Well, at least it didn't bother the contestants in the Great Sydney Swim.
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A giant slippery slide in Centennial Park, hundreds of thongs on Bondi beach, the city's wheelchair 10k race, the inaugural concerts on the Opera House steps and the Salute to Australia: it might all have tasted better on a blockbuster, blue-skied summer's day.
Instead, rain was the theme on Sydney Harbour as Australia Day activities got underway, the Ferrython cutting choppy wakes into the busy waters as the drizzle let up for the beginning of the annual ferry race - one of the day's quainter traditions - and soon settled in again.
Escorted by a dozen maritime and police boats, the usual fleet of spectator yachts and boats was out in force, cheering on the slow-moving passenger vessels, despite the low skies. As the four ferries swung left around Shark Island, a water plane came into land, adding yet another craft into the mix.
A strong start from China Southern, better known to harbour commuters as Friendship, soon gave way to power tussles and for a while, it looked like NRMA might have a win in the bag. The Star, decked in gold and with a loud crowd onboard, executed some tactical shimmying, ducking around the leaders to jostle for a place. But, as the Harbour Bridge finish line loomed larger, it was China Southern that steamed to victory ahead of its counterparts sponsored by The Star, NRMA and Sydney Festival.
A fire tug feted the win with a hose salute and clouds followed suit by emptying onto the harbour. On board, a hearty Chinese chant of "jai lo" from its passengers, bubbly in hand, was praised for the win. INXS tunes paused for a rendition of Queen's We are the Champions.
Amid the blue Aussie ensigns were rainbow and Aboriginal flags, with branches and a smoking fire on the deck of the Mari Nawi. The newest addition to the January 26 schedule, the Salute to Australia led by HMAS Canberra, went by as scheduled, with a flyover by the RAAF and a rendition of the national anthem at midday, but a Qantas flyover and an aerial display by the Red Berets were cancelled because of poor visibility as was a show by folk singer Ngaiire in Athol Bay.
