THIS year's Recyclable Regatta attracted more entries than before with four rafts competing in the junior race and six in the adult division.

This is the third year of the competition with the battle for the fastest and the best dressed rafts staged on the Airlie Beach lagoon.

The competition was compered by pirate impersonator Cap'n Dan Van Blarcom who said he was "happily roped in" by the Reef Festival committee to take part in this event.

"Not only is it fun, but it shows the ingenuity of people and particularly the young people," Cap'n Van Blarcom said.

"What would be junk to some people they've turned into something that's fun for the community."

Entries included 'Quick Escape' by local charter company Whitsunday Escape, 'Weapon of Mass Destruction' by Whitsundays Marketing and Development Ltd and 'Timestanic II - the resurrection,' by the team at the Whitsunday Times.

The winners of the junior division were Mackenzie Ross and Ethan Stockow on 'Drum Kit', which was also paddled to success in the adults' category by Ethan and Danny Stockow. The award for best dressed raft went to 'Timestanic II', which Cap'n Van Blarcom described as "quite a good-looking craft".

"Some of them (the rafts) have something to learn about stability but I think the good designs showed up well," he said.

This year's regatta was sponsored by the Airlie Beach Hotel.