The Marlborough Sounds have historical significance to rowing. One of the gateways into the sounds, Picton, has been a past venue for many New Zealand Rowing Championships and has been the venue for past Marlborough Rowing Championship regattas that traditionally were held on New Years Day for a number of years. However commercial shipping traffic and the significant growth in powered boating has made it impractical to hold regattas in the sounds. The New Zealand Rowing Championships are now held between each of the international rowing courses (Karapiro and Ruataniwha) with Marlborough Championship regatta now held on the Wairau River in early December.

The Marlborough Sounds are a labyrinth of waterways contained within an area of 4136 sq km with a coast line of over 3218 km. The waterways are surrounded by steep hills and mountains rising up to 1220 metres with many of these rising land masses covered in virgin rain forest consisting mainly of podocarp, mixed hardwood and in some places beech forest.

It is the home of extensive aquaculture activities with green lip mussel farms and other marine life such as Salmon also being farmed.

The waterways are home to many species of fish, dolphin, seals and occasionally whales.

Early European explorer Captain Cook spent many collective months in the outer sounds recovering his crew from the ordeal of world discovery. This is symbolised by Cooks Cairn at Ships Cove and various other land marks that have significance to Cooks exploits in the south pacific.

The Marlborough Sounds offer New Zealanders a marine adventure playground with hiking, fishing, water skiing, kayaking, yachting and boating being amongst the most popular activities.

Many New Zealanders have holiday homes scattered throughout the various bays to which they retreat to during various holiday periods.

Despite the various activities and the number of homes in the area it is still possible to find a tranquil space with no other sign of human activity to be seen.

The sounds also provide the gateway to the South Island for those travelling by sea between the Islands. Two shipping companies operate between Picton and Wellington. One of these companies “The Interislander” is a key sponsor of the Central RPC and Wairau Rowing Club.