A shipload of boats departs the Port of Tauranga tonight, bound for Gibraltar and a northern summer in the Mediterranean.

In what has become a regular ferry service in recent years, the first onion ship of the season, the Spliethoff ship Muntgracht, will return northern visitors to their homes.

The Muntgracht takes on her deck cargo.

Many of the yachts embarked in Australia and have been guesting at the Tauranga Bridge Marina, during onion loading.

Others include New Zealand visitors and pocket superyacht Chrisco, and the Swan 68 Tatiana of Cowes, which sailed down from Auckland to pick up a ride.

The crews will be flying north to rejoin the vessels at a later date.