New Zealand’s treacherous Cook Strait is one of the world’s most difficult swim challenges.
The channel between New Zealand’s North and South Islands is famed for rough swells, icy water and sharks — but that won’t stop a brave Australian from trying to swim it, twice.
Only two swimmers, aged 20 and 23, have successfully completed a double crossing, the last was almost four decades ago.
Newcastle’s Craig Clarke is taking it on at 60.
“I’m embracing turning 60 … my catchphrase is ’60 kilometres at 60 years,'” he said.
Mr Clarke swims Newcastle’s coast almost daily as part of his training. (Supplied)
“The last swimmer to do the double crossing was 37 years ago and in their 20s … it’s a bit of a change in terms of the next person aiming to do it!
“That adds a bit to the challenge but that’s not really why I’m doing it. It’s a personal challenge, but it’s a nice bit of history to know I’m chasing as well.”
In icy water for 22 hours without a wetsuit
In 2022, the retired mineworker achieved his lifelong dream of swimming the English Channel.
He now wants to conquer the only Southern Hemisphere swim in the Ocean’s Seven, a marathon swimming challenge involving seven swims across the world’s most dangerous ocean crossings.
Mr Clarke has dubbed his challenge “60 kilometres at 60 years”. (ABC News: Jesmine Cheong)
Mr Clarke is training intensely, swimming Newcastle’s coastline almost daily as he prepares to make history in February.
“With the conditions, I’m expecting it could be in the range of 17 to 22 hours of swimming.”
He said apart from the time in the cold water, the wind and currents would also be a challenge.
“There are strong currents that work close to both the islands so as I leave one island and approach the other, I’m going to be fighting against currents to either reach land or to get away from land,” he said.
“It’s called Windy Wellington for a reason.”
Mr Clarke swims in only his Speedos and slathered in a homemade swimming grease that is a concoction of lanolin wool fat, Vaseline and sunscreen.
Mr Clarke changes the routes he swims to get used to a range of conditions. (Supplied)
Swimming without a wetsuit adds to the challenge but is also a safety measure with the Cook Strait well-known for its shark population.
“I don’t fear them, I believe they’re not looking for us as a swimmer,” he said.
“I think a shark is looking for a fairly easy prey, so someone stationary in a wetsuit would look like an injured seal to them.
“So, I don’t swim in a wetsuit, I keep moving and when I’m swimming alone it’s always in bright daylight hours and I definitely avoid murky water.”
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Conquering Cook Strait ‘a mental thing’
Fellow Australian extreme marathon swimmer Lynton Mortensen has completed a single crossing of the Cook Strait.
He said the conditions were so difficult he flew to New Zealand three times before the wind eased enough to start his swim.
“It’s a special swim, it’s got plenty of challenges with it.
“It can’t be underrated, it’s a beast of its own.”
“The distance is about 22 kilometres in a straight line, but the way you get pushed around by the tides it lengthens that out, so I think mine ended up being 32km.”
Mr Mortensen took on the challenge at 57 and believes age is insignificant.
“If you’re mentally and physically right for it, you go for it,” he said.
“I believe all these swims are a mental thing. Your body’s capable of anything, it’s just your mind you need to convince.”
He believes Mr Clarke has “every prospect of pulling it off”.
An endorphin release
Australian Psychological Society CEO Zena Burgess said taking on extreme challenges like Mr Clarke’s had many benefits.
“It fulfils a lot of psychological needs because it gives people a rewarding and meaningful experience,” she said.
“It’s about challenging themselves and challenging their coping mechanisms around mental health and personal identity.
“There’s also the addiction of making, creating and meeting those goals.”
Mr Clarke says there isn’t a moment of training he doesn’t love. (ABC News: Jesmine Cheong)
Dr Burgess said facing challenging, perilous conditions could release endorphins.
“There’s an immediate sense of achievement, mastery and feeling like they’re doing something they’ve never done before,” she said.
“People talk about it as stress relief and a way of coping with life’s challenges.”
Mr Clarke said training for such an intense challenge was easy when you were immersed in the elements and “in your own headspace”.
“In terms of mental health, it has that balance; it really allows you to enjoy the natural environment as well as what you’re doing.
“I’d say every one out of three swims I have dolphins swimming all around me so that’s a great bonus.”
