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 featured in the photo above, with Luke (closest to camera) winning by a few centimetres. Abbey Smale continued her run at the top of the women’s field ahead of Sophie Alexander.

Here’s the results, click here

Season points: As we’ve cancelled two swims of the proposed 18 this year, the season points will now be calculated on each swimmer’s best 11 swims. If we were to cancel one more, it would be on the best 10, using the rule under ‘About Sea Swims” on this website. From now on the right hand column on each week’s points table will show each swimmer’s total for their best 11 swims.

Points to date: click here

Photos – we were blessed with three photographers tonight.

Photos by Sandra McGregor, click here

Action photos by Nils Cording, click here

Pete Marshall rode one of the IRBs and captured some of the challenges swimmers faced: click here

Don’t forget race three of the Clements Endurance series, the Haulashore Circuit of 2.8km, starting at 10.30am Sunday, with a short course about 900m to the dolphin and return. Registration for the Clements swims is separate from the Port Nelson swims, so please enter online if you haven’t already. Check in for this race from 9.30am Sunday. Here’s the best times since the event began in the 2008-2009 season, click here

Have you entered The Interislander Big Tahuna yet? You can enter the March 7 event right now, using the discount code SWIMNELSON10 and obtain a discounted entry – see oceanswim.co.nz

Our biggest weekend for volunteer support is coming up. Please give your time if you possibly can. We will need volunteer support for the Big Tahuna during the afternoon of Friday March 6 and again on the morning of race day, Saturday March 7. Can you help? Email petergibbs96@gmail.com We also need support for our part in the Weetbix Tryathlon on Sunday March 8, contact Adrienne at Adrienne.wylde@hotmail.com

Rod Sharp, from Golden Bay is selling a near new wetsuit and will have it at Sunday’s race.