Dunstan Arm Rowing Club blitzed the competition at the Central Otago Rowing Championships on Lake Dunstan at the weekend - for the second year in a row.

Two hundred and sixty athletes from clubs and schools throughout Otago including Wānaka, Cromwell, Dunstan, Queenstown and Dunedin took part in the two-day regatta.

Dunstan Arm head coach Simon Smith said it was a great two days of rowing.

“The water was like glass, a little southerly came up, there was great racing and it was well supported.”

Sixty Dunstan Arm rowers from all skill levels raced, including athletes training here as a part of the New Zealand rowing’s development hub, to novices new to the sport and masters.

“Our focus is on the Otago Champs in two weeks time at Lake Ruataniwha with the rest of the South Island crews and competition there is a good indicator of where we are at,” Simon said.

The Dunstan Arm Rowing Club with the trophy for the overall win at the Central Otago Rowing Championships, held at Lake Dunstan over the weekend. PHOTO: Supplied  

The event had one rower fall in; however they were rescued quickly and there were no other rowing incidents.

The Central App received an enquiry from a reader asking if the public had been notified about lower Lake Dunstan’s closure for the regatta after they witnessed “tens of cars with boats being turned away from boat ramps on Saturday with upset families.’’

They queried how notifications were made as they could not find anything on social media or the rowing club or Otago Regional Council - which provides the Harbourmaster service - websites.

Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook said events on Lake Dunstan and other ORC Central Otago controlled waterways were subject to approval and went through a process with the regional council’s harbourmaster team.

“From time to time there will be the occasional closure for something specific to a location and timeframe. In this case the Arm was closed to powered vessels for the rowing regatta to safely take place,’’ Steve said.

“[This sector or lane closure] potentially [occurs] four or five times a year for different events, in differing locations.”

Consideration of other users was part of the assessment process and the harbourmaster team did its best to accommodate all users, with nearly always an alternative boat ramp access available, he said.

Steve confirmed a signage template was created by ORC for event organisers to place appropriately for the event and the agreed closure area.

A Navigation Safety Notice was issued by ORC under the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

It stated that from 6.30am - 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday, November 30 and December 1 the Dunstan Arm between Clyde Dam and Champagne Gully would be closed to all powered vessels for an on-water event.

Simon said he was disappointed to see jetskis on the lake that should not have been there, doing circles and throwing up wake dangerous to rowers.

The club followed a process whereby they closed a portion of the lake to be used for the course, signage was put up at boat ramps and the closure was notified in the local newspaper prior to the event.

“We got permission from Otago Regional Council, like we have always done… and it is only one weekend a year that it is closed for this, and it happens every year.”

He said the last thing they wanted was rowers ' safety to be at risk from boats or jetskis.

“I would have thought that it would be common sense… don’t put your boat [or jetski] in the water.”

He urged people to consider using other areas of Lake Dunstan for boating, away from the regatta. 

In the past the Police had been involved but Simon said it didn’t get to that point this year. 

The club had seven of their own safety boats at the event and speeds were kept below five knots. 

To find out more see DARC’s club listing

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