It was one of the busiest weekends on the water for Mount Maunganui lifeguards who performed seven rescues in strong surf conditions over the two days.

Mount Lifeguards on patrol at the Main Beach. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

With paid lifeguard patrols finishing up last month, a late burst of summer sunshine kept volunteer guards on their toes, making numerous rescues and performing countless preventative actions.

'We had a mix of sunny skies, a strong ground swell creating a powerful sweep and rip on the beach, high tides during the middle of the day increasing the power of the shorebreak, and people going out in conditions that exceeded their capabilities,” says Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service patrol captain Dani Shepherd.

'It is unusual for us to perform that many rescues over a weekend here, and if it wasn't for the very strong preventative focus that our lifeguards had over the weekend, really working hard to keep people out of trouble before it happens, there could have been many more.”

On Saturday lifeguards rescued two swimmers, a boogie boarder and a surfer and on Sunday were called to rescue a swimmer, kayaker and surfer from immediate trouble.

Seasoned lifeguard Kent Jarman, who was involved in a couple of the rescues, says there was definitely a pattern of people being 'caught out” in conditions that were outside their capabilities.

'If there was a common theme this weekend it was of people who don't have a lot of surf experience, going out and getting in trouble one way or another.”

Kent says luckily the kayaker made it back to shore by himself near Leisure Island after getting rolled in the surf. His kayak was dragged out to sea by the strong rip and an IRB had to retrieve it, says Kent.

Both the swimmer and surfer were pulled from the sea in the IRB after struggling in the powerful surf for a few minutes as surf lifesavers tracked their progress.

'They weren't in there long, you watch them for a while and figure out they aren't going to get home on their own - so go and pick them up.

'One of the guys took a bit of persuading and didn't want to get in the boat. From our point of view we would prefer to have them in the boat back on the beach because it's no big deal to us but it means if they stay where they are it sort of ties up our resources because someone has to keep an eye on them.”

The surf, whilst large and powerful with 2- 3m swells throughout the weekend, was quite lully with long breaks between the bigger sets and Kent believes this may have fooled less experienced surfers and boogie boarders into thinking they could handle the conditions.

'At times, for about 5- 10 minutes the conditions would look quite settled with not much of a wave breaking, and then a couple of sets would come through and the next 10 minutes or so would see pounding surf a strong sweep along the beach and the Leisure Island rip in particular sucking all that water back out to the depths.”

Dani says the message to the public remains the same as always.

'Swim between the flags, never swim alone, know your limits, if in doubt stay out,” says Dani.

'As well as that, don't be shy to have a quick word to the lifeguards and ask about the conditions, these guys and girls are volunteers here to help and are more than happy to point you in the right direction and offer advice.”

Volunteer patrols continue at Mount Maunganui Main Beach on the weekends through until April 6.