More than 30 treated for Hypothermia at Navy George Bass

Treacherous weather conditions prevailed for day five of the Navy George Bass forcing
rowers and ski paddlers out of the race and many of those continuing suffering
hypothermia.

Surf Ski Paddler halped from his ski at Tathra on Thursday.

Water safety officers and event organisers searched for a missing ski paddler after being
unable to locate the man for quite some time.

Merimbula Air Services search and rescue team, along with the Eden Water Police were
notified of the missing man and were on standby for a response.

The man however completed the race safely and is now on shore.

He told organisers he couldn?t be seen because he was in behind rocks.

A number of ski paddlers in the Dial Before you Dig marathon were forced to pull out
after strong south/ south westerly winds was actually pushing them backwards.

The Moruya ladies crew were also forced to with draw from the race after their boat took
on water.

North Steyne ladies were 12 nautical miles from the finish line when they abandoned the
race. They had already been rowing for five hours when deciding to finish.

They were towed to shore.

Meanwhile doctors and first aid officers are treating around 20 men who have finished
the race suffering hypothermia.

About a dozen women have been brought into shore for treatment of hypothermia and sea sickness.

A Canberra Vikings member was rushed to shore mid race after he suffered severe
hypothermia and is receiving treatment from doctors on shore.

Rod Harrod of the Navy who saw the Moruya girls pull out says they took on a significant amount of water and were not in good shape when they decided to turn back.

”They were all wet, some shivering and sea sickness played a big part,” he said.

”They weren’t looking good at all.”

Mr Harrod says today’s racing would have been a very long lonely and isolated day as well for the ski paddlers.

”Sitting out in a boat all on your own would have been a very big ask,” he said.

”This race tests much more than just physical stamina and from what we have seen this
week it is without doubt the toughest marathon in the world.

Today’s racing topped an already eventful week for the Navy George Bass.

On Monday a Sydney crew and the Canberra Vikings had to be rescued after their boats overturned. On Tuesday event organisers were forced to run the event inland as 5 metre waves pounded Narooma.

More than 30 boat rowers and lifesavers had to be pulled from the water in a dramatic mass rescue at the start of yesterday’s event.

Navy George Bass Marathon Day Five Bermagui to Tathra 36km

Open Men’s
First Bulli 4 hours 3 minutes 42 seconds

Second Batemans Bay 4 hours 10 minutes 47 seconds

Third Moruya Vikings 4 hours 15 minutes 33 seconds

Fourth Burnie 4 hours 19 minutes 22 seconds

Fifth: Broulee 4 hours 33 minutes 41 seconds

Sixth: Bulli Vets 4 hours 37 minutes 54 seconds

Seventh: North Steyne 4 hours 42 minutes 02 seconds

Eighth: Tathra 4 hours 42 minutes 43 seconds

Nineth: Port Kembla 6 hours 30 minutes 30 seconds

Women’s

First Woolamai 5 hours 23 minutes

Second: Canberra Vikings 5 hours 38 minutes 06 seconds

Third: Bermagui 5 hours 58 minutes 06 seconds

Fourth: Broulee 6 hours 18 minutes 33 seconds

North Steyne withdrew from race after 5 and half hours of rowing.

Moruya ladies withdrew from the race after 3 hours