It's reaching the business end at the Maadi Regatta on Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel, and many of the traditional powers of secondary school rowing will be lining up in finals Friday and Saturday.
One crew has been turning heads - from the New Zealand Correspondence School Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu.
Their boys under 18 novice coxed quad have reached Saturday's final, just nine months after they hopped into a boat together for the first time.
It is believed to be the school's first team to compete at any national sports event.
The rowing team's co-manager Melissa Sattler spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
