COOK STRAITS SWIM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 January 1929, Page 5

COOK STRAITS SWIM.

AUCKLANDER IN TRAINING. SECOND ATTEMPT CONTEMPLATED. ■Bj Telegraph—Freon Association.) . AUCKLAND, Jan. 23. R. J. Webster, long distance swimmer, to-day swam from Arkles Bay almost to Milford Beach, a distance of about, eight and a half miles in a direct line, in four hours 5S minutes. A stiff south-westerly breeze and variations of currents ancl the tide were responsible for the addition of at least two miles to the distance. The effort was intended as a trial for the Cook Strait swim which Webster will attempt, in a week or two. He originally intended to swim to-day from Tiri but stormy conditions there made this impossible. As it was Webster had to contend practically all the way with a strong wind and heavy sea. The dinghy which set out to keep close to him was unmanageable in the disorderly waves and had to return to the launch. Webster used a powerful overarm and scissor kick at the rate of 60 strokes to' tlqg minute. The only nourishment given was gome meat extract. He had to discard some ill-fitting goggles and had some trouble with his eyes, but apart from this he showed practically no effects from the long immersion when he was taken on board the launch almost abreast of Wairau Estuary.