Bulli had made a strong start to the marathon, with the club's open men's crew and men's spec ski competitor Lachlan O'Grady leading their respective divisions after two days of competition. Bulli also had crews in the masters and super vets divisions.

Tathra's veteran women surfboat crew was also in contention with a first leg win and second place on day two.

Competitors had made their way from Batemans Bay to Tuross Head before the marathon was cancelled on Tuesday.

Bulli open men's sweep Shane Geloven said Bulli and several other clubs then made their way to an evacuation centre in Bermagui.

While disappointed to finish their campaign early, Geloven told Australian Community Media it was "100 per cent" the right decision to call off the marathon.

"We're disappointed but you can't help a natural disaster, can you?" he said.

"The community down here have just been fire ravaged, it's unbelievable. Being in the middle of an evacuation centre was a massive eye opener, the fire got very close to Bermagui itself. It was scary.

"We've just been advised the road is open to Tathra and Eden and we're heading to Cooma to get onto the Hume Highway to get home. We're going the long way but that's what we've got to do."

It's understood the Far South Coast crews took refuge in Narooma and are looking to return home now the coast road has been reopened.