Swim the Bridge - Auckland, New Zealand

NZ Ocean Swim Series. April 2021

Read Hayley’s short piece she wrote for Swim People.

"When sitting in traffic on the Harbour Bridge, I've always wondered if I'd make it to the other side more quickly if I swam it. Well, on Sunday I found out! The Harcourts Cooper & Co Swim the Bridge was a fantastically organised event. I opted for Sunday's 1km crossing (Northcote to Auckland) which turned out to be a good decision as weather for Saturday's there-and-back 2km crossing took place in some rough looking water. 

Sunday morning began with a chartered ferry trip from Britomart over to Northcote - a helpful touch from the event organisers. As we sailed under the Harbour Bridge, you could see the buoys and the finish line set up, and the excitement on the boat dialled up a little. At the other end there was music, coffee, and a few booths to keep the swimmers entertained until the race briefing. 

This race was different to other races because we needed to start in the water. We entered down some steps in waves according to our cap colours (determined by our perceived speed). The water was cold. My friend Brigid and I stayed warm by aqua jogging on the spot and doing some star jumps and we waited for the race to begin. Once it did, it was all about trying to swim in a straight line. There were two buoys to aim for before the finish line. The water temperature suddenly felt different as I kicked into gear. It was pretty cool breathing left and seeing the Harbour Bridge. The conditions weren't bad at all - a little chop and a few mouthfuls of sea water but overall relatively calm. The race was over quite quickly, and finished with another set up steps (which I managed to trip up) before short jog to the finish line. The live stream meant mum could see me finish as she sat enjoying her morning coffee in Sydney. 

There were hot showers and changing tents, water re-fill stations (great to see an event not providing plastic bottles/cups) and more merchandise booths at the finish. The atmosphere was awesome - everyone elated with their achievement. Certainly a great event and I look forward to doing more of the ocean swims next year. Oh and yes, I now know I can swim across the harbour more quickly than driving over the bridge when that traffic is backed up!"

Thanks Hayley. Read her full story
NZ Ocean Swim Series