More Info →15-year-old Cook Strait conquerer vows once is enough

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The Evening Post, Monday, February 20, 1989

15-year-old Cook Strait conquerer vows once is enough

By ANDREA BLACKSHAW - Swimming writer

Thirty-six hours after her Cook Strait crossing, young Horowhenua swimmer Karena Doig vowed never to try again.

Doig left the South Island just after midday on Saturday and touched 3km south of Ohau Point at 8.40pm, completing the crossing in an admirable 8 hours 30 minutes.

But the 15-year-old says once is enough.

"I wouldn't do Cook Strait again. Maybe a different marathon swim. But not that one again," she said. ".

Ideal tides and weather meant the crossing was virtually a straight swim from south to north. But Doig said it took much longer than she imagined.

"I thought it was never going to end. It was very, very cold and my arms were really hurting because they were doing most of the work," she said.

"Towards the end one of my arms was quite painful, but I knew I was only about half an hour away so I kept at it."

Despite the discomfort, Doig said she never considered giving up, even after a shark was sighted halfway across.

Shark seen

"They didn't tell me they had seen a shark until we were back on land," she said. "But I knew what was happening. The support boat stopped and they told me to stop swimming and stay very still. It just passed us by. I remember thinking 'I don't think I can make it the rest of the way with one leg'."

Doig's father, Kevin planned for her to come ashore at Makara where there was good access for a welcoming party. "I thought it would be good for as many people as possible to see her touch down on her first swim," he said. "But once she saw land she just kept going. I couldn't have stopped her if I'd wanted to."

Longest swim

The Strait crossing was the longest swim Doig has attempted, though she has had a successful five-year career in competitive pool swimming. She won a gold medal in the 100 metres butterfly at the recent Wellington championships, but says she prefers the 400 metres. Instead of taking a well-earned rest yesterday, Doig was back in the water, this time at the Horowhenua College pool. "I wanted to give my arms a stretch, but I could hardly move them.," she said. "I only managed six lengths."

NICE ONE

Karena Doig. Doubtless you have been engulfed with congratulations on that Cook Strait swim. Somehow, last week's item had the word 'channel' creeping in. Next challenge maybe?

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February 20, 1989