Competing in the final of Saturday's fourth round at Woonona, Austinmer Blue locked oars with clubmates Austinmer White moments after the race started.

The uncharacteristic error allowed other crews to get the jump on the favourites and they never looked back.

Austinmer's unheralded third crew grabbed the limelight with a surprise victory, while Wollongong City nabbed second spot and Fairy Meadow was third.

Despite the less than glorious finale, Austi Blue had done enough in the previous three rounds to top the series pointscore.

An injury-hit Windang also managed to hold on to clinch the open women's title, although Austinmer White prevailed in the final with Batemans Bay second and Warilla-Barrack Point third.

Dominant over the opening three rounds, Windang were below their best on Saturday after a crew member bravely competed with a serious foot injury.

Batemans Bay topped the reserve men's pointscore, but the final round belonged to Gerringong, while Austinmer and Bulli filled the minor placings.

Batemans Bay also claimed the under-23 men's championship, despite hosts Woonona winning Saturday's final ahead of Batemans Bay and Corrimal.

Broulee won the under-23 women's final and were first on the series leaderboard, while Bulli won the under-19 men's champions and Helensburgh-Stanwell Park were the top veteran men's crew.