The visiting crew is flown out to New Zealand and entertained for the period of their stay. In the past this has included accommodation and use of the world class rowing facilities at Lake Karapiro. A full itinerary is organised for the crew, which allows them to really get a taste of New Zealand and make their stay in New Zealand a truly memorable one. Past crews have commented that this has really helped strengthen team bonding as well as making the long journey to New Zealand extremely enjoyable. The race is treated very seriously by both crews and visiting coxswains and coaches are given full briefings on the complexities of the Waikato River and the race course. The event has a high profile in the Hamilton community and as such the visiting crews attract a lot of media attention.