Miss Mcßae Planning Second Strait Swim

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32220, 12 February 1970, Page 15

Miss Mcßae Planning Second Strait Swim

(New Zealand Press Association) ( WELLINGTON. < The Wellington policewoman, Miss Margaret Mcßae, is ; uncertain when she will make her second attempt to swim Cook i Strait. Her team is discussing weather and tide conditions. ,

“At this stage I don’t know when it will be on —so many things have still to be arranged,” ;Miss Mcßae said. Police Sergeant T. Sutherland will be her manager, and : Mr D. McKenzie will act as npilot Police Superintendent J. W. Overton is helping to organise the swim. ■ Miss Mcßae’s first attempt :to conquer Cook Strait was made in March last year. She ■ got half-way across the 24imile wide stretch of water in ■three hours and was then forced to abandon the effort by ;what she describes as “the: I vagaries of the sea.” | This year, she thinks that; |if all goes w’ell she may ac-] Icomplish the feat in eight ; hours, “though it could take ;up to 12.” | If she achieves the faster time, she will beat K. Hancox’s record of 9hr 35rain. For the last three months, . Miss Mcßae has spent four hours a day in the water, six days a week. She admits she dislikes swimming alone, but ■said that although she will

have pacers during the big', J swim, she will not be accom-i /panied by skin divers as she; • was during her first effort. : | “I’ve lost my fear of sharks,] although 1 guess if I saw one ! I’d just die.” she said. ' ; “1 don’t think it’s necessary’ ’ito smother myself with grease ) ’ either. I'll just plaster some , ■under the seams of my togs ' ’ to stop rubbing.” One thing about which Miss 1 * Mcßae is certain—if she! ’ achieves her ambition she will j ? never train again. '! “It takes so much of your ! ’time—you think swimming’ l " and just about eat it. I want ) /a big rest. But if I’m unsuc-] ! |cessful well—l’ll have to think ’about that.” '