More than 60 young sailors aged between 18 were competing on the water at Timaru over the weekend.

The Timaru Age Group Regatta was held in Caroline Bay at the local Yacht and Power Boat Club.

The event drew competitors from nearby provinces to race their sail boats alongside a strong local contingent.

The competition was split into sections for different classes of boats, including P-Class, 420 class, a Green Fleet Optimist section and Starling Class.

The yachties were joined by a pod of Hectors dolphins cavorting amongst the boats.

Numbering around ten thousand individuals, the endangered species is regularly seen around coasts of the South Island.