High winds forced the cancellation of the inaugural ''The Ruby'' swim festival in Wanaka at the weekend.
The event was to feature several swim distances with Lake Wanaka's Ruby Island as the focal point and was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
However, organisers Eddie Spearing and Jamie Norman made a call earlier in the day to postpone the event until yesterday morning due to wind, which was gusting 20 knots at the shore and higher on the eastern side of the island.
But yesterday, the men announced the festival had been cancelled.
''We have had to take the decision based on projected weather forecast and with the assistance of the local water authorities for up to midday today,'' they said on their social media page.
''We are unable to keep swimmers safe on the back side of the island during our longest races around the island. The location of this event makes it more exposed.''
The organisers said the decision was not made easily and meant 10 months of work and preparation had ''come to naught''.
''We are very disappointed.''
The Ruby would return next year, although the timing was yet to be confirmed, Mr Spearing later told the Otago Daily Times.
