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Omokoroa Boat Club's young sailors will cruise the water in style this year after the club's annual Duck Race raised $200 for the junior sailing programme.

Two hundred little yellow ducks floated across the water on Saturday for the club's fourth annual Duck Race, which raises money for Omokoroa Point School and the boat club's junior sailing programme.

The ducks cross the finish line. Photos: supplied.

Omokoroa Boat Club's vice commodore Lex Bacon says this year 200 ducks were sold for $2 each to Omokoroa Point School children, which raised $400. This means $200 was given to the school, and $200 to the club.

'It's a good way of the boat club becoming involved in the community and promoting the sailing as well which is absolutely magnificent,” says Lex.

A course is marked in the Tauranga Harbour for the Duck Race which is determined after a trial run with one of the ducks to see where it floats with the wind and tide.

Each duck is marked with a number which matches its owner's name. The winner is the person with the duck which floats across the finish line first.

But, as usual, the ducks had ways of their own and a quick change to the finish line was needed with the wind blowing them in a different direction to the originally marked course.

Lex says the club uses the money raised for sailing equipment for the junior sailing programme, including lifejackets and upgrading boats and sails.

Also on Saturday was the club's annual rowing races which began with the men's races, followed by the women's.

Sailing co-ordination and duck herder John Budden says it was a bigger than normal field in the short summer course, with five keen men racing across the water in their row boats.

The mass start was called by Lex, with minor collisions at the finish line making for an exciting end to the race.

First home was David Stewart, followed by Hugh Reynolds in second and John Budden in third. Fourth over the line was Peter Croad and in fifth place was Lloyd Berendt.

The women's event saw four rowers take to the water with Louise Turner quick into her stroke along with Heather Reynolds, Amy Brookes and out wide – Jenn Bolderson.

At the turn, Louise found a leading pace on her way to the finish, with the other three rowers close behind her.

The finish was tight with Louise holding on to win from Heather, while it was a dead heat for Amy and Jenn in third.

The day concluded with a row-by from the Omokoroa Pahoia Sea Scout cutter.

John thanks all of the event helpers, race callers and duck minders.

Duck Race results:

First: No.121 (Donald) winner Sandrine Korver. Second: No.117 (Daisy) winner Melva White. Third: No. 127 (Hughie) winner Terry Edwards. Fourth: No.200 (Louie) winner Jordan Brookes.

The close finish for second and third in the men's race.