Dogs ready to take plunge

Teams of four will be taking part in the Opua Community Regatta raft race. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Northland's biggest - and possibly only - dog swimming race returns to Opua this weekend.

Every year, the Bay of Islands top dog paddlers compete to be the first to swim from a barge to the shore at Opua's Beechy St while their owners urge them on.

For the past two years, the trophy has been won by Max, a powerful swimmer who won every race he entered last year.

His canine rivals will try to end his reign at the Opua Community Regatta from 9am to 2pm this Sunday, February 23.

The event starts with beach games at 9.30am (including tug-of-war, jandal throwing and egg-and-spoon races) and a scavenger hunt from 10.30am.

At 11.30am, teams of four will compete in a raft race, the regatta's best spectacle.

Competitors must be aged 16 and under and be wearing lifejackets.

No sails permitted.

The dog swimming races kick off at noon followed by humans from 1pm.

The festivities conclude with novelty kayak races at 2pm.

The annual regatta is a fundraiser for Opua's primary school and community hall.