Darwin's annual Beer Can Regatta may elicit laughter or cynicism, but it continues to draw packs of entrants who attempt to construct seaworthy vessels out of aluminium recyclables.

Key points: The Junior Balik boat, designed and constructed by a team of Navy personnel, has claimed victory at the final race at the Beer Can Regatta competition

The Junior Balik boat, designed and constructed by a team of Navy personnel, has claimed victory at the final race at the Beer Can Regatta competition Thousands turned out to watch the 45 th annual event at Mindil Beach on Sunday afternoon

Thousands turned out to watch the 45 annual event at Mindil Beach on Sunday afternoon One woman travelled from America specifically to see race, calling it a "bucket list" experience

Darren Rushworth was the captain of Junior Balik, the winner of this year's Battle of Mindil competition.

"It was all about warfare, tactics and strategy … and then just sheer strength running up the beach," he said.

When he's not racing boats constructed from aluminium cans he's the commanding officer of HMAS Coonawarra, and his team was made up of his Navy colleagues.

"We're all professional mariners. A few of us might be engineers, naval architects, and even the odd physical training instructor, to make sure we paddle fast."

The team used 2,500 cans to construct a competitive entry.

There can only be one winner on the day, and it was crew Junior Balk for 2019. ( ABC News: Alexia Attwood )

Shambolic attempt for regatta glory

Others made more shambolic attempts for regatta glory, more invested in immersing themselves in Territory culture.

"We decided we wanted to enter because we're new to the Territory and we just wanted to get involved in the spirit of things," said Jodie McDonough, originally from Perth and crew member of the boat Glue It and Screw It.

Her team's boat, made purely from beer cans and duct tape, was aptly named after its construction process.

"It's Glue It and Screw It, which we came up with while we were making it, screwing and gluing it together," said Ms Kirke.

The Perth-siders said they were not afraid of the stingers and crocodiles that frequent Darwin's waters.

"If anything the crocs will help us float," said Ms McDonough.

Wet t-shirt contest out, boat quality up

Some entrants started young, including brothers Connor Fitzgibbons, 10, and Ethan, 11.

It took them three days to construct their beer and soft drink can floatation devices, assisted by trusty boogie-board underbellies.

"I'm excited to race with other people and I'm going to try and win," said a confident Connor.

Young boat builders Connor and Ethan Fitzgibbons were ready to take on the sea. ( ABC News: Alexia Attwood )

Jeff Dunn is a regatta regular. He said he had been to nearly every race in the event's history.

"This is the 45th annual regatta. I missed the first two and I've been to every one since," he said.

Its reputation as a boozy day at the beach has been a hard hangover to shake, but Mr Dunn said it had changed over time.

"As people get different concepts about what's acceptable and what's not acceptable, things like the wet t-shirt competition are no longer," he said.

"This year we're down a bit on numbers of craft, but still the efforts that have been put in by those who entered their boats has been really good.

"And I think the enthusiasm of those teams has not changed over the years: it's pretty much the same."

Worth travelling across the globe for

Sharon Adams travelled to Darwin all the way from Michigan specifically to see the spectacle and said she was not disappointed.

She had heard about the regatta when she was young and working as a flight attendant.

Sharon Adams and John Smith travelled from the USA to see the annual event. ( ABC News: Kate Ashton )

She said it was something she had always wanted to see.

"It's been number one on my bucket list," she said.

"This year I made up my mind — I wasn't going to ask anyone, I was just going to go," she said.

"It's fun, everyone's having a good time. I'll come again!"