David Edgar. Photo: Supplied / Mark Grammer Photography
An army major has become the 11th person to complete the 'triple crown' of ocean swimming after he swam the Foveaux Strait at the weekend.
The triple crown includes crossing the Cook Strait and Lake Taupō, alongside the Foveaux Strait leg.
David Edgar told Morning Report he was really pleased with his achievement.
"The Foveaux is the last one I needed for the triple crown, and it's pretty cool I managed to have everything in line that I needed to achieve that."
To cross the Foveaux Strait, Edgar said he started out at Yankee River on the Rakiura/Stewart Island side, and aimed for Bluff Hills - a distance of 28km as the crow flies, but conditions meant Edgar covered more distance during the crossing, finishing just north of Bluff Hills.
"I got pushed around a little bit. I got pushed south and I covered 37km."
For true open water swimming participants forgo wetsuits, which was a challenge in the cold water of the deep south.
"No wetsuit. It's your goggles, your cap and your togs. That's it. You're allowed a bit of grease.
"The water temperature sat at about 13C-14C all day. We were expecting 16C-18C from the forecast, from what the boat skipper had said. But I was well prepared from all my cold water training.
"I just had to nut it out and push through."
Edgar's cold water training involved an ice bath and swimming in Marlborough's Wairau River all year round.
Edgar said all three swims in the triple crown were unique, and it was hard to decide on a favourite.
"It's really cool to have done Cook Strait because of the legendary status. But at the moment, Foveaux Strait. If I couldn't have achieved that I wouldn't have completed the triple crown.
"She's pretty tough down there. A few people haven't gotten across this season."
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