COOK STRAIT SWIM

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1929, Page 4

COOK STRAIT SWIM

AUCKLAND A STIR ANT. (By Telegrapl I’ress Association). AUCKLAND. Jan. 23. + B. J. Webster, a long distance swimmer. to-day swam from Arkles Bay ale ost to .Milford Bench, a distance of eight and. a half miles in a ' direct line, in four hours and 58 minutes. A still soulli-westcriy breeze and variations of currents and the tide wore responsible for an addition of at least another two miles to bis distance. The effort was intended as a trial for tie Cook Strait swim, which lie will attempt in a week or two. Webster originally intended to swim from Tiri. but stormy conditions there made this impossible. As it was, Webster bad to contend practically - all the way with a strong wind and a heavy sea. A dinghy which set out to keen < lose to Tiim was immanage- , able in Hie disorderly waves, and it bud to return to the launch. Webster used a powerful overarm and scissor kick stroke, going at the rate of sixty strokes to the minute. Only nourishment given him was some meat, extract. He lmd to discard some ill-litting goggles, and had some trouble with bis eyes, but apart from this, lie showed practically no effects from bis long immersion when taken on Foard the launch, when he was almost abreast of Wairau.