Spokesman Bob Evans said the Challenge will now be held every year as opposed to every two.
This will mean three races will be standard events while every fourth year they will do an 'All-Star' edition, which will include setting up giant television screens on the waterfront and having extended coverage - similar to the 2012 race where most of New Zealand's London Olympics champions took part.
"Post Olympic cycle, we'll try and get some of the international athletes to come down and race against Mahe."
This year's race will again be modelled on the shotgun start where all entrants take part at the same time
"It's annual and we're widening it so we've got age groups and different levels," said Evans.
"It's a mass start, modelled on the event in Switzerland called the Aramada Cup.
"We did it last year and the athletes found they liked it."
Last year, based on the 22 entries, there were 12 categories of racers, from elite men and women through to club, Under 20, Under 17 and various Masters grades.
The elite men's and women's winners pocketed $1000, while the other category winners got $100.
"I'm very hopeful we'll have a bigger race than last year," Evans said.
The opportunity during these races away from the "All Star" year, is that young up-and-comers have the opportunity to get their hands on the prestigious trophy.
Anything can happen in river racing, as was seen last year when Drysdale was slowed by a floating log in his path and Bond, who had first entered the challenge as a wild card in 2008, has able to get away to an uncatchable lead.
Evans said he was waiting to hear back from more entrants coming from the New Zealand training camp at Lake Karapiro, although a couple of current Olympic team are working through injuries. As well as Spoors, eight girls from the national sculling squad are confirmed, as are four from the lightweight group which will include three world champions.
Other entries will come from the regional performance centre in Blenheim, along with a couple from the Southern high performance centre in Christchurch.
Nearby clubs such as Petone, Hawke's Bay and the Wanganui clubs will also have entries.
Last year's third place-getter, and winner of the Men's Club category, was Petone's Jamie Saunders.
The annual corporate race will also be held, with Evans hopeful of attracting some decent numbers from both local and nearby region's businesses.
Last year it was the Aon Risk Takers, captained by local stalwart Pat Spriggens, who were the winners, beating the Leading Edge crew from Wanganui District Council and the Stringrays Haden & Custance to the finish line.
The Billy Webb Challenge will start at Aramoho and finish off down by the Union Boat Shed on Taupo Quay.
It will be held on Sunday, December 6.
