AT FIRST ATTEMPT

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1939, Page 6

AT FIRST ATTEMPT

GIRL SWIMS CHANNEL LONDON, August 27. Miss Sally, the 26-year-old Swedish long-distance swimmer, swam the Channel to-day at her first attempt, in 15 hours 23 minutes. She entered the water at Cape GrisNez, France, at 5.50 a.m., when conditions were perfect. Miss Bauer was accompanied by a motor-boat, with Mr. Briscoe Ray, of the Amateur Swimming Association and Mr. L. W. Holloway, of the Royal Life Saving Society, as official witnesses, and Mr. G. Obree as pilot. Soon after, the start, the tide took her in a westerly direction towards Boulogne, but she used her powerful stroke and headed for Dover. After swimming for 10 hours she was a few miles off the coast of England. Later, however, she encountered an exceptionally strong tide and at times made no headway. Eventually she crossed the tide, and when she touched land she said she did not feel at all exhausted. Miss Bauer stated afterwards: “As a little girl I used to read about Channel swimmers, and I determined that one day I would be one. If it had not been for' the strong tide I should have beaten the record,, for a woman, by Miss Gertrude Ederle, the. American, of 14 hours 34 minutes, in 1926.” The record. 11 hours Sminutes, was made by M. Georges Michel, of. France, in 1926.