For the first time in the six-year history of the Port regatta competitors will vie for OC6 state titles in junior and novice races, between three and six kilometres, as well as the short (8km) and long (18km) course races.

"On Saturday we are expecting around 44 teams of six and plenty will end up staying the night," club registrar Ray Nicholson said.

"The Port Stephens regatta has always been seen as one that people do come to and make a weekend of it."

And while state recognition will be high on the agenda for most outriggers hailing from Sydney, Port Macquarie and the Central Coast, it will be Sunday's $5000 novelty race that keeps most of them in the Port over night.

The inaugural, and inevitably gruelling, Mother of All Races Twin Peaks Challenge, with a cash prize pool of $12,000, will take place from 10am.

From the beach in front of Shoal Bay Resort and Spa, crews will head across to the northern side of the Port, where one member will disembark and set out on foot to the top of Yacaaba Head - the remaining five will complete a 4km course in the vessel, designed to "keep them occupied" until their teammate returns. With all six reunited at the bottom of Yacaaba Head, crews will race back across the channel and send another team member, or the same one, sprinting to a checkpoint at the top of Tomaree Mountain.

On their return to the boat, crews will sprint to the finish line, located where the race began.

"We thought, well we have these two fantastic peaks in the landscape, we should use them," Nicholson said.

The event will conclude with a presentation at the Shoal Bay Resort and Spa at midday.