They drove seven hours to get to Dunedin for this year's White Island boat race and did not even make it past the breakers.
But that is part and parcel of the annual race off St Clair Beach, and Blenheim's Rarangi Surf Club goes home with that lesson, at least, under its belt.
The weather was fine and a 2m surf was running to challenge the hardiest boaters competing in the race's 46th outing on Saturday.
Twelve of the 46 lifeguards who lined up on all manner of vessels, and one swimmer, made it to the island and back to the beach. Organiser Cameron Burrow, of the St Clair Surf Lifesaving Club, said every year was an exhibition of the level of skill required by lifeguards to get past the breaking surf.
''It's a great showcase of what lifeguards are capable of.''
St Clair lifeguard Hamish Taylor (18) paddled to victory on his surf ski, seven minutes shy of the record and one of the youngest winners in the event's history.
Club mate Andrew Trembath was the first paddleboarder back and won the handicap trophy.
A team from the South Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club in Christchurch won the canoe race, while Ant Jackson, of St Kilda, was the only swimmer to round the island, returning in 1 hour 36 minutes.
