Queenstown Lakes harbourmaster Marty Black is warning swimmers to stay away from the middle of Roys Bay during Thursday night yacht club races, after a second incident of dangerous swimming almost resulted in a collision between a swimmer and a boat.
During Thursday's incident, a male swimmer was seen to push himself off the hull of an Etchell to avoid being struck during a race.
Another swimmer disrupted a Thursday night race last summer by using a yacht race buoy as a target, sparking criticism of open water swimming and a call for a larger safe-swim zone near the Millennium Track.
"What it is going to take is for everyone to be sensible. These guys are dumb," Mr Black said when contacted yesterday.
The lake safety bylaw could be reviewed to include fines for errant swimmers, Mr Black said.
Yacht club safety officer Peter Rhodes, who witnessed Thursday's near-collision, said yesterday the swimmer was first spotted about 6.45pm and "scared the hell out of me and my crewman".
Mr Rhodes went alongside in his safety boat for about 40 minutes before the man, who he thought had an Italian or French accent, abandoned his plan to swim to Eely Point and got into the boat.
During the incident, there were two other yachts nearby and all three were tacking for position, forcing the swimmer to take evasive action.
"He said he could see the yachts but the yachts could not see him."
The swimmer was reported to the Wanaka police and Mr Black.
His name was not available yesterday and it is not known if he was a local or a visitor.
Const Mike Johnston has suggested information signs be placed on the lakefront to direct swimmers to the safe swimming zone at the west end of Roys Bay.
Swimming group spokeswoman Claire O'Connell said yesterday the signs were needed because tourists and people new to town might not know about the safe-swim zone.
Swimmers, rowers and the yacht club wanted to work together to promote awareness of the increase in non-motorised activities in Roys Bay, she said.
Better communication was key to getting swimmers into safe swimming areas, out of the ski lanes and out of the middle of the lake during Thursday night regattas, swimmer Jackie Boyd said.
The Wanaka Yacht Club continues to race weekly on Thursday nights until April.
