The River Wild

Craft of all description will take part in tomorrow's Whanganui River Challenge.

Another strong turnout of 120 entrants in over 40 craft will hit the water tomorrow morning for the seventh annual Whanganui River Challenge.

While the numbers do not match the 160 entries of 2015, that was a two-day event with multiple support classes, following a real push by Whanganui's water sport clubs to reinvigorate participation on the river following the damage caused by the June floods.

Faced with competition from several big events in the region today, this year's challenge will not include the Saturday 200m sprint races.

Event manager Aaron Cox said they were still delighted with such a strong turnout of rowboats, wakas, kayaks and multisport craft for a Sunday event.

"A few weeks out we only had ten entries, so it's been well supported."

The racing will continue the 'Cash 4 Clubs' concept introduced last year - where clubs will accumulate points for every entry and placing they get.

At the end of the day, the clubs with the most points wins the money.

Action will start at 9am with the 4km course race, followed by the main features an hour later with the 10km and 13km races.

Man-powered craft of all types may enter, as the 13km race will start at the Union Boat Club and take in a loping course under Whanganui's three town bridges and Corliss (Rabbit) Island within the town boundaries, finishing back at UBC.

The 10km race will begin up at the Upokongaro Warf and finish back in town alongside the Computer Centre building.

Cut off point for finishing will be 4pm.

There will be plenty of spots available along the river to watch the action, including Kowhai Park and the riverside roads and pathways.

While boats of all shapes and sizes will enter, Cox admits it will be hard for anyone to overcome UBC's veteran Pat Caroll, who won the 13km race last year, followed for line honours by Whanganui Multisport Club kayaker Robyn Scott and Cox himself.

"Pat Caroll won the single scull the three or four years he's raced it. He's pretty efficient," said Cox.

"We might have to handicap him."

Carroll's UBC clubmate Martin Bridger won the 4km race, just over a minute faster than district councillor and two-time former world double sculls champion Philippa Baker-Hogan.

Weather was good on the day and Cox is hoping for more of the same as he looks out his window.

"The forecast is fairly exceptional, hopefully it comes out like today [Friday]."

Registrations will open at 7am tomorrow at Union Boat Club on Taupo Quay, with the storage area being opened to set up race equipment.

Deadline is 8.30am and then the race briefing will be held before the first competitors move to their boats at 8.50am.

The 4km race will begin at 9am, then the 10km and 13km races will start at 10am from opposite ends of the river.

Prize giving will be held at the completion of the event.