Summer patrol on again at Ahipara

Mark Gordon from Pauanui, Tobias 'Toobs' Coffin from California and Josh Coombridge from Raglan keep an eye on the swimming zone between the flags at Ahipara on Monday.

Swimmers at Ahipara can again relax this summer under the knowledge they are bathing at the only partrolled beach in the Far North.

Based at the strip of beach in front of Pari Pari Domain at Ahipara, the annual three week regional patrol - made up of professional lifeguards - will be watching the surf between 10am to 6pm from Sundays to Fridays.

The patrol started on December 18 and will wind up on January 6, with the local volunteer patrol from the Far North Surf Rescue covering Saturdays during this period.

The volunteer patrol will take over and run from 11am-5pm during subsequent weekends before wrapping up on Waitangi Day (Monday, February 6).

The FNSR will also be on the move, with lifeguards cruising along the beach between Te Kohanga (Shipwreck Bay) and the Kaaka St ramp (northern end of Ahipara), in order to keep an eye on the wider area outside the flags at Pari Pari.

On Tuesday, patrol captain Mark Gordon, who hails from the Pauanui SLSC, admitted his team of three guards weren't particularly rushed off their feet at around 11am with very few swimmers caring to brave the nippy breeze and cool water.

However, it was noted the afternoons were generally far busier with beach-users arriving in force from around 3pm onwards.

Gordon reminded all swimmers to, "Stay safe and swim between the flags."