Auckland Harbour Crossing Swim
The Auckland Harbour Crossing, also called the Sovereign Harbour Crossing after the sponsoring company, is an annual
The competition was first held in 2004 with about 500 entrants,[3] and as of 2009, attracts more than 1,400 swimmers. The naming sponsor is Sovereign Limited, a New Zealand insurance company which sponsors the 'Ocean Swim' series of swimming events.[4]
The race, while attended by lifeguards and safety boats, and being managed so that shipping traffic in the harbour is stopped for the duration, is not without risk, and there have been two deaths among competitors, once in 2005 (suspected heart attack),[3] and once in 2009.[5] The event attracts amateur swimmers as well as professional athletes. Some celebrities have also taken part, such as Rodney Hide, who however twice failed to succeed in his attempts at completing the event.[1]
References
- ^ a b Hide has that sinking feeling ... again – The New Zealand Herald, Sunday 22 November 2009
- ^ Swimming: Big plans afoot for next Harbour swim – The New Zealand Herald, Monday 7 November 2005
- ^ a b Man dies in harbour swim – The New Zealand Herald, Sunday 6 November 2005
- ^ Harbour Crossing, Auckland Archived 24 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine (from the Ocean Swim organising website. Retrieved 2009-11-22.)
- ^ Competitor dies in cross-harbour swim – The New Zealand Herald, Sunday 22 November 2009
External links
- Harbour Crossing, Auckland (event website)