Harbour royalty do their dash

The king and Queen of the seas have been crowned in Rarotonga this week, their positions decided during a swimming race from the Avatiu harbour to Avarua harbour on Monday afternoon.

Tereora College teacher Vanessa Palmer led the pack into the finish line at Avarua during the King and Queen of the harbour swim with a blistering time that bested her effort last year by two minutes.

Palmer, who is a regular swimmer and triathlon participant, swam the estimated 1.5 kilometre course in 24 minutes, 20 seconds.

The first man to cross the line was Arorangi resident and accountant Justin Rous, who finished with a time of 26 minutes, 3 seconds.

Palmer said she was surprised with her time, which represented a marked improvement on her previous time of 26 minutes, 9 seconds.

She said the conditions were good for swimming outside the reef yesterday afternoon, but the currents kept pushing them onto the reef.

Rous said local knowledge came into play when the swimmers were entering the Avarua passage.

He said he stuck close to the reef on his approach.

In last years race, the quickest time of 24 minutes, 47 seconds earned Michael Buck the kings crown.