The strong winds playing havoc with the schedule came on the back of a day four that saw a couple of rowers requiring medical attention - and a shark sighting.

On Thursday, ski paddlers were sent out to test the conditions and race organisers calculated, with the conditions, it would’ve taken them eight or nine hours to make the trip to Tathra.

Competitors instead travelled from Bermagui south to Cuttagee Beach and then north to Camel Rock before heading back into Bermagui.

Narooma men’s veterans won their division for the fifth day in a row, only beaten to the beach by the open crews from Bulli and the Moruya Vikings.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing, with the Bulli veterans not far behind Narooma on the day.

The Tathra leg is normally 34km and the longest leg of the marathon, but today’s route covered a distance of 22km.

Results from day five:

Ski paddlers – 

Locke 1, Little 2, Altman 3, Buttel 4, Mead 5, Morton 6, Ziviani 7, Vipond 8, Granger 9, Lenehan 10,  King 11, Solly 12, Kelly 13, Poland 14, Lionnet 15.

Open Men’s boats – 

Bulli 1, Moruya Vikings 2, Moruya DBYD 3, Ken’s Wollongong City 4, Rod’s Wollongong City 5.

Men’s Vets boats – 

Narooma 1, Bulli 2, Northcliffe 3, Queenscliff 4, Tathra 5, Pambula 6, Bermagui Mixed 7.

Open Women’s boats – 

Torquay 1, Broulee Capitals 2, Moruya Met Coloundra 3.

Women’s Vets boats – 

Broulee Bats 1, Avalon Beach 2, Tathra 3, Anglesea (did not finish)

Day six sees the marathon travel from Tathra to Pambula.

Competitors will be setting off from Tathra Beach between 8-9am Friday, weather permitting.