Boaties asked to take care as 700 swimmers take to the water

Recreational boaties and regular harbour users are being asked to take particular care on the water during the State NZ Ocean Swim Series in the Bay of Islands on Saturday 11th December 2010.


The second annual event is expected to attract close to 700 swimmers and to generate around $500,000 in economic benefit to the Far North.


Elite swimmers and personalities from across New Zealand and from Australia have confirmed entries for the Bay of Islands leg of the five-race series.


"The swimmers will be shadowed on the 3.3 kilometre Russell-to-Paihia crossing by security boats and the route will be well protected, but it is very important that others on the water cooperate with race officials and if possible change their schedules to stay clear of the race area for the duration of the event," event director Scott Rice said today.


The Russell to Paihia event starts from the beach just south of the Russell Wharf at 11.30 a.m. and the channel crossing to the Paihia Beach is expected to take up to two hours. In addition to the main cross-harbour event, short-course events including the 200m OceanKids, 300m and 1000m swims will be staged off the Paihia beachfront from 8.30 a.m. through until about midday.


"If people are planning to go boating that day and expect to be passing between Russell and Paihia, or intend travelling close to the Paihia foreshore, please be careful. If it is possible to plan around the event and avoid that area altogether while the races are on, that would be even better," he said.


He said the course would be surrounded by Surf Life Saving New Zealand personnel and four Thunder Cat New Zealand support craft will be present to warn approaching boats. A 30-seat jet boat would tail the last swimmers.


"The field should be fairly concentrated in the early stages, but obviously as the swimmers move across it will become wider spread. Boats which need to traverse the area will be directed behind the jet boat at the tail of the field," he said.


If conditions were unfavourable on the 3.3 kilometre main course, an alternate 1500 metre course would be set up from the Paihia beach.