this year provided rowers with a real challenge.”

Several rowers suffered from the elements, with a rower taken to hospital with heart palpitations, another rower breaking her arm, another rower withdrawing with back problems, and others treated for hypothermia. A support boat driver underwent surgery for a broken ankle, broken leg and three broken toes.

Broulee Surfers SLSC’s Kirralee Ekin competed in the marathon and withdrew after leg five at Tathra on Thursday to race at the South Coast Boat Series at Corrimal on Saturday. Ekin helped the Canberra-based Broulee Women’s crew to a creditable fifth place with two other Broulee rowers, Gabi Phillips and Kerrel Davies. The Canberra crew were down on numbers and only approached the girls with three weeks notice before the event.

The Moruya women’s crew followed them in sixth.