COOK STRAIT SWIM PLANS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1930, Page 8

COOK STRAIT SWIM PLANS

FEBRUARY 9 PROPOSED DATE MERCEDES GLEITZE PREPARES. ADVANTAGES OF THE NEA'P TIDES By Telecraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. • Miss Mercedes Gleitze, famous longdistance swimmer/ will set put on' her Cook Strait swim on February 9. /The swim is to bo made from the North Island. If’ the weather is bad the swim will be postponed until February 25. The swimmer is waiting until the sea -is at its warmest. In making these dates known to-day Miss Gleitze said they were not absolutely final but she had made full inquiries and, it was unlikely that anything would upset them. During the two days since her arrival she has been interviewing those who have the best knowledge of conditions in Cook Strait. She has spoken to Captain O’Neill, Mr. J. Tait, fishermei.,; harbour board employees and others. Eebruary 9 is the date of the first neap tide in the month, Miss Gleitze explained, and February 25 that of tlie second! Neap tides were best for such swims because during spring tides the weather and the surface of the sea was liable to change easily. Currents were strongest at spring tides and if there was any wind the sea easily, became choppy. . x . Miss Gleitze’s boatman will be Mr. J. Tait, who has had considerable experience of Cook Strait, i There will be a crew of five in addition to those whom. Miss Gleitze invites as witnesses, including friends and pressmen. She will probably have 18 witnesses altogether. — /