Sailing : Jono Ridler Celebrates 1,000km Achievement in Swim4TheOcean

Jono Ridler swims past the 1,000km mark along New Zealand’s east coast in his Swim4TheOcean initiative. This ambitious venture aims for a world-record 1,400km no-wetsuit swim from North Cape to Wellington. Ridler has logged over 340 hours in the ocean, completing an estimated million strokes. Reaching 1,000km is akin to swimming the English Channel nearly 30 times. The milestone occurs during his swim across Hawke’s Bay, highlighting his commitment to marine conservation alongside Live Ocean. Ridler states, “It feels pretty surreal to hit a thousand kilometres,” emphasizing the daily grind and small victories that fuel his journey. Experienced sailor Hamish Willcox joins the support team, praising Ridler’s determination to raise awareness about ocean issues. Ridler faces physical tolls, including salt exposure and fatigue, but remains focused on the challenge ahead. “This is about persistence,” he asserts.