Port Nelson Sea Swims, Race 18, March 5, 2020

The last competition swim for this summer. As is always the way at the end of the season, it was a beautiful night with a full tide and calm conditions and we swam the same course as last week – anticlockwise around the harbour. In the long swim of about 1700m, a lead bunch of five, Luke Kelly, Oxford Bayley, …

Clements Endurance Series, race four, The Ironman Challenge, March 1, 2020

As expected, the sea for this annual 3.8km swim was a bit lumpy, but nowhere near as rough as it might have been. It was shallow around the bottom of Haulashore Island, but wonderfully warm over the rocks. Luke Kelly, Oxford Bayley and Hayden Squance set the pace, followed by Sierra Thomas and that was the finish order for the …

Port Nelson Sea Swims, Race 17, February 27, 2020

Interesting swim – just over 1700m and a bit rough, but no current to speak of. Featured photo: Hayden Squance and Abbey Smale at the finish of tonight’s race. Hayden Squance, Oxford Bayley, Luke Kelly, Fergus Drummond, Abbey Smale and Alec Swan led the way across to the buoy which was to be fixed just off the jetty. However the …

Port Nelson Sea Swims, Race 16, February 20, 2020

Tough swim this week. Fergus Drummond turned the tables on Oxford Bayley and Alec Swan to score his second win of the season, with Abbey Smale looking strong to finish in fourth place. Swimmers faced a strong incoming tide as they swam south, with a northerly wind stirring up the surface. An unexpected swirl in the current provided a further …

Port Nelson Sea Swims, Race 15, February 13, 2020

What a beautiful swim. 1700m around the harbour, to the jetty on the island, then on in a circuit around all the boats moored in the basin between Haulashore Island and Rocks Rd. Alec Swan dominated the long swim, winning from Fergus Drummond, Oxford Bayley, Abbey Smale, Terry Bone, Hamish Neill and Sierra Thomas, with Sophie Alexander and Flossie Van …

Clements Endurance Series, race three, The Haulashore Circuit, February 9, 2020

After some windy weather, Sunday dawned calm and clear – great conditions for the 79 swimmers who took part. Helped by the perfect conditions, Alec Swan (32.19), Oxford Bayley (33.18) and Fergus Drummond (33.30) all broke Hayden Squance’s 2017 record of 35.33. Sierra Thomas (38.03) was fifth to finish (behind Terry Bone), breaking Pip Dwyer’s 2015 record of 38.15. Here’s …

Port Nelson Sea Swims, Race 14, February 6, 2020

It was a rough old night – close to cancellation conditions. However a shortened course was decided upon and it turned out to be quite exciting. At the front of the field, Luke Kelly and Oxford Bayley were almost inseparable, the timekeeper’s finger barely able to click quickly enough for the official time difference of 0.4 seconds. The finish is …

Port Nelson Sea Swims, Race 13, January 30, 2020

Perfect conditions for a short swim of about 400m and a long swim of about 1650m. Here’s the results, click here Photos by Sandra McGregor, click here Points to date, click here Coming up on Sunday February 9 is the Haulashore Circuit, race three of the Clements Endurance Series. The race is 2.8km and starts at 10.30am. The short option …

Port Nelson Sea Swims, Race 11, January 16, 2020

Another swim down – probably the best yet. Conditions were near perfect, with a longish swim of just over 1500m across to the island via the dolphin. Hayden Squance took a course to the right and led Luke Kelly, Oxford Bayley and Nic Hall as far as the second mark. The four came together with Luke and Oxford leading to …

The Eyebright Mile and NZ Open Water Championships, 2020

EYEBRIGHT SWIM CANCELLED It’s a bit of a horror story down by the beach and all along Rocks Rd, with waves crashing up over the road even two hours before high tide. The winds are predicted to increase during the day. It doesn’t seem that there are available dates for a rerun later in the season, but more news about …