Swimming: Northland open water swimmers building in numbers

Poplar took on the 21km swim from the Poor Knights Islands to Matapouri Beach in eight hours and 10 minutes. Photo / File

There aren't many people who would be thrilled at the prospect of a frigid 20-kilometre ocean swim, but the numbers in Northland are growing.

Since the creation of the Northland open water swimming association (NOWSA) in September last year, 55 members have joined with more projected as the club holds its first formal free training for swim observers in New Zealand at the Waipū Cove surf club on Sunday.

The training, which would go from 6pm to 9pm, would be headlined by the Catalina Channel swimming federation president from the United States, who would be presenting observer training material so volunteers could apply to complete practical training and become an accredited observer.

This training on Sunday would allow local swimming enthusiasts to participate in training from internationally acclaimed organisations so they could become official crew members which was required when swimmers wanted to have their swims officially recognised.

Crew member Chris Palmer keeps a careful eye on Sarah Poplar as she cuts through the water. Photo / Supplied

The club represented the first real presence of a long-distance swimming organisation in Northland. Marathon swims were often a smaller distance than the traditional 42km run, with swims ranging between 10km and 30km.

One of the people driving the initiative was NOWSA president Sarah Poplar. Orginially from the East Midlands region of England, Poplar moved to New Zealand in 2015, and, in 2018, took on Northland's long-distance swimming records.

Poplar became the second person behind Meda McKenzie in 1978, to swim the 21km journey from the Poor Knights Islands to Matapouri Beach. She created history in her next swim, becoming the first person to swim the 20km from Hen Island to the Waipu coastline.

Poplar took on the 21km swim from the Poor Knights Islands to Matapouri Beach in eight hours and 10 minutes. Photo / File

"I really want to make long-distance swimming available to other swimmers in Northland," Poplar said.

"We have a lot of people who were childhood swimmers who perhaps burnt out and then revisit it in later life."

Poplar, who swam the 32km English Channel in 2015, is an experienced swimmer and when she made the move to Whangārei, she recognised the potential and value of a long-distance swim club in the area.

"It's drawn in a lot of people who have thought about swimming but never had the confidence or the platform to do it," she said.

"For me, the best part has been the networking with other swimmers, having company when you are out there swimming."

Poplar, a Whangārei Heads lifeguard, said Northland had a number of good long-distance swims for locals to take advantage of, particularly because of the excellent weather and ocean conditions in the area.

She said this weekend was very important for people as it increased the number of trained professionals who were invaluable to those making the journey.

"You really need someone who will smile at you to get you through those low points so you really have to have a positive crew."

As the first person to swim from Hen Island to Waipu last year, Poplar felt incredibly lucky to have achieved such a milestone. Looking back, she remembered how rewarding the journey had been for her and her two crew members.

"We were leaving in the dark before sunrise and you could hear the fisherman's boats jangling, you see their lights and as the sun comes out, you can see the island on the horizon which was quite enthralling."

She said the apprehension at getting in the water was high for her before launching into the pitch-black water which was teeming with fish.

"It's a strange mix of isolation and company, especially when your head is under the water."

Despite strong feelings of seasickness, Poplar coasted her way through the first 10km of the trip which she knew would be more enjoyable than the last 10 until she caught sight of shore.

"When you get nearer and nearer and you see the waves crashing on the rocks, that's when it starts to get exciting and you just have to hold yourself and recognise that you're not there yet," she said.

"When you finally hit sand and run up the beach it's just a mixture of exhilaration and enjoyment."

Poplar hoped that by developing more trained observers, more people would be encouraged to give the sport a go as it was rising rapidly in popularity. She credited her crew of Cochrane and Palmer who had been so supportive in her ambition to grow the long-distance swimming scene in Northland.

For more information on the training session, visit www.nowsa.nz.