Although weather conditions were less than ideal, life guards assembled at the Castlecliff Surf Club for the first day of summer patrols yesterday.
As the wind swept up the beach, the surf lifeguards assembled inside the club rooms to check their gear before heading out on patrol.
Half the guards were heading for Mowhanau Beach at Kai Iwi while the rest set up the patrol and put out the flags at Castlecliff.
"We don't expect swimmers on days like this," said life guard Vincent Nowak.
"We sometimes get wind surfers in this weather and if people turn up to swim, we advise against it.