80 swimmers round the boiler

Eighty hearty swimmers took to the Avarua harbour for the Trader Jacks charity boiler swim as part of this weeks Vaka Eiva activities.

Visitor to the island Lisa Townsend was the first out of the water in 10:02 while Gold Coast chief surf lifesaving guard Chris Maynard was hot on her tail finishing a second behind her in 10:03.

Vanessa Nemo Palmer was the first local woman to finish with the local triathlete clocking a time of 10:37 while the first local man home was Justin Rous in a time of 12:54.

The youngest swimmer in the group was 10-year-old Nick Smith who finished 18th overall.

Gold coin donations made by each swimmer and donations collected from spectators will go towards supporting the Vaka Eiva adopt a school programme which is in its first year of running and expected to grow each year.

Exactly how much was raised is yet to be confirmed as the precious funds were swiftly stowed in a safe for counting at a later date.