Within a hair’s breadth of being cancelled due to treacherous conditions, and with set-in driving rain bucketing down until a few minutes before the 10am start, this year’s Captain Christie Ocean Swim’s drizzling, grey set off at Boat Harbour was nevertheless well-attended, with 122 swimmers and a good-sized crowd, albeit under a sea of umbrellas. 

Legend has it that in 1882, one of Captain Christie’s crew dared him to swim from Gerringong’s Boat Harbour to Werri Beach via its rocky southern headland. His prize was a bottle of whisky. And so to this day all Captain Christie swimmers over 18 completing the annual race receive a small bottle of Scotch to celebrate the legend.

Run by the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, this is the second year the 1.8 kilometre open water race, traditionally held in January,  has been held in March. Commenting on the ‘challenging’ conditions for swimmers this year, organiser SLSC’s Mitch Payne remarked that it was ‘rough coming into Werri’.  

After a 25 minute 3.7 second swim, first to emerge from the surf at Werri to claim the win was Kiama lifeguard Blair Day, followed closely by Darren Turner and then Noah Doran, all in under the 26-minute mark.

At just under 27 minutes, the first woman to finish was Emily Swinburn in 5th place overall, beating her last year’s 6th placing.

Other firsts included Aimee Turner, first in the 14-17 year old category and in 7th place overall, and first GSLC member, 16 year old local Wyland Hall, in 9th place. 

The race is open to anyone over 14, with this year’s oldest swimmer being 76.

Congratulations to the winners and to all who finished what has become known as a tough, gruelling and rewarding swim.