Cook Strait Marathon Swimming
noun - Cook Strait Marathon Swimming is an organization run by Philip Rush that manages, guides, promotes, certifies and governs solo marathon swims across the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, a waterway of 16 nautical miles (29.6 km) of cold, rough water with strong tidal flows, sharks and other abundant marine life. The Cook Strait is also part of the Oceans Seven challenge, seven mighty marathon swims around the world.
First Crossing
27-year-old Barry Devonport was the first person to successfully swim across the Cook Strait when he crossed from North Island to South Island on 20 November 1962 in 11 hours 20 minutes.
Oceans Seven
The Oceans Seven consists of the following waterways around the world:
1. North Channel between Ireland and Scotland
2. Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand
3. Molokai Channel between Oahu and Molokai Islands in Hawaii
4. English Channel between England and France
5. Catalina Channel between Santa Catalina Island and then Southern California mainland
6. Tsugaru Channel between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan
7. Strait of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa
