Visiting Australian Isaac de Vries (Perth), who finished 14th in the iconic race this year, is relishing the calmer waters on the Otago Harbour.
The annual event is held each year near the town of Lancelin, 130km north of Perth. It attracts the best windsurfers in the world.
It becomes a lively race when the famous "Doctor" wind blows off the coast.
"We can reach speeds of between 65kmh and 70kmh," de Vries said.
Ocean racing is more unpredictable than events held in the comparative safety of a harbour, with large waves making it difficult for the windsurfers.
The 25km race is held on a five-lap course around crayfish pots.
"I made a mistake this year when I hit a crayfish pot and was knocked off my board," de Vries said.
This year's event was won by Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Switzerland) who is No 2 on the Professional Windsurfers Association ranking list.
De Vries (27), a mining surveyor, is making his first visit to New Zealand.
He has been windsurfing for 14 years and is ranked in the top 10 men in Australia.
He will have another taste of international competition when he competes in Vietnam later this year.
Most of de Vries' training is done on the Swan River where the water can be choppy and wind gusty.
"It is always good for training and we have a competition every Wednesday night," he said.
"The winds come from all directions and we can reach speeds of 30 knots."
De Vries travelled to the New Zealand slalom championships in Dunedin with fellow Western Australian Rowan Law, who finished ninth in this year's Lancelin race. His best placing was seventh in 2008.
Law (32), a construction manager for a building company, has been windsurfing for 12 years and finished third at the Australian championships in Perth in 2007.
He will also be competing at the Professional Windsurfing Association's World Cup event in Vietnam at the end of next month.
• The lack of wind caused yesterday's racing to be abandoned. But a spokesman for the organising committee said that it would not be necessary to use the reserve day tomorrow because Windsurfing New Zealand requires only three rounds to be held for a championship to be recognised.
"We had 18 rounds in the first two days and expect to get more tomorrow," she said.
