Storm brings big surf to the Bay but presents no problems for lifesaving patrols

Swells reached 2m along the coast on Sunday following an overnight storm. Photo/Anna Whyte

Saturday's storm brought big swells to the Bay's beaches forcing changes to be made to two events but, despite this, surf clubs reported safe behaviour and no rescues.

The rough weather affected two major events over the weekend - the Round the Mount swim was moved to Pilot Bay and the Omanu Day of Champions carnival was held last night instead.

Fletcher Swan, head guard at Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club, said beachgoers acted sensibly when the surf was at its peak. It reached heights of about 2m along the coast.

"We had a bit of a storm swell come through which was pretty testing. People took notice of the flags and no one was really going out of their depth. Many people stayed out of the water.

"Even for people pretty savvy with the surf, it was pretty gnarly conditions."

But conditions had quietened and yesterdaywas "basically a lake," Mr Swan said.

He was based at the Tay St patrol tower on Sunday - the last day of patrols at that spot for the season.

He said it was pleasing to see people were taking more notice of the flags which, combined with safe conditions, had made the lifeguards' job much easier.

This year had been quieter on the beaches than normal, likely because it had been a colder and windier summer than the previous two years, he said.

Shaun Smith, club captain of Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club, said the water was "pretty much dead flat" yesterdayafter big waves and a strong current on the weekend.

He said Sunday was "fantastic" for surfers.

"Now it's just flattened off and all the families are back having fun. Although, it is very cold and very windy."

Mr Smith said because it had been a cold and windy summer, it had been a fairly easy season for the lifeguards.

"There's been hardly any rescues because no one's getting in the water."

He said there had only been about four rescues this season, all minor.

"We've been quieter than usual with a lot less families. We're probably two-thirds down on last year on numbers from our busiest days.

"We used to have thousands on the beach, now we've been lucky to get a thousand."

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service patrol captain Sam Roy said yesterdaymorning was "quite rippy" but it cleared up later in the day and conditions returned to normal.

"It looked quite bad [yesterday] morning at low tide, a big swell carved out some new holes and alleyways.

"From what I got told, Saturday was a big day that had quite a bit of surf, and Sunday morning was also quite big and rough, but it quietened down."

Mr Roy said this summer, the water had been 3C or 4C cooler than normal, which was keeping away some beachgoers.