LONG SWIM

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 9984, 24 January 1929, Page 3

LONG SWIM

ARKLE’S BAY TO MILFORD I'EHFi 'BMANCE BY WEBSTER. (Per Press Association) Auckland, Jan. 21. R. J. Webster, the long distance swimmer, swum from Alkie’s Buy al. must to .Milford Beacli—a distance of about 81 miles in a direct bye—in -4 hours 58 minutes. A stiff south, westerly' breeze and variations of cur. rents and title were responsible for the addition of at least another two miles to the distance. The effort was intend, ed as a trial for the Cook Strait swim, which Webster will attempt in a week or two. He originally intended to swim from Tiri, but the stormy conditions there made this imj>ossible. As it was, Webster had to contend practically till the way with a strong wind and a heavy sea. A dinghy, which set out, to keep dose to him, was unmanageable m the disorderly waves and had to return to tiie launch. Webster used a powerful overarm and scissor kick at the rate of sixty strokes to the minute. The only nourishment given was some meat extract. He had to disca.nl some iIL litting goggles and had some trouble with Ids eyes, but apart from tins lie ■showed practically no effects from his long immersion when taken on hoard the launch when almost abreast of Wairau Estuary.