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Laura Wallace contests the 2018 Iconic Cottesloe to Rottnest Island ‘Channel’ Ocean Swim

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The Rottnest Channel Ocean Swim took place on Saturday February 24, 2018. In its 62^nd year, it is considered the iconic ocean swim on the Australian National Ocean Swim calendar. Ulladulla was represented in this epic 19.7 Km swim by Laura Wallace. More than 1000 swimmers took part with the swim beginning in ‘waves’ (groups of swimmers) leaving from Cottesloe Beach from 5.46 am onwards. For almost half of this year’s swimmers, including Laura it was their first time competing in this marathon open water swim.

Laura had spent months each evening after work churning out the Km’s at the Ulladulla Leisure centre outdoor pool in preparation for this marathon swim as well as swimming in some ocean swims at Mollymook and Manly.

Drama at the half way mark.

Unbeknown to Laura when she reached the 14 Km mark about 100 swimmers were being pulled out of the water 2 km back following the sighting of a 4 m shark that was spotted 8 km off Rottnest Island.

The shark, which was believed to be a great white, was last seen heading north. Organisers pulled all swimmers within a 1 km radius of where the shark had been was spotted.

Click on images to enlarge

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Laura’s story

Laura completed the swim in 6 hours and 11 minutes which she was very happy with. She told local Mollymook news reporter Ken Banks that the first 7 Km went by quickly and that she felt good with the south-easterly wind behind her, however with the large chop and bumpy conditions it was hard for her kayak paddler Jared to stay in close contact. Then would you believe during the 8 to 12 Km stretch they both became sea sick. She said that she couldn’t keep anything down. My breakfast came up even some sips of drink would come straight back up, so she had little to drink the entire journey. Nonetheless she battled on passing the 15 then 16 Km markers, then at the 18 Km marker she knew that she was almost there. She said at this point it was as if I got some extra energy and I swam hard through to the finish line. As she ran up the beach she could hear her family cheering her on. She said it was such an awesome experience.

Another interesting thing with the swim was the fact that the water was clear, she could see the bottom for probably half the race. She mentioned that she did have some concerns however, that the wind may change direction and go against her as it did for last years swimmers, thankfully it didn’t.

It was at the conclusion of the race that she was told of the shark sighting. Laura was just so thankful to have been a couple of Km’s ahead of the mayhem and therefore unaffected.

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Laura’s thank you’s

Laura expressed sincere appreciation to her support crew. Without a kayak paddler Jared following her for the entire journey as well as a support boat crew skippered by Stephen staying in close proximity  the swim would not have been possible. She also made special mention of Maritimo Yachts for their sponsorship and her parents who made the trip over from Sydney providing their encouragement. 

She also spoke about the team at the Ulladulla pool who have been so supportive at training each night, providing her with encouragement as she went up and down the pool solo, lap after lap. I mentioned to her that John Sarich (nee Smeeth) the retired Leisure centre swim coach had also taken a special interest in her swim. He sent an email from Quilpie, a town in the south west of Outback Queensland wanting to be kept up to date with Laura’s swim results. Local ocean swimmers at Mollymook have also been keenly interested in her Rottnest marathon channel swim.

In response Laura said “It is so nice to have such an amazing community backing her, she didn’t want to let anyone down”.