COOK STRAIT SWIM

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28823, 18 February 1959, Page 10

COOK STRAIT SWIM

A. W. Clarke’s Attempt Fails (New Zealand Presk Association) BLENHEIM, February . 17. A. W. Clarke, the Auckland contender for the title of being first to swim Cook Strait, was beaten by cold water this morning in his long-awaited attempt. Clarke entered the water from Wellington Head, several miles north of Tory Channel, at 7 a.m. and was accompanied by the launch Wairiki, driven by Mr Ray Kenny, of Picton,. with several officials on board, including a constable.

Within two hours the cold water had caused him to' give up and his launch was seen from an aircraft to be heading back towards Tory Channel. 1 At 7.45 a*m. the pilot of a Straits Air Freight Express Bristol Freighter sighted Clarke from a quarter to a half-mile out from Wellington Head, swimming fairly strongly. In support were a launch and a dinghy. On the return flight, the pilot saw the launch on its way back towards Picton. * Clarke, who had difficulty in Interesting newspapers to sponsor him for . his attempt, made lastminute arrangements to finance the venture himself and he refused the press permission to travel on the launch.accompanying him. In addition,~ne requested that all messages regarding his progress be sent back to Picton in code.