The first PT 109 swim - commemorating the epic swim by John F Kennedy after his boat sank in Blackett Strait during World War II - was run on Monday 4th August in the presence of the two men who rescued Kennedy and his crew 60 years ago this week.

As Biuku Gasa, now 80, of Vavudu Village, Kauvi Is, and Eroni Kumana, who says he is 78, of Konqu Village, Ranongga Island, looked on, seven swimmers completed the 5 km circuit from Kennedy Island, by Naru and Olasana islands and back to Kennedy Island.

Seven swimmers started the swim - two from Australia, a New Zealander, two Americans, a locally-based Briton, and a runner from Gizo, Nelson.

The swim was won by a 48-year-old mother from Sydney, Suanne Hunt, who did the course in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 35 seconds. Her partner, Paul Ellercamp, was 20 minutes behind.

Third was Idris Lane, who last December completed a swim from Kolombangara to Gizo. Idris swam 2 hours, 42 minutes and 50 seconds.

Swimmers had to start and finish off the reef off Kennedy Island, which was closed to the public for the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in Gizo.

Second place-getter Paul Ellercamp described the PT109 swim as"the hardest swim I have ever done".

It started with a 2.5 km straight reach into the breeze and chop from Kennedy Island to Naru Island, then across the channel to Olasana, where the current sucked swimmers towards the sea, then another 2 km leg back to Kennedy Island, this time with the wind but against the strong current.

 

With the success of this first swim we plan to make the swim an annual event - each year on the date on which Kennedy and his crew were shipwrecked on Kennedy Island.

 

Biuku and Eroni presented the awards for the swim held in - of course, the PT109 restaurant in Gizo.

 

 

The swim was successfully completed by the following: