Four experienced ocean swimmers will break new ground in Port Stephens next month and swim the distance between Shoal Bay and Broughton Island.
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In what is believed to be a first, Shoal Bay Wharfie ocean swimming club members Chris Outteridge, Mike Lindsay, Wal Wallace and Graeme Wolfenden will relay swim the 18km distance to the island on March 27 or 28.
The weather and sea conditions will dictate which day the group complete the challenge, which has been six months in the making.
“To our knowledge, it has never been done before,” Mr Lindsay said. “We figured that if anyone was going to do it, we’re not a bad crew to do it first.”
All four swimmers are master competitors, aged between 55 and 75, and have completed long distance ocean swims and ironman events in the past.
Ms Outteridge, a member of the Fingal Beach Surf Life Saving Club, won gold at the 2014 Coolangatta Gold, an annual event that tests Australia’s best ironmen and women.
Mr Lindsay has taken part in the Rottnest Channel Swim 12 times, Mr Wallace the Caves Beach Ocean Swim five times and Mr Wolfenden the Lake Burley Griffin 9km ocean swim nine times.
Experienced gained from past endurance events has helped them prepare for the swim from Shoal Bay Boat Ramp to Broughton Island, the format of which has been modelled off the Rottnest swim.
However, planning has been meticulous to take Port Stephens-specific factors such as the marine life into account.
At least three of the support boats and skis that will accompany the swimmers will be fitted with Shark Shield devices.
The boats and skis will be manned by Wharfies members, plus other skilled volunteers including Fingal Bay surf lifesavers.
A boat at the front and skis either side of the swimmer will have shark repelling devices attached.
“If anyone sees anything, a flash of a fin, anything, the priority will be to get the swimmer straight into the boat and we’ll call it a day,” Mr Lindsay said.
“But in saying that, the Rotness swim which is similar has been going for 30 years and it hasn’t had anything untoward happen.”
Ms Outteridge expected the swimmers would not encounter any marine life, including any escaped kingfish.
“We’re tracking well away from the pens,” she said.
The 18km distance will be covered by the four swimmers in a relay format. A swimmer will be in the water for 10 minutes, tag out and spend 30 minutes in a boat then get back into the water.
The swim is expected to be completed in six to eight hours.
“I think it’s going to be easier than what everyone thinks it will be, once we get going,” Mr Lindsay said. “We’ll have skis either side of us, we’ll be kind of caged in.
“Once you eye your paddler on the left or right and get a rhythm going, you set your pace and it becomes quite easy.”
To carry out the swim, the group has received licenses from NSW Department of Primary Industries, Roads and Maritime Service and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
If the swim is unable to be carried out on March 27 or 28, the swimmers will have a “final shot” at it on April 12.
The Wharfies meet on the beach outside Shoal Bay Holiday Park at 9am on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.