SWIMMING THROUGH THE SURF.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 129, 7 January 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

SWIMMING THROUGH THE SURF.

At Irlit— season of the year i-urf bathingi> very popular, and it in thereiori an appropriate time to publish the »ollowing article, written by the l:.te Cap. tain Webb, the famous Channel sw'm-

Jt i< needless for rac to state thai swimming through a rough sea it very different to swimming in smooth water; and l>y a rough sea, 1 do not mean an ordinary swimming match that take- place in ordinary weather, hut the still more practical art of going our through a rough surf, or returning through one. You will remember that, in the short a-count I gave of niv lift . I mentioni 1 n circum-lanco that'occurred at Port Xatal. in which I had t p return to -Lore from the, wrick through a heavy surf. Prohahly all of you lta\e. however, read that oxtronieiy graphic account of Robinson Crusoe, when he escaped from the wreck on which all were lost, and he alone succeeded in reaching the .shore. He desriiho.s how a huge mass of water carried him w : th iremendous speed torward, and tlu n left him high an>l it 17 : hut the receding water again took him off his feet, and carried him out 10 yea. The writer of that hook must evidently have experienced what a heavy rolling rca 1 rally is. The great art in returning to shore is not to attempt to battle"with the wave-, but to manoeuvre with them so that they a-st-t yon. Should a huge mass of water he bearing down upon you from behind, wait till it nearly reai lies you, and then suddenly dive downwards, s.wim a little way under water a- far as you can ai'a.n-i: the wave.-. I>y thi- means you will moid being caught in the cre-t of tite wave which will take you I.v by tins means and nearer the •or you get the r care that vou h.ave said, m the e effect ol wliieh 1 the beach, and time, knock all it- body. It wi'l hat every tli n! ■ I- larger than tlmt every large a much -mallei shore, therefore, v, if possible, t 1 can after these ken. lirough the surf -tart in one of 11! wluii the sea aiiiie-1 moments. Ie re-t rolling v tewatd- Vol!. 1 all u.ii'i- :n:'-M long a- >.m p.i----!n ! 1 w ill -v> ■■: ■ W.IV, t .•■_! ':■- id \;i'l. '!' ' .it!.,iv.v -' ;'' -v..-;'.! In-gilt he. Illl'l - IiAKHK.i). .f'a'scorcher! if." gaud he hinted down hill-. f"i" d the lorner at • teep descent, lie nia-iied the winp. In due cour.-e. lospital and pa .7 nd sum for d 1111-,-ny of repeating ise. anyway, and (1 the ieweller's Then it became •epor that it waWhon a th v\ in. an aniu-ed and read this ularly requested shment liv the