The Cook Strait is a chilly, current-ridden strip of water seperating the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The nature of the swim means its one of swimming's biggest challenges. Here, Emma gives us her account of her recent swim.
My name is Emma Aitken and on the 12th April 2011 I became the 70th person to successfully swim across the Cook Strait, the stretch of water that separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
I am 23 years old and am currently studying towards a MSc degree in Chemistry at Victoria University, more specifically in the area of natural products isolation. I completed my undergraduate studies in Wellington and am immensely proud to be a homegrown Wellingtonian.
On a clear day, from the summit of the hill behind my house, you can see the South Island and on one of these days I decided it would be a good idea to swim there. I had heard of a few people who had attempted this but the 26 km stretch of water is highly renowned for being difficult to cross.
How fit/experienced do I need to be?
Each season, between seven and ten privileged athletes have the opportunity to attempt the crossing. Due to the icy water temperatures, powerful tides and extremely volatile conditions the crossing has around a 30 % success rate. However, if you have minimised the risk by preparing thoroughly, success will only depend on what you are dealt on the day.
I can only speak from my own personal experience because I embarked on the required training solo due to restrictions of my undergraduate study and work commitments. I would thoroughly recommend joining a swim squad for support and guidance. Over 18 months I ramped up my weekly mileage from 25 to 90 km. Over long distances, I was swimming 4 km/hr but Phil will accept 3 km/hr pace. You must be aware of pace but to also have confidence when faced with rough conditions and for this reason both pool and open water swimming are essential to the training. It is vital to have completed several long swims during which you will face a rollercoaster of emotional and physical challenges. Adjusting to 15°C water temperatures is a crucial element to training as the crossings are attempted without a wetsuit, in accordance with the Channel Swimming Association regulations.
It took me 9 hours and 31 minutes to reach the South Island. Halfway across the Strait and 3 and a half hours in to the swim, we encountered a strong current that held up my progress considerably and required me to fight against the tide near the end. By no means is this out of the ordinary for a Cook Strait crossing so you must be mentally prepared for changeable conditions.
What kit would you recommend?
After the first hour I was stopped every 30 minutes to refuel. These breaks were kept to a minimum due to drift caused by the tides and currents. Understandably, many people find it difficult to eat when swimming. During my training I found that a combination of carbohydrate gels and electrolyte replacement was the most easily digested. Several pairs of well worn-in goggles and togs that don’t chafe are essential. Phil provides grease and warm blankets for afterwards.
All in, how much would it cost me to do this? How do I organise it? Any logistical advice?
The total cost of the swim in 2010 was NZ$5,500 (roughly £2,800). This included petrol costs, plus the guidance of a highly experienced support crew led by Philip Rush, New Zealand Swimming Association’s Open Water coach. To anyone interested in attempting the crossing, I would advise getting in touch with Philip as soon as possible to secure a place. I am more than happy to be a point of contact for specific questions about the crossing.
What were the highs and lows for you?
As the only local this year to attempt the crossing, I was essentially ‘on call’ over summer and did not have a date, or even an allocated week. It was a matter of waiting for optimum conditions, and because of this I had a big advantage as most swimmers are allocated one neap tide and can only swim within this window of opportunity, regardless of the conditions. The downside of this arrangement was the stress of not training to a date and putting my faith in Wellington’s erratic weather.
For me, the most rewarding element of this experience was the people I met and lessons learned along the way. The crossing itself was predictable- long, cold and tiring. When I committed myself to the goal I could not have foreseen how hard it would be but also how I would mature and come to appreciate and value the support I received from my family and friends.
My name is Emma Aitken and on the 12th April 2011 I became the 70th person to successfully swim across the Cook Strait, the stretch of water that separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
I am 23 years old and am currently studying towards a MSc degree in Chemistry at Victoria University, more specifically in the area of natural products isolation. I completed my undergraduate studies in Wellington and am immensely proud to be a homegrown Wellingtonian.
On a clear day, from the summit of the hill behind my house, you can see the South Island and on one of these days I decided it would be a good idea to swim there. I had heard of a few people who had attempted this but the 26 km stretch of water is highly renowned for being difficult to cross.
How fit/experienced do I need to be?
Each season, between seven and ten privileged athletes have the opportunity to attempt the crossing. Due to the icy water temperatures, powerful tides and extremely volatile conditions the crossing has around a 30 % success rate. However, if you have minimised the risk by preparing thoroughly, success will only depend on what you are dealt on the day.
I can only speak from my own personal experience because I embarked on the required training solo due to restrictions of my undergraduate study and work commitments. I would thoroughly recommend joining a swim squad for support and guidance. Over 18 months I ramped up my weekly mileage from 25 to 90 km. Over long distances, I was swimming 4 km/hr but Phil will accept 3 km/hr pace. You must be aware of pace but to also have confidence when faced with rough conditions and for this reason both pool and open water swimming are essential to the training. It is vital to have completed several long swims during which you will face a rollercoaster of emotional and physical challenges. Adjusting to 15°C water temperatures is a crucial element to training as the crossings are attempted without a wetsuit, in accordance with the Channel Swimming Association regulations.
It took me 9 hours and 31 minutes to reach the South Island. Halfway across the Straight and 3 and a half hours in to the swim, we encountered a strong current that held up my progress considerably and required me to fight against the tide near the end. By no means is this out of the ordinary for a Cook Strait crossing so you must be mentally prepared for changeable conditions.
What kit would you recommend?
After the first hour I was stopped every 30 minutes to refuel. These breaks were kept to a minimum due to drift caused by the tides and currents. Understandably, many people find it difficult to eat when swimming. During my training I found that a combination of carbohydrate gels and electrolyte replacement was the most easily digested. Several pairs of well worn-in goggles and togs that don’t chafe are essential. Phil provides grease and warm blankets for afterwards.
All in, how much would it cost me to do this? How do I organise it? Any logistical advice?
The total cost of the swim in 2010 was NZ$5,500 (roughly £2,800). This included petrol costs, plus the guidance of a highly experienced support crew led by Philip Rush, New Zealand Swimming Association’s Open Water coach. To anyone interested in attempting the crossing, I would advise getting in touch with Philip as soon as possible to secure a place. I am more than happy to be a point of contact for specific questions about the crossing.
What were the highs and lows for you?
As the only local this year to attempt the crossing, I was essentially ‘on call’ over summer and did not have a date, or even an allocated week. It was a matter of waiting for optimum conditions, and because of this I had a big advantage as most swimmers are allocated one neap tide and can only swim within this window of opportunity, regardless of the conditions. The downside of this arrangement was the stress of not training to a date and putting my faith in Wellington’s erratic weather.
For me, the most rewarding element of this experience was the people I met and lessons learned along the way. The crossing itself was predictable- long, cold and tiring. When I committed myself to the goal I could not have foreseen how hard it would be but also how I would mature and come to appreciate and value the support I received from my family and friends.My name is Emma Aitken and on the 12th April 2011 I became the 70th person to successfully swim across the Cook Strait, the stretch of water that separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand. I am 23 years old and am currently studying towards a MSc degree in Chemistry at Victoria University, more specifically in the area of natural products isolation. I completed my undergraduate studies in Wellington and am immensely proud to be a homegrown Wellingtonian. On a clear day, from the summit of the hill behind my house, you can see the South Island and on one of these days I decided it would be a good idea to swim there. I had heard of a few people who had attempted this but the 26 km stretch of water is highly renowned for being difficult to cross. How fit/experienced do I need to be?Each season, between seven and ten privileged athletes have the opportunity to attempt the crossing. Due to the icy water temperatures, powerful tides and extremely volatile conditions the crossing has around a 30 % success rate. However, if you have minimised the risk by preparing thoroughly, success will only depend on what you are dealt on the day. I can only speak from my own personal experience because I embarked on the required training solo due to restrictions of my undergraduate study and work commitments. I would thoroughly recommend joining a swim squad for support and guidance. Over 18 months I ramped up my weekly mileage from 25 to 90 km. Over long distances, I was swimming 4 km/hr but Phil will accept 3 km/hr pace. You must be aware of pace but to also have confidence when faced with rough conditions and for this reason both pool and open water swimming are essential to the training. It is vital to have completed several long swims during which you will face a rollercoaster of emotional and physical challenges. Adjusting to 15°C water temperatures is a crucial element to training as the crossings are attempted without a wetsuit, in accordance with the Channel Swimming Association regulations.It took me 9 hours and 31 minutes to reach the South Island. Halfway across the Straight and 3 and a half hours in to the swim, we encountered a strong current that held up my progress considerably and required me to fight against the tide near the end. By no means is this out of the ordinary for a Cook Strait crossing so you must be mentally prepared for changeable conditions. What kit would you recommend?After the first hour I was stopped every 30 minutes to refuel. These breaks were kept to a minimum due to drift caused by the tides and currents. Understandably, many people find it difficult to eat when swimming. During my training I found that a combination of carbohydrate gels and electrolyte replacement was the most easily digested. Several pairs of well worn-in goggles and togs that don’t chafe are essential. Phil provides grease and warm blankets for afterwards.All in, how much would it cost me to do this? How do I organise it? Any logistical advice?The total cost of the swim in 2010 was NZ$5,500 (roughly £2,800). This included petrol costs, plus the guidance of a highly experienced support crew led by Philip Rush, New Zealand Swimming Association’s Open Water coach. To anyone interested in attempting the crossing, I would advise getting in touch with Philip as soon as possible to secure a place. I am more than happy to be a point of contact for specific questions about the crossing. What were the highs and lows for you? As the only local this year to attempt the crossing, I was essentially ‘on call’ over summer and did not have a date, or even an allocated week. It was a matter of waiting for optimum conditions, and because of this I had a big advantage as most swimmers are allocated one neap tide and can only swim within this window of opportunity, regardless of the conditions. The downside of this arrangement was the stress of not training to a date and putting my faith in Wellington’s erratic weather. For me, the most rewarding element of this experience was the people I met and lessons learned along the way. The crossing itself was predictable- long, cold and tiring. When I committed myself to the goal I could not have foreseen how hard it would be but also how I would mature and come to appreciate and value the support I received from my family and friends.
Sounds like a fantastic challenge... If you fancy a go, further information and contact details can be found on the Cook Strait Marathon Swim website.
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