Tauranga Girls College rower Grace Holland has made it through to the semi-finals in the woman's pair at the Junior World Champs in Lithuania.

Galve Lake in Trakai, Lithuania became the home of over 700 under-19 rowers as they got ready to compete in the 2017 World Rowing Junior Championships. The conditions on the lake made for good rowing with nearly flat water and warm conditions.

"The NZ Junior team have settled into Lithuania well", says Tauranga's Philip Holland, who has travelled with his family as support crew for daughter Grace Holland.

"They have all now experienced racing at an international level."

For local Tauranga Girls College rower Grace Holland this is her first international racing experience.

"We've been training hard at Lake Karapiro making a lot of technical changes which all came together in our heat," says Grace.

"But we had the best start we've had and continued it throughout our race, giving us a good result and a spot in the semi-finals. We're excited to see what we can do and improve on our race in the heat."

"It's a beautiful lake at Trakai with the finishing line looking at an old castle," says Phillip.

"This was also Grace's first ever race in a pair! Quite remarkable that she is racing at a world champs and has never raced in a pair before."

Emily Holland, Grace's youngest sister and also a rower for Tauranga Girls College, said "It was really exciting to see all the athletes from all around the world".

Grace and her rowing partner Rosie Ireland from Auckland Diocese return to the start line on Sunday to race for a spot in the finals.

The Holland family plan to continue traveling after the champs.