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Post by fish on Jan 2, 2024 21:32:35 GMT 12
Just in from RNZ: Gibbons-Campbell said surf lifesavers even though the vast majority of sharks likely to be encountered at the beach were harmless, people should take safety precautions to keep safe. "Don't swim where people are fishing ... and avoid swimming at dawn and dusk," when sharks are feeding, he said. And, "around fishing... make sure that you are disposing of your fish carcasses appropriately, by not dumping them in the ocean." www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/505942/glut-of-shark-sightings-at-beaches-prompt-warnings |
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Post by harrytom on Jan 2, 2024 22:15:11 GMT 12
Last time was the guy training for an ocean swim . Off the point at Muriwai , he had just set off from Māori Bay and was heading north . Seems like it was a two shark attack , Bronzie and great white but there was confusion about which shark started . Very very sad event that affected the whole community out there . I surfed for 35 years in some very sharky spots without a sighting but now I’ve stopped sharks give me the shits …manukau heads , hokianga heads , Cape Reinga , Spirits Bay , maunganui bluff , Celtic rockwall forest secret reef spot , 90 mile beach bluff . Also many hundreds of hours solo on Auckland’s westcoast non access beaches , wigmores , whites , Anawhata , oneills and mussels which is about 1K from where the swimmer got attacked . All great white hotspots but I never saw one , bet they saw me though ! . i take my hat off to you foggster flailing about out there in the yonder , go well mate and god speedos ! My understanding on that Muriwai tragedy is the rock fisho's on the point there were burleying up big time. Certainly there was fishing action, i.e. rock fisho's landing fish that would get sharks excited, and the swimmer was in the same area. I believe he was out by the island off muriwai which is a seal colony. Sharks you can see on surface are not the problem as sharks come up from depth to attack.stealth? |
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Post by Fogg on Jan 3, 2024 7:05:54 GMT 12
Haha, thanks guys.
So now my checklist for an ocean swim is:
1. Be physically prepared
2. Weather forecast looks good
3. Have driver & support crew on Fogg
4. Tidal window for swim ideally between 10am-4pm
5. Avoid fishing boats
6. Māori fishing calendar says “go to KFC instead”
Mmmmm, maybe I should take up golf.
I’ve never really seen any sharks in all my years of swimming. The only exception being I saw some blurry shapes beneath me once in the BOI (my dinghy support crew said it was about 6-8 school sharks all coming in for a closer look). She thought they might even bump into me but never did.
And last week whilst swimming from Orewa to Army Bay, I could see my support crew on Fogg suddenly getting a bit excited about something. They saw a small fin appear momentarily about 50m away but I didn’t see anything around me as I carried on.
I’ve occasionally heard squeaking noises in the water - I wondered if they might be dolphins who are nearby and / or aware of me. But I’ve never seen dolphins near me. Orca once in Auckland harbour but they quickly swam past me.
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Post by fish on Jan 3, 2024 9:09:56 GMT 12
I wouldn't over analyse the fishing conditions. Do you fly dive flags on Fogg when you are swimming? That might help keep the fishos out of the way a bit. It looks very peculiar having a boat motoring along at walking pace otherwise. Probably not what you want for long distance swimming, but the below link is for shark-banz. Like a bail bracelet with a powerful magnet that upsets the sharks sensors. If you had concerns about sharks this may help. I reckon if you are in good viz you should be fine though. Half of the challenge of these endurance challenges is controlling your mind and excluding doubts and fears isn't it? www.curvesurf.co.nz/products/sharkbanz-nz-shark-repellent-shark-deterrent-device-shark-shield-anti-shark-stopper-repel-sharks |
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Post by GO30 on Jan 3, 2024 12:18:22 GMT 12
To put the '20 shark sightings in 2 weeks' into perspective when I go for a sunrise fly on a calm morning I can easily see 2-3 dozen sharks in the inner Gulf. I fly to Barrier especially to show people a shit load of sharks (and for the burger lunch) that are always present within metres of the beach next to Okiwi airfield. In fact on most calm days shark sightings are the norm not the exception. Also we go 200m off Taka Boat Ramp and fish for BFO sharks. Had one a year or so back that towed the 6.5m Surtees at a couple of knots for a few hundred meters and it towed us backwards. The line busted so never saw it but it was very large to be able to do that. Most are basking and other one breeds who have no interest in hard work food i.e. humans, even ones in the water pretending to be a palegic i.e. a Mr Foggfish  |
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Post by em on Jan 3, 2024 12:31:28 GMT 12
My understanding on that Muriwai tragedy is the rock fisho's on the point there were burleying up big time. Certainly there was fishing action, i.e. rock fisho's landing fish that would get sharks excited, and the swimmer was in the same area. I believe he was out by the island off muriwai which is a seal colony. Sharks you can see on surface are not the problem as sharks come up from depth to attack.stealth? Na he was right off the point between Muriwai and Māori Bay . The island is about 500m straight out from there so pretty close anyway . Probably one of the worst places in AK to train for ocean swims from a shark safety perspective . |
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Post by Fogg on Jan 5, 2024 20:10:56 GMT 12
Tomorrow I’m hoping to attempt Kawau to Tiri.
Will make a final go / no-go decision based on conditions nearer the time.
But that’s the plan at this stage.
Let you know how it goes…
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Post by muzled on Jan 6, 2024 7:16:50 GMT 12
Nice one. Incoming tide I assume...  Is it ten miles? |
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Post by GO30 on Jan 6, 2024 7:20:19 GMT 12
Ok so exercise is good, swimming is fun but you've taken it all a step up.
What's the motivation behind this distance stuff?
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Post by Fogg on Jan 6, 2024 22:30:30 GMT 12
Finished swimming Kawau to Tiri. Approx 18.5km.
Was a very tough especially into the wind for last 2hrs.
Took 7hrs 35 mins which was about 2hrs longer than I planned.
Looking forward to a beer & steak for dinner!
More details to follow.
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Post by muzled on Jan 7, 2024 6:45:57 GMT 12
Jeesus, good effort.
Most people would call that a long run!
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Post by Fishy on Jan 7, 2024 8:51:35 GMT 12
Finished swimming Kawau to Tiri. Approx 18.5km. Was a very tough especially into the wind for last 2hrs. Took 7hrs 35 mins which was about 2hrs longer than I planned. Looking forward to a beer & steak for dinner! More details to follow. Huge effort. I have steak and beer for you - photo to prove it, accept I can't work out how to log in properly or post photos from my phone. Only catch is I'm in Bon Accord, so you'll have to swim back to get it 😉 |
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Post by Fogg on Jan 7, 2024 12:09:43 GMT 12
Heading back up to Kawau for a few days (def by boat not swimming)!
Keep in touch - PM me your mobile. I have the family onboard too.
and let me know if you want me to reset your password for “fish”?
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Post by Fogg on Jan 7, 2024 20:22:46 GMT 12
I’m going to do a write-up of my recent swims but here a bit more detail on yesterday’s effort (from a msg to friends & family last night):
A few hours ago I finished swimming Kawau Island to Tiri Tiri Matangi Island, off Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.
It was much tougher than expected especially into the wind for last 2hrs. Took 7hrs 35 mins which was about 2hrs longer than I planned.
Straight line distance was 16.5km but tracker shows I covered closer to 18.5km.
My previous longest swim was 10km in 3:30hrs 12 days earlier. So this was well over 2x duration and ~1.85x distance. A bigger jump than I planned.
I considered giving up several times in the last 2hrs and only my support crew kept me motivated.
After all it was purely a personal challenge not a competition, so I was swimming alone.
So the last 2hrs became a mental battle with myself, as much as a physical battle.
Anyway, looking forward to a beer & steak for dinner!
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Post by Fogg on Jan 15, 2024 13:45:12 GMT 12
The tidal charts from CZ / SJB have been great for the inner gulf.
But now I’m looking for flows around the outer gulf.
Any ideas where to see those?
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