The Canberra Vikings remain undefeated in the Navy George Bass
The Canberra Vikings surfboat team could become only the third crew ever to take out every leg of the treacherous Navy George Bass marathon.
The Vikings, if they win the next three legs, would be the first club to twice finish the Bass undefeated. They last took out every leg in the 2006 marathon, while the Moruya Surf Club remained undefeated in 1981.
With four wins from four days, marathon director Bert Hunt said taking out every leg had to be something the Vikings were aiming towards.
"They're getting pretty close to cementing victory overall so now they'd have to be putting everything they had into winning every leg," he said.
Mr Hunt said taking out every leg is a pretty rare but amazing achievement.
"To take out one leg is hard enough, but to take out every leg - that requires not just physical toughness, but the mental capacity to compete a marathon every day for a whole week.
"I think this Canberra men's team are good enough to do it. They haven't just rowed, they've actually thought about what they're doing and backed that up with physical dominance which is pretty amazing considering they spend all their time training on Lake Burley Griffin."
Mr Hunt warned however, the Vikings luck could change very easily.
"This is a long hard tough race; no one should ever count their eggs before they hatch considering the real challenge is tomorrow the 36 kilometre leg from Bermagui to Tathra," he said.
Today, the Vikings easily beat Bulli who were followed by Wollongong City in third place.
Bulli are keen for an upset in the Navy George Bass
Bulli sweep Barry Lowe hasn't ruled out the chance of an upset.
"I have rowed in several George Bass Marathons and I can tell you it doesn't take too much for things to change," he said.
"We had some equipment failure today and Wollongong City were able to catch us, so it could just as easily happen to the Vikings. It's an open race in which anything can happen so I think we're still in with a show.
In the Women's division the Woolamai crew suffered a major setback in today's racing after finally catching the Canberra Vikings/Met Caloundra crew. Woolamai started off strong when the race commenced at Narooma, however as the race neared Mystery Bay their support boat broke down.
Set back: Woolamai's support boat broke down in day four of the George Bass
"It's a shame as it the Vikings and the Woolamai girls have been right on each other every part of the race," race director Bert Hunt said.
"They've now fallen a long way behind and their reserve rowers have had to hop onto the first aid boat which has really slowed things down for them."
In the Veterans class, North Steyne is continuing their dominant run accounting for Bulli.
Tomorrow's leg, the longest in the event, 36 kilometres from Bermagui to Tathra will be a strong test for the rowers. Racing resumes at 9am on Thursday from Horseshoe Bay.
Navy George Bass Marathon Day 4
Narooma to Bermagui 22 kilometres
Results
Open Men
Vikings 2 hours, 12 minutes 54 seconds
Bulli 2 hours, 16 minutes 35 seconds
Wollongong City 2 hours, 19 minutes, 39 seconds
Long Reef 2 hours 21 minutes 5 seconds
Fairy Meadow 2 hours 23 minutes 26 seconds
Surf Boat Holland 2 hours 38 minutes, 39 seconds
Open Women
Vikings 2 hours 29 minutes 14 seconds (within seconds of the race record - Vikings 2006 2 hours, 28 minutes, 18 seconds)
Woolamai 2nds 2 hours 36 minutes 20 seconds
Woolamai 1 2 hours 41 minutes 38 seconds
Pambula 2 hours 44 minutes 7 seconds
Broulee Canberra 2 hours 45 minutes 28 seconds
Moruya 2 hours 55 minutes 10 seconds
Narooma 3 hours 4 minutes 45 seconds
Anglesea 3 hours, 8 minutes 37 seconds
Avalon Beach 3 hours, 23 minutes 40 seconds
Veterans
North Steyne 2 hours 23 minutes 5 seconds
Bulli 2 hours 24 minutes 44 seconds
Tathra 2hours 26 minutes 36 seconds
Narooma 2 hours 29 minutes 10 seconds
Pambula 2 hours 29 minutes 11 seconds
Anglesea 2 hours 44 minutes 25 seconds
Bermagui 2 hours 51 minutes 32 seconds
Ski Marathon
Steve Mawby - Noosa Head Surf Life Saving Club 2 hours 17 minutes 49 seconds
Peter Gallagaher Warilla Barrack Point 2 hours, 17 minutes 54 seconds
Gavin Granger - Pambula Surf Club, 2 hours 21 minutes, 1 second
Overall standing Open Men
Vikings 0 points
Bulli 4 points
Wollongong City 10
Long Reef 13
Fairy Meadow 13
Surf Boat Holland 20
Overall standing - Open Women
Vikings 1 point
Woolamai 4 points
Pambula 12 points
Woolamai 2nds 12 points
Moruya 16 points
Broulee Canberra 17 points
Narooma 22 points
Anglesea 30 points
Avalon Beach 30 points
