Teams from San Francisco and the south-west hit the water in ideal conditions for the resurrected heritage celebration.

Warrnambool tourism services manager Peter Abbott said competition between the American and Warrnambool teams was fantastic .

''There was fierce racing between everyone. It was a 2-1 result to America," Mr Abbott said.

"It's been a fantastic day for it. We've had the maximum number of crews that we could have expected."

America won the mixed and women's sections, taking out the International Cup Challenge ? a new prize initiated by the entry of the US teams.

The Warrnambool Surf Lifesaving Club was named Australian Champions and ''held up the men's honour", according to Mr Abbott. In the women's races, the best placed Australian team was Viqueens and the best placed mixed team was the Sungold Lab Rats.

Twenty teams from Warrnambool, Portland and Timboon took part and seven from America.

The Flagstaff Hill cannon was used to start each of the finals, held in front of more than 500 spectators. "It's been wonderful to see so many locals turn out to support it," Mr Abbott said.

American coach Corny Foster said Americans rowed competitively at home, whereas the Australian crews formed especially for this one event.

"Which is why the Americans are doing so well," she said.

"It's been a lot of fun. No Aussies will give us tips (about the boats) so we've had to figure it out for ourselves," Ms Foster laughed.

Spectator Kerryn Buchtman said it was a great day.

"It's good to see something different and see the Americans come out," she said. The US crews had invited Warrnambool rowers to San Francisco to compete in a whale boat race from Alcatraz to the San Francisco waterfront in June.

Mr Abbott hopes teams from Warrnambool will be able to accept the offer - and is already looking to 2011.

"The Hopkins River precinct is perfect for this event. We're looking forward to next years'."