WAUCHOPE-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club sweep Tony Kee faced his toughest challenge yet at Rainbow Beach on Saturday.
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The seventh round of the North Coast Surfboat Series was reduced from a five-race meeting to three with conditions so treacherous each race took twice as long to complete.
"It was only my fourth carnival sweeping and I'm still learning, but I spent more time swimming than sweeping," Kee said.
"Conditions were really full-on and tricky; the surf was gnarly and a test for everyone.
"The best sweeps navigated their way around, but there was carnage everywhere; it was the survival of the fittest."
By the end of the day, the open men's division had a new leader but only one point still separated first from fourth position.
While Woolgoolga have been the most consistent crew all season, they will start the eighth and final round in fourth position with Tugun the new competition favourites.
"It's really opened up for the final round; it's all to play for at Coffs Harbour," Kee said.
"Our open men's crew have been training really hard all year and their boat speed and fitness has been the key.
"The training they have put in since Christmas has been phenomenal."
Wauchope-Bonny Hills are also in with a shot should they come up with a strong performance in the final round.
They currently occupy third position.
"It was more about my inexperience as a sweep on Saturday more than their rowing ability," Kee said.
"Everyone's nursing a few bumps and bruises."
Wauchope-Bonny Hills' reserve men's crew competed in just their second round of competition for the year, putting in a strong performance.
They had claimed a respectable third-place finish by the end of the day.
"They have only been together for the last few months and Saturday was the second carnival for them," Kee said.
Kee saved special mention for all members of the club who contributed to make the day a successful one under the trying conditions.
"Even setting up the cans took hours in the morning, so it was a big team effort to host the carnival," he said.
"A massive thanks to everyone."
Meanwhile, the Wauchope-Bonny Hills Boatettes also came up with a strong performance on the day with a first, third and fourth-place finish.
It was a strong result for the girls who were competing in the women's open division.
