COOK STRAIT SWIMMER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1929, Page 8

COOK STRAIT SWIMMER

MISS COPPLESTONE GIVES UP

AN HOUR IN THE WATER

Miss Lily Copplestone attempted this moning to swim Cook Strait. Not only did she abandon the effort after about an hour in tho water; she returned to dry land with the conviction that the Strait cannot be swum.

"Cold was the deciding factor," said Mis., Coppleston this morning. 'Tor the first half-hour it was not so bad, but after that it was unbearable. No amount of oil" or grease will keep that cold out, and the cold will prevent the Strait being swum. The conditions otherwise were perfect last night, and I am confident that the distance would not have beaten me. It was only the coldness of the water that beat me, and " think that it will boat any other swimmer who attempts the feat."

The failure was not unexpected by those who had a knowledge of swimming in the Strait. The conditions at the time of Miss Copplestone's entering tlio water were as good as anyone is likely to get in these troubled waters, and certainly better than when R. J. .Webster made his attempt at about this time last year.. Webster, who is at present in Wellington, and is training for another attempt, was in the water for upwards of two hours before hi was compelled by the cold to give jup.his effort.

Miss -Copplestone lias been training for some months under the guidance of Mr. L. Moorhousc, the well-known Olympic swimmer, and was quite confident she would accomplish the task of swimming from one island to the other. A fortnight ago Miss Copplestono arrived in Picton from Ashburton, and left for Cape Koamoru, but on arrival she was unable to make an attempt on account of the boisterous conditions prevailing. ~ POINT OF DEPARTURE CHANGED. Leaving Picton yesterday morning, Miss Copplestone went to the residence of Mr. AY. Toms at To Awaitc, the old whaling station just inside the entrance to Tory Channel. In the afternoon sho did about half an hour's swimming and then went to bed, sleeping till 9 o'clock. The official launch arrived at To Awaitp just before 11 p.m., and Miss Copplestono was then feeling very fit and quite certain she would be able to stay in the water for twelve or thirteen hours, if necessary. On the advice of Mr. W. Toms, who has an intimate knowledge of the tides in the Strait, Miss Copplestone changed her original idea of leaving from Capo Koamoru, the northernmost point at that part of the South Island, and decided to leave from Wellington Head, the rock headland guarding tho entrance to Tony Channel. The party left To Awaite at niidiiight, and a few minutes later was out in tho Strait. The party consisted of Miss j Copplestone, Mrs. Copplestono (tho swimmer's mother), Mr. It-Mud (representing the Swimming Council), Mr. W. Toms (adviser), Mr. C. Porano (helmsman), Mr. J. J. O'Grady, of the Picton Committee, and Press representatives. THE START. The weather was calm in the strait and a half moon in tho eastern sky lit up tho water. T" Hie north could bo seen the sentinel light on The Brothers rocks, flashing its warning of tho proximity if the rock-bound coast of tho South Island. Away in the oast, as the launch rose on tho tops of tho big rollers,- could be seen the Karori light with the Terawhiti coastline, tho swimmer's goal, just discernible in the moonlight. On arrival at Wellington Heads tho launch circled round a few times. This manoeuvre was not at all appreciated by some members of the party, who began to suffer from mal-de-mer. Even Miss Copplestone was slightly seasick before entering tho water. Having been anointed with a thick coating of heavy grease, the swimmer entered tho dinghy in company with Mr. W. Toms and Mr. B. S. Ehind, of Picton, who was official representative of the Now Zealand Swimming Council. Tossing about on tho moonlit waters, tho frail craft left for the rocky shoro a few yards away. At times it was almost out of sight of those on tho launch, and thero were many expressions of admiration at the girl's pluck in entering the water. "With tho assistanco of a spotlight from tho larger craft, Miss Copplestone made ho way ashore, and with a confident cry of "Cheerio" dived into tho water at 12.21 a.m. At this time-tho temperature of the water was about 00 degrees. Setting a course for Cape Terawhiti, tho dinghy kept a yard or two ahead of tho swimmer, who was using an overarm stroke and keeping low in tho water. Meanwhile tho larger craft kept as closo as possible, occasionally putting the spotlight on to the swimmer and those in the dinghy. At 12 35 Miss Copplestono ■was asked if she was feeling cold and she cheerfully called out, "Cold is not the word for it." • UNABLE TO STAY. About ton minutes later a slight diversion was created by the entry into tho water of one of Miss Copplestono's friends, who essayed the task of pacing her for a while. Though his stay in the water was of short duration, .when lie was hauled back on to tho launch ho was already beginning to feel tho effects of immersion in the cold water. His .opinion, which was fully borno out by later events, was that it would be impossible for Miss Copplcstone to say in tho water more than an hour or two at tho most. At about one o'clock, when sho was three-quarters of a mile off shore, after asking how far sho had come, Miss Copplestone said that sho was "frozen stiff." When a minute or two later sho asked for a hot drink it was realised by those on board that sho could not possibly stay in the vAtov much longer. Tho pitiless cold •A the tides racing between tho two islands was making its effects felt. Miss Copplestone now had a spell for a few minutes while waiting for tho hot drink to bo prepared. On being asked if she thought she could see tho job through sho said sho was pretty well done on account of tho cold. Sho was then advised to abandon tho attempt. At 1.18 a.m. she placed her hands on the dinghy, and thus finished the second recorded attempt to swim Cook Strait. When taken aboard the launch she was given restoratives, and after tho removal of the grease was soon fast . asleep.

As Miss Copplestono is taking part in the Dominion championships to-mor-iow, the launch headed straight for Wellington, berthing at the' wharf at 5 a.m., after a good crossing.

"The man who swims tho Strait will be a hero," said Miss Copplestone when talking things over this morning. She is now firmly convinced that a spell of training from a base near whero the swim takes place will bo the great essential.