Organisers of the New Zealand surf lifesaving championships in Gisborne blasted through the penultimate day's programme yesterday in a bid to keep ahead of the storm expected to slam into the area in coming days.
Tropical Cyclone Pam has devastated Vanuatu and surrounding Pacific islands and the remnants of the weather system are heading towards New Zealand's east coast.
More than 1,500 athletes are competing at the four-day surf lifesaving championships.
"We've kept a close eye on developments, while liaising closely with our local Civil Defence and emergency services, and have adjusted our final day's programme as a result," event manager Prue Younger said. "We're aiming to finish just after midday [today] to allow athletes and supporters the chance to get home safely and we also have the option of tweaking things further."
Yesterday's action was held amid blue skies and benign waves at Midway Beach, with larger cyclone-fed swells not expected to hit until Monday. However, heavy rain is forecast to hit late Sunday night or Monday morning, with a rising south-east wind, putting roads in and out of Gisborne in jeopardy.
Mount Maunganui took advantage of the compressed schedule, leaping out to a commanding lead in the overall points tally with a succession of superb team performances. The Bay of Plenty club won four of the six surf teams races across open, under-19 and under-16 age groups.
Elsewhere, the large contingent of national kayakers came to the fore, too, with Olympian Darryl Fitzgerald pairing with his younger brother Jarrod to win the open men's double ski for Waikanae.
They finished ahead of a cluster of fellow national kayak champions, with Ocean Beach Kiwi's Scott Bicknell and William Wilkins second and Marty McDowell and Todd Grace third.
"It was all about getting off the beach quickly and getting some of the runners home," Jarrod Fitzgerald said. "We pulled down one at the end and it's a pretty good feeling."
World champion kayaker Teneale Hatton had a busy day for her Piha club, winning the open women's board rescue with young star Hannah Williams, leading off the victorious ski relay team ahead of team-mates Brita Camplin and Kirsty Wannan and finishing a close second in the double ski to Mairangi Bay's Rachael Dodwell and Danielle McKenzie.
All the big names made today's open ironman final, with Midway's Cory Taylor favoured to defend his title.