A TOTAL of 170 boats took part in the annual Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club (SICYC)'s rendezvous off Montes Resort at Hydeway Bay on the weekend - and $40,000 was raised for prostate cancer research.

From humble beginnings at the first event when $280 was raised, the cruising yachties have now raised more than $80,000 for the cause in five years.

The weekend's event attracted people from Canada, the USA and all states and territories of Australia.

Founder Ken Thackeray said the whole weekend was packed with activities and that those who took part were a wonderful bunch of people.

There were more than 600 people at the party at Montes Resort on Saturday night and guests enjoyed fireworks and a Polynesian dancing show.

The club was founded in April 2009 and now has 2500 members. More than 100 people became members on the weekend.

Mr Thackeray said most of the members were between the ages of 40 and 70 and this was also the demographic of people diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He said many of the members were doing their own fundraising on the weekend as most people knew someone who had been touched by the disease.

He said to have 170 yachts take part was a reflection of being in the cruising season and that members contributed in a silent way to the Whitsundays economy.

Mr Thackeray said the formation of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club (SICYC) had simply made these people more visual in the local community.