The Lair of Legends
Long before modern times, the people of Sāmoa swam the waters between Upolu and Savai‘i. Ours was, and remains, a people of the sea. Many of our chiefly titles bear witness to this heritage — titles such as Lei‘ataua, Alai‘asā, Savai‘ināea, and others reflect the deep connection between our people and the ocean.
In modern times, we are seeking to document and verify more recent swims across the Apolima Strait. In an interview with us in 2016, Ma‘ilata identified Peter Meredith, Max Rasmussen, and others who assisted during his crossing. The others being Gina Moore, Uelese Petaia and Keneti Faualo.
Historical records also note that in 1986, Peter Meredith and Max Rasmussen helped two Cook Islands swimmers — Don Carlaw and Papa Teurua‘a — during their successful swim across the Apolima Strait, as reported in the Samoa Times.
We are now seeking additional historical information about swimmers in modern times who have crossed the Apolima Strait, so that these achievements can be properly recorded and remembered. Mailata speaks of an Australian woman who swam the Strait with him in 1988. The record suggests there were other overseas swimmers in the 1988 line-up that was organised by Samoa Marine (Peter Meredith). The 1988 record confirms Ma'ilata as the first Sāmoan to swim across Apolima Strait in modern times. Secondly, it confirms there was a successful crossing by the first female swimmer.
In modern times, we are seeking to document and verify more recent swims across the Apolima Strait. In an interview with us in 2016, Ma‘ilata identified Peter Meredith, Max Rasmussen, and others who assisted during his crossing. The others being Gina Moore, Uelese Petaia and Keneti Faualo.
Historical records also note that in 1986, Peter Meredith and Max Rasmussen helped two Cook Islands swimmers — Don Carlaw and Papa Teurua‘a — during their successful swim across the Apolima Strait, as reported in the Samoa Times.
We are now seeking additional historical information about swimmers in modern times who have crossed the Apolima Strait, so that these achievements can be properly recorded and remembered. Mailata speaks of an Australian woman who swam the Strait with him in 1988. The record suggests there were other overseas swimmers in the 1988 line-up that was organised by Samoa Marine (Peter Meredith). The 1988 record confirms Ma'ilata as the first Sāmoan to swim across Apolima Strait in modern times. Secondly, it confirms there was a successful crossing by the first female swimmer.
Samoa Marine 1986-88
16 June 1986
DON CARLAW 8h 01m (Cook Islands)
PAPA TEURUA'A (Cook Islands)
Wharf to Wharf
Swim Organiser - Samoa Marine (Peter Meredith, Max Rasmussen and others)
Source - Samoa Times
DON CARLAW 8h 01m (Cook Islands)
PAPA TEURUA'A (Cook Islands)
Wharf to Wharf
Swim Organiser - Samoa Marine (Peter Meredith, Max Rasmussen and others)
Source - Samoa Times
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IOSIA LEAU
Samoa
Swim year, 1988
UPSV1
Swim age, 26 yrs
Distance, 19 kms (Tafua headland finish)
Time, 5:00:00 (unofficial)
Organiser - Samoa Marine (Peter Meredith, Max Rasmussen, Keneti Faualo and others)
Samoa
Swim year, 1988
UPSV1
Swim age, 26 yrs
Distance, 19 kms (Tafua headland finish)
Time, 5:00:00 (unofficial)
Organiser - Samoa Marine (Peter Meredith, Max Rasmussen, Keneti Faualo and others)
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1988
First woman is reported to have swum Apolima Strait with Mailata. Name - unknown.
There were other swimmers in the 1988 line-up organised by Samoa Marine.
Organiser - Samoa Marine (Peter Meredith, Max Rasmussen, Keneti Faualo and others)
First woman is reported to have swum Apolima Strait with Mailata. Name - unknown.
There were other swimmers in the 1988 line-up organised by Samoa Marine.
Organiser - Samoa Marine (Peter Meredith, Max Rasmussen, Keneti Faualo and others)
Samoa Events era 2015-present
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MIKE COCHRANE
Auckland Swim Year, Aug 2015 UPSV2 Swim age, 33yrs Distance, 22.3 km Time, 8:01:22 Swim captain, Seti Afoa |
ROSIE SHARMAN
Auckland Swim year, Aug 2015 UPSV3 Age at Swim date, 32 Distance, 22.3 kms Time, 8:30:33 Swim captain, Scott Rowlands |
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PHILLIP RYAN
Auckland Swim year, April 2016 - 1st UPSV4 Age at Swim date, 25 Distance, 22.3kms Time, 5:03:55 (COURSE RECORD OVERALL) Swim capt., Judith Wright |
ABBY ARMSTRONG
Hamilton, New Zealand Swim year, April 2016 UPSV5 Age at Swim date, 28 yrs Distance, 22.3 km (Abby registered 27 kms) Time, 6:30:09 (COURSE RECORD - WOMEN) Swim captain, Pat Gallagher |
BRONWEN BURMESTER
Whangamata, New Zealand Swim year, April 2016 UPSV6 Age at Swim date, 60 yrs Distance, 22.3 km Time, 8:05:12 Swim captain, Moss Burmester |
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KATE SINCLAIR
Lennox Head, New South Wales Swim year, April 2016 UPSV7 Age at Swim date, 37 yrs Distance, 22.3km Time, 8:15:24 Swim captain, Kate's mum Dr. Katrina Sinclair |
TODD PRITCHARD
Auckland, NZ Swim year, April 2016 UPSV8 Age at Swim date, 49 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 8:25:33 Actual distance, 25.40kms Swim captain, Rosie Sharman |
SITIVI SO'OA'EMALELAGI
Samoa UPSV9 Swim year, April 2017 Age at Swim date, 16 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 5:37:24 Swim capt., Mailata Iosia Leau Position in 2017 Race, 1st overall Youngest Person to Swim Apolima Strait (now gone to Noelani Day 14yrs, 2018) Second fastest race time |
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PAUL FELTOE
New Plymouth, NZL UPSV10 Swim year, April 2017 Age at Swim date, 43 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 6:48:10 Position in 2017 Race, 2nd overall Swim capt., Jim Radcliffe |
CHRISTINA HARRIS
Nelson, NZL UPSV11 Swim year, April 2017 Age at Swim date, 53 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 6:53:11 Position in 2017 Race, 1st Female 3rd overall Swim capt., Roger Matheson |
TONY McLEAN
Papamoa, NZL UPSV12 Swim year, April 2017 Age at Swim date, 47 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 7:18:38 Position in 2017 Race, 4th overall Swim capt., John Emmett |
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ROBIN RASMUSSEN ROSE
Aptos, CA., USA UPSV13 Swim year, April 2017 Age at Swim date, 56 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 8:31:55 Position in 2017 Race, 5th Swim capt., Jim Rasmussen Record, 1st American woman to reach Savaii |
TIFFANY McQUEEN
Helendale, CA., USA UPSV14 Swim year, April 2017 Age at Swim date, 44 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 9:35:00 Position in 2017 Race, 6th Swim capt., John McQueen Record, second American woman to reach Savaii |
DR. Bronwyn Copeland
Tauranga, NZL UPSV15 Swim year, April 2018 Age at Swim date, 40 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Recorded distance, 26km Time, 7:30:34 Position in 2018 Race, 1st Overall Swim capt., Village Copeland Boat, Aupa'au Tofa Record, 1st Overall in 2018 |
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ANDREW CAVE
Auckland, NZL UPSV16 Swim year, April 2018 Age at Swim date, 47 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 7:36:00 Position in 2018 Race, 1st Male Swim capt., David Ryan / Delwyn Armstrong Kayaker, Jon Cameron Boat, Sialaoa Sialaoa Record, 1st Male |
NOELANI DAY
TONGA UPSV17 Swim year, April 2018 Age at Swim date, 14 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 8:11:12 Position in 2018 Race, 3rd overall; 2nd Female Kayaker & Swim capt., Vila Day Boat, Samuela Va'i Record 1st Tongan Swimmer; Youngest Person to Swim the Strait |
DR. DAVID EDGAR
Blenheim, NZL UPSV18 Swim year, April 2018 Age at Swim date, 46 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 8:12:10 Position in 2018 Race, 4th overall; 2nd Male Swim capt., Karen Whitteker Boat, Mafutaga Futi |
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ALICE SAGAR
Wellington, NZL UPSV19 Swim year, April 2018 Age at Swim date, 37 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 8:14:24 Position in 2018 Race, 3rd Female Swim capt., Daryl Baker Boat, Lei'ataua Tausisi |
JACQUES DE REUCK
Auckland, NZL UPSV20 Swim year, April 2018 Age at Swim date, 66 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 10:45:00 Position in 2018 Race, 3rd Male Swim capt., Mark Gillon Kayaker, Philip Smith Boat, Aupa'au Samuela Record Oldest Person to Swim Apolima Strait |
SU DENT
Nelson, NZL UPSV21 Swim year, April 2018 Age at Swim date, 47 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 11:10:00 Position in 2018 Race, 7th Kayaker & Swim capt., Jane Alloway |
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KEVIN POLLMAN
Minnesota, USA UPSV22 Swim year, 28 March 2019 Age at Swim date, 38 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 6:17:15 Position in 2019 Race, 1st Swim capt., Katie Dwyer |
JEAN-LUC BOULANGER
France UPSV23 Swim year, 2019 - 28 March Age at Swim date, 58 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 8:42:41 Position in 2019 Race, 2nd Swim capt/kayaker: Aukusitino Konesitino |
MARK GILLON
Auckland, NZL UPSV24 Swim year, 2019 - 28 March Age at Swim date, 59 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 12:29:28 Position in 2019 Race, 3rd Swim capt: Jacques de Reuck |
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DR. LINDA COLLARD
Wellington, NZL UPSV25 Swim year, 2019 - 28 March Age at Swim date, 55 yrs Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 13:21:29 Position in 2019 Race, 4th 1st Female Swim capt/kayaker: Claire Bentley |
RUTH MARINOSA
Spain UPSV26 Swim year, 2023- 7 August Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 7:15:30 Position in 2023 Race, 1st 1st Female Observer - Fonofili Aukuso |
DR. JESSICA CAMPBELL
United Kingdom UPSV27 Swim year, 2023- 7 August Official Distance, 22.3 km Time, 7:19:30 Position in 2023 Race, 2nd Observer - Ponesi Agavao |
SAMUEL MUIR-JAMES
Aotearoa New Zealand / Westport UPSV28 Swim year, 2023- 7 August Age at Swim date 36 Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 7:20:20 Position in 2023 Race, 3rd Observer - Fonofili Faiumu 
HELEN CONWAY
Tasmania, Aust UPSV31 Swim year, 2024- 9 Aug Age at Swim date - Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 7:02:00 Position in 2024 - Solo Swim captain - Fiu Ima Iosefa Observer - Taupa'ū Afioa'e |
MELISSA DONALDSON
Australia UPSV29 Swim year, 2023- 7 August Age at Swim date 55 Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 8:33:18 Position in 2023 Race, 4th Observer - Taupa'ū Afioa'e 
Dr Dave Swims
First person to swim Apolima Strait twice Blenheim, NZ UPSV18 Swim year, 2025 - 3 Nov Age at Swim date - 53 Official Distance, 18 km Time, 7:00:00 Solo Swim captain - John Scobey Observer - Seti Afoa Boat - Taupa'ū Afioa'e |
IVAN POLYNTCEV
Russia UPSV30 Swim year, 2024- 8 July Age at Swim date 24 Official Distance, 22.3km Time, 6:40:00 Position in 2024 - Solo Observer - Taupa'ū Afioa'e |
Incomplete crossings
2015, Kane Orr (AUS) - withdrew due to jelly fish attacks
2018, Patti Hermann (TX., USA) - withdrew early in the race due to rough conditions
2018, Meenakshi Pahujah (IND) - withdrawn by race official due to fading light
2018. Jean Luc-Boulanger, withdrew due to rough conditions. Returned in 2019 to complete a successful crossing
2023 (May), Ruth Marinosa and Sam Muir-James attempted the crossing in May but their swim was called off between Apolima and Salelologa. They returned in August to start again and complete their crossing.
2015, Kane Orr (AUS) - withdrew due to jelly fish attacks
2018, Patti Hermann (TX., USA) - withdrew early in the race due to rough conditions
2018, Meenakshi Pahujah (IND) - withdrawn by race official due to fading light
2018. Jean Luc-Boulanger, withdrew due to rough conditions. Returned in 2019 to complete a successful crossing
2023 (May), Ruth Marinosa and Sam Muir-James attempted the crossing in May but their swim was called off between Apolima and Salelologa. They returned in August to start again and complete their crossing.
Apolima Strait Relay / Teams
2016
2016
Team Samoa 1
Mailata Iosia Leau, Afoa Daniel Afoa, Sam Nimarota, Darren Young
Team Samoa 2
Kim Taunga, Shane Paulo, Steve Nimarota
Mailata Iosia Leau, Afoa Daniel Afoa, Sam Nimarota, Darren Young
Team Samoa 2
Kim Taunga, Shane Paulo, Steve Nimarota
2017
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Malolo Swim Club - Tonga
Finau Ohuafi, Andrew Emberson, Noelani Day and Peni Mohetau (Noelani swam solo in 2018) |
Team Paid for by Mexico
Durant Webster, Eric Howard, Stuart Brown and Alex Montoro |
Team Armstrong NZ - Abby Walsh, Jo Armstrong, and Gerry Glover
(Abby swam solo in 2016) |
2018
2018 - Team Saoluafata - Manaia To'alepai, Kohura Honda, Ronnie Iosefatu, Luaipou Pimoe
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2019 - Team Shark Bait (AUS)
Katelyn, Hannah, Abby (front - kayak), Flego (back - swim capt), Reanna and Camilla
Katelyn, Hannah, Abby (front - kayak), Flego (back - swim capt), Reanna and Camilla
2026 Schedule of Swims
May, David Edgar double crossin
July, Christina Harris single crossing - Savai'i to Upolu
Dr. David Edgar has completed two crossings of the Strait in 2018 and in 2025. If successful, he will be the first person to do a double crossing of Apolima Strait, and the first person to swim Apolima three times.
Christina Harris swam the Strait in 2017 Upolu to Savai'i. She is now aiming for a second crossing swimming Savai'i to Upolu.
May, David Edgar double crossin
July, Christina Harris single crossing - Savai'i to Upolu
Dr. David Edgar has completed two crossings of the Strait in 2018 and in 2025. If successful, he will be the first person to do a double crossing of Apolima Strait, and the first person to swim Apolima three times.
Christina Harris swam the Strait in 2017 Upolu to Savai'i. She is now aiming for a second crossing swimming Savai'i to Upolu.