Gaenzle, Kraus, Ross Complete An Historic Oceans Seven
Courtesy of Rick Gaenzle in the middle of the Cook Strait, New Zealand. The first relay to attempt the Oceans Seven completed their goal with a 13 hour 51 minute crossing of the Cook Strait.
The triple team of Rick Gaenzle, Chris Kraus and Brian Ross knocked off the Cook Strait in addition to the North Channel, Molokai Channel, Catalina Channel, English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, and the English Channel, the first documented relay completion of the Oceans Seven.
Gaenzle reported that they started at Ohau Point on the North Island where the water temperature was 19ºC and finished just southeast of Perano Head on the South Island where the water temperature had dropped to 14ºC.
“The North-to-South crossing was a long and difficult slog where we faced 2 to 2.5 meter swells. There was difficult chop for most of the second half, and the last one-third. We were tracking to do a 9+ hour time, but when the winds picked up and tide shifted – all in the wrong direction – the remainder of swim was against the grain.”
Kraus led off the team with Gaenzle second and Ross the anchor with Philip Rush and crew escorting with the Tangaroa.
Photo shows the trio in their Tsugaru Channel crossing.
Copyright © 2015 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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