Early start

Vaka Eiva racing starts at 7 oclock this morning with masters men and senior masters men taking to the water for the 12km V6 iron races.

Masters women and senior masters women paddlers will start their V6 12km race at 9am followed by the masters and open mixed crews race at 11am.

The fiercely contested open mens and womens divisions will get underway at 1pm with crews racing 18km to the Avana point and back to Avarua harbour.

The final race of the day is expected to start at 3.30pm for throw-together mixed crews.

Also tonight is the Oe Vaka Art exhibition opening at The Art Studio in Arorangi starting at 6pm.

Tomorrow junior paddlers will take the limelight with a full day of racing while senior crews take the rest day to visit their adopted schools, and then enter the annual Trader Jacks Boiler Swim at 5pm.