Although conditions were far from ideal, they did permit a full programme to be completed. Edwards, making her first start in almost two years, lined up at the front for the final event on the card, the women's club single sculls.
The second-year zoology and marine science student had to contend with a strong headwind in what was her first single sculls competition and her first start for the Otago Rowing Club.
Before that, she competed for Timaru, becoming prominent in quads, doubles and eights.
Edwards (21) battled her way through the top half the field, and had to deal with waves washing over her stern at times, as she pushed for the win.
It was a wild start, she said afterwards.
"Maybe the other girls knew something I didn't, or perhaps they just wanted to stand back and check out this import from Timaru."
Those watching from the bank agreed it was an awesome row, and they were unanimous in their nominations of Edwards for rower of the regatta.
The Otago club's other major victory came in the men's double sculls, with the pair of Thomas Stott and Sam Grant displaying a remarkable turn of speed over the final 100m to cancel out the threats from the Port Chalmers and Otago University crews.
Port Chalmers has two very promising rowers in Jessica Gould and Hazel Dawson, as shown by their victory in the women's under-18 double sculls.
Both then went on to complete the quinella in the women's under-16 single sculls, with Dawson nudging home clear of Gould to clinch the title.
The two said afterwards they were the best of mates when paired or off the water but rivals when it came to single sculls.
North End won the regatta, finishing with 77 points, from Otago on 39, thanks mainly to the efforts of its winning eight crew of Chris James, Alistair Bond, Lyndon McNab, Matt Smaill, Cameron Gibson, Curtis Bush, Nick Terry, Robert Mears and cox Ben Seaton, all of whom featured throughout the programme in other events.
Bush, Smaill, James and Bond were impressive in the men's club fours, while Bush, James and Bond teamed up with Michael Nisbet to win the open four, with Nisbet then going on to win the open under-21 single sculls.
Other features of the regatta were the victories to Columba College in the women's under-18 eights and under-16 coxed fours.
