There is a sprinkling of rowers competing at the championships who are just below the top echelon, striving to reach the next level. They competed at the world under-23 championships at Amsterdam this year.
Turner was cox of the New Zealand women's eight that won a silver medal at the world under-23 championships for the last two years.
She is coxswain the Southern RPC men's eight at the weekend.
One of the strongest crews at the championships will be the Central RPC combination of junior internationals Joe Wright and Karl Manson in the men's open double sculls.
Under-23 international Tufi Sele was in the under-23 four at Amsterdam which finished fourth. He will be contesting the open coxless four for the Central RPC.
Former international Sarah Hamilton (nee Barnes) will be contesting the women's open single sculls and the open four for the Waihopai club.
The restrictions on the use of the lake is the reason why the championships is being held this weekend.
"We cannot use the lake after this until the Christmas holiday period ends on January 10," the regional manager for the Otago Rowing Association Sonya Walker said. "We cannot use the lake on consecutive weekends."
The Canterbury championships will be held at Lake Ruataniwha on January 14 and 15 and South Island championships on January 28 and 29.
"We have time restrictions because the New Zealand championships are always held on the seventh week of the year," Walker said.
The regatta attracts entries from throughout the South Island and 656 crews have entered the event.
The most prominent of the local Otago crews are expected to be the Otago club scullers, Zoe McBride and Hannah Duggan, who will combine in the women's under-17 double sculls and also contest the single sculls.
The Otago University crew of Thomas Stott and Jamie Saunders should get a repeat of their win at the Dunstan regatta last week in the club double sculls.
Other strong Otago crews are the Wanaka under-17 four of Jared Wellman, James Redai, Jamie Bowley, Bailey Masters and cox George Heard; the North End novice four of Tessa Read, Elisa Adams, Emily Smith, Julia Landels and cox Hannah Perkins; and Oamaru under-17 single sculler Maysie Scott.
