Calm weather and more entries than expected have given organisers of the inaugural The Ruby swimming festival in Lake Wanaka the boost they needed.
Strong winds forced the cancellation of last year's inaugural race, leaving the event hanging in the balance.
But on Saturday, although skies were grey, there was not a breath of wind and conditions were near perfect for the races including several requiring laps of the lake's Ruby Island.
After handing out the certificates and prizes, organisers Eddie Spearing and Jamie Norman said the event would be back next year.
‘‘It totally revolves around the weather. You can run a bike race or a running race in any conditions [but] with a swim race ... there's a lot of safety to think about.
‘‘Today, the weather really played its part.''
Mr Spearing said entries totalled just over 300, exceeding expectations by more than 50.
The top prizes, including two specially-made rings, were won by Sean Donnelly, of Germany, and Sally Hayes, of Invercargill, who both competed in the 2.5km event, which included one lap around island.
Hayes said she had swum in Lake Wanaka many times before, but not previously around the island, and enjoyed the ‘‘crystal clear water and flat conditions''.
Her next event is a swim in Lake Te Anau followed by one of the Challenge Wanaka triathlon events next month. Donnelly said he was also preparing for the Challenge, and The Ruby was ‘‘a good hit out''.
Claire O'Connell, of Wanaka, received a round of applause when she finished last in the 3.8km Big Ruby event.
O'Connell was one of a handful of swimmers not wearing a wetsuit, describing conditions as ‘‘absolutely perfect, except for the cold''.
‘‘I really enjoy swimming in the water with no wetsuit ... and I've been building up tolerance to the cold.''
