The regatta at Lake Moodemere, west of Rutherglen, has this year been boosted with the addition of four state title events to the busy program which features a race every three minutes.

The event, which is on today and tomorrow, is expected to attract more than 420 participants in with a particularly strong field in the Masters sections, which is set to feature rowers from Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Corowa, Wahgunyah and Rutherglen clubs.

Long course events will be held today with the shorter sprint course tomorrow.

Association president Paul Somerville said there would be some top-class racing.

“There will be events for all ages and abilities and plenty of opportunities to see our local talent in action,” he said.

“The racing is always entertaining.

“The regatta has developed a bit of a cult following across the state, it’s a real club event, people love coming to enjoy the region with its attractions such as the wineries and even in fairly windy conditions, it’s probably one of the best spots in the state to race.”

The blue ribbon races, the Victorian Championships for the male and female sprint fours and eights will be held about noon today (fours) and 11.30am tomorrow (eights).

The Lake Moodemere event is Australia’s oldest regatta but is still going strong and was last year named the Victorian Regatta of the Year.

Mr Somerville said the event had a rich history.

“In it’s early days the event was the biggest social event in the region,” he said.

“The early years of the regatta attracted thousands of spectators who would place bets on the events.”

Mr Somerville said that today the regatta retained its status as a social occasion, bringing in a crowd of about 1000.

“I don’t think we’ll ever get back to the days when it was the only licensed event in the region on New Year’s Day,” he said.

Local historical records suggest that the regatta had its beginnings from the rivalry between the river boatmen who worked on the paddle steamers that ran between Wahgunyah and Echuca in the 1860s.

Admission to the regatta, off the Murray Valley Highway, is free.

Catering will include a sausage sizzle, soft drinks and a bar. Racing runs from 8.30am.