The wild weekend storm didn't deter the hardiest of Tauranga yacht crews, when the season officially opened on Sunday.
A handful of well-reefed keelers set sail in gale force winds and occasional rain squalls, to mark the opening of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club's summer programme.

Bolstered by a champagne breakfast, prizegiving and safety briefing, crews were sent racing from the shotgun blast to start the new season.

Alan Glover and the crew on Sabian relishing the gales.

Roger Rushton's Frenzy surfs past the yacht club.

Arethusa and Lynx running down toward Pilot Bay.