Wind whips up a challenge for sea swimmers

The Rylock Swim Series has been plagued by wind this season and Thursday’s swim was no exception.

An incoming tide from the south met a brisk wind from the north, making for trying conditions over the triangular course of just over 1200m.

A tight bunch of five set off from the Nelson Yacht Club into the current, with Hayden Squance, Terry Bone, Gus Marfell, Ben Marshall and Hamish Neill sticking close together on the 550m leg south.

After the first buoy, things got rougher into the wind, with Hayden opening up a gap to Terry and Gus, while Ben and Hamish were separated slightly behind.

Lilly Claridge led a larger bunch as they rounded the ‘dolphin’ navigation marker and headed back to the yacht club, 400m away.

At the end, things didn’t change much, with Hayden taking a clear win. Terry and Gus went head to head for second, with Terry slightly ahead to win M50-59.

Next were Ben (M30-39) and Hamish (M60-69).

Lilly worked hard at the finish, with a one-second margin over Finn Bryant, the first non-wetsuit swimmer.

Hayden Lockie won M40-49 to finish eighth ahead of the second woman, Keshia Linyard, the first U-16 swimmer.

Improving every week, Max Stanton chased Keshia to the line, winning the male section of U-16 by a few seconds from Jasper Sneddon.

The swim marked the halfway point of the 18-race series, with the various age group favourites starting to emerge.

As not everyone can be on the start line each week, the series championships are decided by each swimmer’s best 12 results, so many position could change as the weeks go by.

For example, Terry Bone leads the overall male section from Hayden Squance, but has notched up eight swims, compared to Hayden’s seven. The pair have met head-to-head six times and each come out on top on three of those occasions, so victory in the series seems wide open.

In the women’s section, Keshia Linyard leads, but she’s done all nine swims so far. Lilly Perrett only has seven under her belt, but she’s won all but one, when an out-of-town swimmer spoiled her record.

With nine swims remaining, Lilly seems to have the upper hand as long as she makes it to five of them.

In the short race on Thursday, Neve McKenzie dominated, but she only has one swim over this distance, so won‘t be able to amass enough points to win the female under-16 division. That honour will probably go to Liliana Perrett, who has won every race except the latest.

Rob Sheridan was second on Thursday. Competing in the Open Men division, he’s unbeaten in his seven appearances.

Matanga Marsden looks to have the edge  in under-16 male.

The Open Women division of the short race is up for grabs between Amy Rowse and Alex McMillan, although Rosie Pope could steal the show with eight good results in the next nine weeks.

Full details at nelsonseaswims.co.nz.