Huge surf and high tide combined to cause carnage in the annual White Island boat race off St Clair beach on Saturday.
With a record field of 65 lifeguards lining up on all manner of vessels, it was quite a sight as they went off the sand heading towards White Island.
The tide and surf forced the start to move north of the St Clair poles on the beach, but although everyone got off the sand, not all made it past the surf.
The swells had been upwards of 5m during the week and it would be hard to think of tougher conditions in the event's 44-year history. Those in the big boats found it especially hard going.
The competitors were immediately confronted with a large 1-2m shore break. The channel just beyond the shore break offered some brief respite from the pounding waves before the competitors headed into more large continuous sets of 2m waves.
For many this is where their race ended as craft and competitors were thrown about in the heavy sand-filled waves. With damaged gear, most were unable to return to the water or were too physically exhausted after numerous attempts to overcome the surf conditions.
After making it through the surf the challenge did not end there with large ocean swells on the 2.5km paddle to White Island.
Getting around the island was also far from easy with large surf breaking around the island.
Coming back to St Clair beach was the best part of the race but navigating the surf to the beach was very tricky and many took a tumble.
The conditions meant a race record was never a goer and first home was Ryan Quickenden, of the South Brighton club of Christchurch, in a single surf ski.
He recorded 26min 10sec, just under 5min outside the record set by Geoff Walker in 1980.
He also won the Duke Gillies Trophy for the best handicap time. Steven Drabble, of South Brighton, was next home, followed by Dunedin paddlers Finn O'Connor and James Coombes.
St Clair pair Sam Riddell and Angus MacKenzie were the fastest in the double in 30min 40sec while Steph Laughton was the first woman back.
Jamie Mowat, of St Clair, was the first board paddler home with Monique Francois the first female paddler to finish.
The conditions played havoc with the four-person crews with the field halved within minutes of the start.
The Waimairi club from Christchurch was the first crew back although it finished paddling with its boat upside down as it was flipped coming into the beach.
The lone swimmer in the event was Ant Jackson, from St Kilda, who had the toughest battle of the lot.
He went away first and managed to complete the swim in 1hr 52min 58sec.
A four-man Brighton crew attempted to navigate the surf in leopard skin undies and wigs but only succeeded in losing the wig and, being tipped out twice. Crew member Tim Lungley lost his undies.
