Philippa Baker-Hogan takes out Tonks Small Boat Race on Whanganui River

Boats had a nice outgoing tide in the first half of the Tonks Small Boat Race on Sunday morning. Photo/ Lewis Gardner

Whanganui rower Philippa Baker-Hogan has taken out this year's Tonks Small Boat Race on the Whanganui River.

Just over 20 boats entered the annual event, raced over 6km, with Baker Hogan claiming the best prognostic time - where each boat tries to reach the highest percentage possible of the world record time for their specific class.

Spokeswoman Jacs Rush said the giant inflatable duck sitting on the river added an extra element to the race with some savvy locals gaining an advantage by passing it on the inside rather than the outside as some had been told.

The race attracted a few entries from Star in Wellington who have been up "using our beautiful river" on a training camp.

Starting at the Aramoho pontoon, the boats raced down stream, turning at Bates St, to complete the 6km course.

"Water conditions were perfect, absolutely perfect," Rush said.

"For the rowers, the Tonks trophy is competitive. There's mana because it's a real rowers' event especially given how important Dick Tonks is to the Whanganui community - being an international coach.

The mixed boat event was raced using prognostic time similar to the Blinkhorne & Carroll Whanganui Winter Series.

Although it is tacked on to the end of that it is not part of the series - only rowers can claim the trophy - but it did get sponsorship from Blinkhorne & Carroll.

"It was really good of them to put some prize money in," Rush said.