One paddler in particular had to endure the cold longer than most.
Claire Sykes, of Nelson, competed in both the women's single 10km race and the women's double 10km race, with Karen Skilton, yesterday.
Sykes (39) won both titles, setting a women's singles record of 58min 57sec.
Her races were back to back, allowing little time for recovery, but she was not perturbed.
Sykes recently won gold at the world waka ama sprint (outrigger canoeing) championships in New Caledonia.
Having been involved in multisport for many years, Sykes began racing waka ama competitively two years ago.
"It's nice to get back into some distance, because the sprints are only about 500m," she said.
Yesterday's weather was a far cry from the tropical climes of New Caledonia.
"I always expect the worst weather down here but today is beautiful," she said, despite the temperature on the water hovering around 7degC.
Hosted by the Dunedin-based Fire in Ice Outrigger Canoe Club, the two-day regatta will host more than 120 paddlers across five events, including long distance races, 1km sprints and a novice race. Paddlers ranged in age from 19 to 78.
Race director Melissa Ryan said the regatta was planned during Dunedin's coldest months.
"What's unique about our event is that it's cold. Everybody can paddle in nice weather, but it's the extreme conditions that really get to people down here and it's why they keep coming back," she said.
Fire in Ice club president Toko Vakatini said anyone could get involved in waka ama.
"I remember one season about four years ago, I had a Russian, a German, a Maori, two Rarotongans and a Pakeha in the same boat, so it's open to anyone who wants to have a go," he said.
The regatta continues today from 9am until 4pm with long distance races, sprints and novice races.
