As thousands of yellow rubber ducks tumbled into the Water of Leith yesterday there was just one problem - a light northeasterly wind.
Many of those ducks which did not hit the direct current of the Leith slowly drifted upstream rather than down, proving problematic for the annual Charity Duck Race.
''We had to shorten the race a little as the wind got up and started blowing the ducks,'' organiser John Nelson, of the Dunedin East Rotary Club, said.
The race was a huge success with entries in the yellow duck race and the corporate contest up on last year, he said.
More than $20,000 was raised for Cure Kids Inc, Otago Community Hospice, Autism Otago Support Group, the Child Cancer Foundation and Rotary Community Projects.
''We'll definitely be doing it again.''
About 100 ducks were entered in the corporate competition which was won by Mercy Hospital, with the best dressed duck going to Fulton Hogan, and 5000 yellow ducks floating in the longer charity race from the Clyde St bridge to below the Forth St bridge.
Those winners will be published in Wednesday's Otago Daily Times.
