David D writes – Whilst travelling recently in the South Island of New Zealand an opportunity too good to miss cropped up at Akaroa – a small coastal town originally settled by the French but now a popular holiday home location for Christchurch residents. The event was a testing 5 km ocean swim across the sea inlet which on the day proved to be pretty challenging with strong winds and a heavy sea swell.
Fortunately wet suits were allowed which made the lengthy crossing more comfortable as almost 2 hours in the choppy sea without a suit could have been a tad chilly ! Not too many takers in my age group so able to put HPTC on the results board.
