It's been five years since anyone's won the gruelling 35km open water Suger Loaf Waka Ama race but the title will once again be bestowed tomorrow.
Shane Hohaia of the Mitimatanga Waka Ama club said poor weather that has disrupted the event too many times in the past will not be
a threat tomorrow.
"The call on the weather has already been made and the race is up and running," he said.
The club took a punt on changing the date to get the race back on a more regular schedule.
"The race hasn't been run since 2006 and when you're getting that far off the coast you've got to be careful with the conditions, you've got to make a call early whether you'll run it or not," he said.
The race used to be run every October but it was called off too many times and organisers hope the race can now turn over a new leaf.
"We found the weather at that time of the year just so unpredictable, so we've moved it to February now and hopefully that'll be the start of something more regular," he said.
The numbers competing this year have yet to be finalised, but Hohaia said they're less than was hoped for.
"Because the race hasn't been run for a while the numbers aren't that great but we're hoping that if we get it at the same time every year than everyone will know about it this time next year and hopefully it will build and we'll be able to attract more teams."
The current race record is a tick over three hours and Hohaia is hopeful that some of the crews will push that time this year.
The crews start and finish the race at Kauwharewa Bay at Tutukaka, launching from the beach and circling Sugar Loaf Island before the return leg. The women are scheduled to start at 8.30am and the men at 9pm.
