Channel Season Starts Off Nicely In The Cook Strait
Reports in from the Cook Strait that the channel swimming season got off to a roaring start in 2010 with three successful swims in Cook Strait over the last 48 hours. Michelle Macy and Steve Junk plowed through rough seas to finish in slightly over 8 hours. With the incomparable Philip Rush at the helm as coach, both Michelle and Steve were in good hands.“The waves seem to bump me in every direction (near the finish)…with the winds (up) to 15-17 knots, it was causing a lot of chop and some white caps. The sun was out which created a warming sensation on the back and the water was a really nice temperature. There was no real sea life to speak of, but I really was hoping for the dolphins that Philip and Mike talked about. Just a few odd jellies and some kelp and that was it,” wrote Michelle on her blog.
The dual crossing was followed by Emily Morris‘ 9 hour and 58 minute swim. Emily, a guide with SwimTrek and reportedly the first British woman to cross from South Island to North Island, did the swim to help raise funds for a disabled chair hoist for the YMCA London South West and Hampton Pool Trust.
With more people attempting the Cook Strait, the Strait of Gibraltar, the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Channel, the Molokai Channel and many other swims before in open water swimming history, the success of Michelle, Steve and Emily bode well for the rest of the community.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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