New Zealand open water swimmer Christina Harris, 63, from Nelson has become the first person to successfully swim the Apolima Strait from west to east, completing one of the South Pacific’s toughest open water challenges.
Christina completed the 20 km crossing from the Tafua Peninsula on Savai’i to Mulifanua on Upolu in 6 hours and 33 minutes, setting the inaugural record for the west-to-east direction. She entered the water shortly before 7:00 am and finished at 1:30 pm.
The attempt was deliberately kept low-key because of the significant challenge of swimming against the prevailing east-to-west current. Unsettled weather throughout the week forced postponements, leaving a narrowing weather window for the crossing.
Christina’s team seized the first available opportunity when conditions settled enough for the swim to proceed.
Launching from the Tafua Peninsula, Christina was escorted throughout the crossing by experienced guide Samasoni Nimarota, one of Sāmoa’s trained lifeguards.
The achievement adds another milestone to Christina’s impressive open water swimming career.
Her first ultra-marathon swim across the Apolima Strait was in 2017, when she swam from Upolu to Savai’i.
She is now the first swimmer to complete the crossing in both directions and only the second person to swim the Apolima Strait twice, joining Dr David Edgar in achieving the feat.
Reflecting on the day, Christina admitted she questioned whether the swim should even begin.
“The morning was rough, and getting out to the start I got seasick just sitting in the boat.
“I had doubts then and wondered if I was doing the right thing by swimming that day.”
With heavy surf pounding the cliffs at Tafua, swim captain Roger Matheson, Christina’s partner, selected a safe starting point away from the cliffs.
Christina settled into her normal rhythm during the opening stages.
“I started well in the first hour. My stroke count of 500 strokes per 500 metres was normal, but it then increased to about 600 strokes per 500 metres as the swim progressed.
“The sea smoothed out as we approached Apolima and Manono. As we got closer to the wharf at Mulifanua, the predicted north-south current pushed me south.
“Sam (my guide) was great. He was calm and gave clear directions throughout the day.”
Christina’s time of 6 hours and 33 minutes now stands as the benchmark for all future west-to-east crossings of the Apolima Strait.
Christina will spend several days recovering and relaxing in Sāmoa with her partner, Roger Matheson, before returning home to Nelson.
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