Andy Donaldson Sets Cook Strait Record In 4 Hours 33 Minutes
Andy Donaldson of Scotland broke the long-standing record of the Cook Strait by 4 minutes in his 4 hour 33 minute crossing on March 7th. Jacqueline McClelland , who crewed with Jackson Kibbelwhite and Sarah Harrow and NZOWSA observer Jackson Arlidge , reported on the 23 km crossing from South Island to North Island in New Zealand. " Andy swam at a 1:10 per 100 meter pace in the 14-15°C water, escorted by Grant Orchard of Katabatic Charters ." Donaldson was humbled by the experience, writing on Facebook: " I'm truly lost for words with that one...to swim through the night with a sky full of stars, during a spring tide, with such a wonderful team by my side... that was a special experience that will sit with me forever. We got across safely with perhaps one of my best ever executed swims, and as an incredible bonus, the swim was the fastest Cook Strait crossing ever, lowering one of marathon swimming's long-standing records, Casey Glover's 4 hour 3...