If I hear one more time, ‘don’t worry the wind will drop away before start time’, Brendon will become the anchor for one of the buoys! Luckily, the wind did drop away before start time so please be careful pulling in the buoys. I may have slightly overreacted. That aside, the sea conditions were definitely worthy of a postcard picture but Tangaroa, never to be discounted, decided that any person crazy enough to enter his waters on a Thursday evening before christmas, should be given a swift lesson in humility, a saltwater-flavoured reality check, and a new appreciation for sturdy togs! We should have all listened to the pre-chill dippers who all returned to the Marina’s (no-one could find Brendon for some reason….) pre-race briefing looking like human beetroot, huffing and puffing. Never-the-less, a 111 latex headed army decided to put both feet in the murky harbour waters like penguins on a mission. Marina’s triangular course design was a welcome shift from Brendon’s usual labyrinth but, not without a sense of humour, she left a wee dogleg before the finish into the prevailing current, as a way of saying ‘Christmas isn’t Christmas without a bit of a near-death challenge’. Being the last official sea race for 2025, a massive thank you to a key sponsor Rylock who’s continued support keeps the swimmers swimming, and WorkSafe blissfully distracted. Also, massive pat on the back to the volunteers and organisers who cannot be bribed (don’t worry we have tried) and our friendly office banters fuelled.
The 1,120m long course (James measured it out with the eye-ometer) ensured swimmers only had to contend with currents, buoys and other swimmers rather than boats and fixed objects given complaints from boat owners after the last race (apparently a few swimmers thought they could swim through solid objects). Again, Lucas Bell and Tegen Stewart are surely testing the patience of their compatriots as they take line honours in times of 11:34.3 and 12:32.3 respectively. If I were them I wouldn’t be accepting any food/drink related gifts from fellow white caps that may (or may not) contain performance de-enhancing properties. James Boocock again first in the speedo section in a speedy time of 13:03.9 with a new female lead Jude Vincent taking the line in 16:54.8.
The short course (300m) was again dominated by youth with first rubber winner Riley Kenyon (9:31.8) and Chloe Styles (9:40.8) hot on her heels. Rodney Hansen, making his return to the short course, proving that 50 is the new 20, taking line honours in the naturalist section with a time of 12:54.0. Seems the female naturalist section have decided that 20 degrees celcius is the threshold for making a return and Macey Yeo taking line honours in a time of 9:24.2.
With Christmas looming, the organising and volunteering team for the Rylock Swim series wishes you all a happy, well-earned break. May your celebrations be as hilarious and chaotic as the whitecaps starting line. If you do have a swimming addiction, don’t forget the Christmas morning swim from Tahunanui Beach at 7am. We hope you enjoy the photos and see you all at the first race for 2026 on the 1st of January. And remember: if you truly want to build character, attempt a long course swim with a belly full of pavlova and a memory full of missed training! Meri Kirihimete!
Race report brought to you by Bruno Brosnan—volunteer scribe, chaos chronicler, and occasional exaggerator.
Full results
Series points
Photos –by Helen Norrish