Sydney, January 19: A brutal swell at Dee Why Beach has witnessed an unprecedented day of carnage to surf boat rowers in a rugged round three of the Evive Charger Ocean Thunder Pro Surf Boat Series at Dee Why Beach today.

Four ambulances were called to the beach in separate incidents throughout the day that saw competitors treated for a fractured nose, two fractured coccyx (tail bones), smashed teeth and a suspected broken leg and foot.

The injuries came in messy 1.5 metre waves with a shallow outer bank causing havoc with boat sweeps desperately trying to keep control of their own crews while avoiding the opposition.

Experienced Gold Coast-based Stockland Currumbin boat sweep, Lyle Clark suffered a double fracture to his nose in an incident that required 15 stitches after an out of control boat clipped him from behind throwing an oar straight at his face.

“I was a bit groggy and one of my rowers grabbed me and before I knew it blood was everywhere but we were close to shore and I just went to the hospital to get it re-set.

“It’s the first major injury I’ve suffered in a boat in my 19 years involved in the sport and I am a little disappointed to have to stay out of the water for five days but I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

Event organisers reported that the other casualties had all been treated and the rowers from Bondi, Moruya, MacMasters Beach and Half Moon Bay were allowed to leave hospital late today.

In the day of carnage and casualties, the Skilled Avoca men’s crew came from behind to claim back-to-back round wins and cut Austinmer’s overall point score lead in the series to just four points going into the all important final on February 16.

And in the hotly contested women’s final, Manly Aluminium Windows South Curl Curl put themselves in the box seat after claiming the round three points with the narrowest of victories over Skilled Avoca.

In the closest finish in Ocean Thunder history, Chris Flemming’s South Curl Curl won in a dive for the finishing electronic gate by just 0.01 secs ahead of Skilled Avoca with round two winners NR Perry Currumbin finishing third and PCL Panz Jan Juc fourth.

It was a bitter-sweet day for Brierty, who steered his men to victory and witnessed his women’s crew go so close.

Brierty admitted his men’s crew were happy to take the win in the final, hanging on after they were turned sideways on a winning wave that summed up the highly unpredictable and at times brutal conditions.

“The final was almost like a comedy of errors for us but we got there in the end and that final result is what really matters,” Brierty said.

“We were lucky coming in to hang on for the win and I could see Austinmer flying down a wave behind us but somehow we managed to turn it around and come out on top.

“We love the rivalry against Austinmer. It’s very friendly and knowing we’re on the pace together pushing each other is great for both of us.”

The win for Avoca has only strengthened their resolve going into the final round showdown against their arch rivals.

Fellow round three finalists, Your Style North Curl Curl and Sandran Property Group Whale Beach are also warming to the challenge of the series in time for next month’s final.

Meanwhile, South Curl Curl’s win blows the women’s title race wide open after series leaders Manly Warringah Credit Union Queenscliff suffered a surprise early exit.

South Curl Curl’s stand-in anchor runner, Amy Chaffey produced an amazing final fling at the flag to hold off Avoca’s flying former NSW iron woman champion Kate McNamara for the smallest of margins to grab the win.

It was a career highlight for Chaffey who took over the sprint finish duties earlier in the day after the crew’s number one runner, Lara Raymond suffered a badly corked thigh and was unable to return.

“I didn’t know if we had it or not because it was so close and it was an amazing feeling and a great way to finish the day when we found out soon after that we had won,” Chaffey said.

“This was a tough and long day of racing with plenty of injuries and I am just happy not only for the win but that we are now right in contention to claim the overall title in the final.”

All eyes now turn to the Evive Charger Ocean Thunder final on February 16 at the Dee Why beach “Thunderdome” where the top crews will battle it out for a share of $100,000 in prize money and glory of being crown 2008 Ocean Thunder champions.