Weather Report Decides Cook Strait Attempt

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29744, 10 February 1962, Page 17

Weather Report Decides Cook Strait Attempt

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. W. Penny, a 21-year-old TAB. clerk, hopes to set out to swim Cook Strait as soon as practicable after 6.36 a.m. tomorrow. A final decision will be made by his pilot, Mr A. Hunter, at 5 a.m At a conference this morning. Mr Hunter said the weather yesterday and last night had given rise to doubts about the attempt, but until the weather conditions in Cook Strait were known tomorrow morning the final decision could not be made. The weather office said late this morning that a subsequent southerly over the Strait will have blown itself out by tonight. Fine weather was predicted for Wellington and the Strait area. The wind would be from the north, and although it could whip up some spray it would be an average Wellington northerly! Penny will be the fourth

person to attempt to swim Cook Strait. Those who have previously pitted their strength against the cold, tide-torn stretch are R. J. Webster, Miss L. Copiplestone and Miss M. Sweeney. World champion swimmer Miss M. Gleitze came from England to make a bid but never entered the water. Webster made his attempt from the South Island in 1929 but after two hours was forced to give up because of the cold. Miss Coppiestone also tried from the South Island in 1929 but was pulled out after an hour, also because of the cold. Miss Sweeney had two attempts this year from the South Island, and each time was foiled by sea-sickness.