Story: Open water swimming

The first woman to cross (2nd of 3)

The first woman to cross

Lynne Cox, an American, was the first woman to complete a crossing of Cook Strait. She swam from north to south on 4 February 1975 in a time of 12 hours 2 minutes 30 seconds, battling heavy seas and strong winds. Twice during the swim the Cook Strait cargo ferry Aratika hove to alongside Cox to shelter her from the wind. The ferry flew the American flag as another gesture of support.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1975/552X/23

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Open water swimming - Major marathon courses', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6913/the-first-woman-to-cross (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 12 Jun 2006, updated 1 Feb 2016