Oamaru Harbour will host a regatta of ''huge'' proportions on Saturday, as part of the town's centennial commemorations of the death of Captain Robert Falcon Scott in the Antarctic.
As part of the People's Day on Saturday, rowing, yachting and outboard motor-racing events will take place both inside and outside the harbour.
Tourism Waitaki event development officer Jan Kennedy said the regatta would be the highlight of day four of the Scott 100 commemorations, which begin today and end on Sunday.
Mrs Kennedy said yachts from all over the South Island were expected to compete in the inaugural Terra Nova Trophy race, and more than 70 rowers would take to the water in a cycling pursuit-type race, also a first.
The Friendly Bay Boat Society regatta and the PortFM Birdman competition would also take place on Saturday, she said.
''This will be a regatta never the likes seen before in Oamaru with rowing boats, historic vessels from the Friendly Bay Boat Society, [the] Sea Scouts cutter, trailer sailers, keelers and flying bird people [the birdman competition] all making a colourful spectacle in and around the Oamaru Harbour.
''The Scott 100 committee has put together an ambitious programme and the People's Day on the Saturday will provide a magnificent harbour spectacle and a day for our local community and visitors to the town.''
