Common Thoughts Between New Hampshire And Lake Wanaka
Similar to the ground-breaking legislation that will go in to effect on January 1st, 2011 in the State of New Hampshire in the USA [see articles on New Hampshire SB362] that give swimmers and kayakers the right of way in open bodies of water in New Hampshire], open water swimmers in Lake Wanaka in Otago on the South Island of New Zealand (see map) want to do something similar.Claire O’Connell and Anna-Kate Hutter along with a group of 80 swimmers are conducting this campaign.
The group wants to extend the existing Lake Wanaka safe swim area by 1K in order to create a 1.2K safe zone where no motorized watercraft can encroach near the Edgewater Resort. “We are concerned about the threat to swimmers’ safety posed by boats, especially over the holidays when many visitors take to the water.”
The swimmers want to swim further than the 200-meter buoy line and are discussing with community leaders, politicians, the Wanaka Yacht and Power Boat Club and other local parties. “Boats are supposed to be 50 meters away from a person in the water. That should be good enough protection, but unfortunately you are sometimes dealing with people who don’t think.”
Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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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