Cook Strait's modest record-breaker

"I just wanted to swim it. I thought it would be a pretty huge deal, but honestly I don't think it is," the Upper Hutt 13-year-old said after reaching the Wellington coast yesterday afternoon.

He completed the 26 kilometres in eight hours and seven minutes, reaching the North Island at Makara several kilometres off course because of strong tides.

IT'S A LONG WAY: 'I thought it would never end,' says 13-year-old John Gatfield, the youngest person to swim Cook Strait. He completed the swim yesterday in eight hours and seven minutes.

ROB KITCHIN/Dominion Post

Battling those tides and cold water wearing only Speedos, John contemplated giving up half-way.

But after a pep-talk from his father in an accompanying launch and a hot drink while he trod water, the St Patrick's College, Silverstream, schoolboy put his head down again.

"I thought it would never end. The water was really cold . . . and I was shivering as I swam. I just wanted to finish it really bad."

The record for youngest to swim Cook Strait had been held by Kate Johns, who was 14 when she crossed in seven hours and six minutes in March 2001.

John's father, Chris Gatfield, was jubilant. "When he made it to shore and he was on the rock it was pretty emotional. It was sheer determination. I can't swim the length of the bath, let alone from island to island."

John may next consider an attempt to swim Lake Taupo.