The Stockland Forster boat was speared by the Bondi Crew when the Sydney side lost control of their vessel narrowly missing a Forster member.

“It was one of those unavoidable things,” Pacific Palms Surf Club president, Kel McCredie said.

“We had testing conditions throughout Saturday for most of the day and as a result there was carnage with a few boats including Forster.”

He said a low tide on Saturday exposed a sandbank beyond the breakers at Elizabeth Beach that sucked in the waves around it, dumping heavily as they broke on shore.

Adding to the conditions was a 1.5m swell that forced boats to “slew” – turning sideways upon return to the beach making them almost impossible to manoeuvre. The collision failed to force the local club off the water however and were loaned a spare boat from Sydney’s Freshwater SLSC only narrowly missing the finals.

Sunday’s seas were more forgiving for the finals that saw Whale Beach Big Fish take out the Open Men’s title, with South Maroubra Thumpers winning the Open Women’s category. Avoca Munjas took gold in the Reserves, while the U19s was won by Bulli Golf.

The popular Club Relay, with participation from a club’s junior, men’s and women’s crew, saw last year’s winner South Curl Curl slip to 4th position after Bilgola (1st), Palm Beach (2nd) and Freshwater (3rd).

“It still made for great racing and we had a really exciting set of finals,” Mr McCredie said.

The Sydney crews came prepared some with 14 teams whose members practice up to twice a day.

“Out of all the athletes within surf life saving boat rowers are considered to be the highest of fitness.”

The biggest event yet into its 12th year, the club attracted 190 of NSW’s top surf boat crews and their 1000 competitors. Mr McCredie said the logistics of pre preparation alone was an organisational fete in itself.