Near misses between boaties at the Mangawhai Harbour entrance have prompted lifeguards to issue a warning to take care.
There were some close calls with a number of boats trying to cross the Mangawhai harbour entrance/bar on Sunday, Mangawhai Heads Lifeguard Service club captain Patria Harris said.
"We watched at least three boats drive straight out through the middle of the bar on Sunday, and all three nearly flipped."
Boaties needed to be aware of the risks associated with crossing the bar, club chairman Tony Baker said.
"In the past 10 years we have had numerous boats flip on the bar, mostly due to the drivers being oblivious to the risks."