The Derwent River Big Swim is a 34-kilometer (21.1-mile) route from the New Norfolk Bridge to the Tasman Bridge in Hobart and part of the Australian Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming.

Starting at 2am, the swim itself took 8 hours and 13 minutes. The first four hours was in the dark and in the fresh water. I struggled. After we swam under the Bridgewater bridge, we saw the sun rise, we were in salt water. My mood changed, stroke rate and body positioning improved and felt a million dollars.

I completed this swim as a solo tandem with great mate, English Channel swimmer and training buddy Kim Miller.

There were two aspects of this swim that made it particularly memorable for me;

1.         Once again, Murph was on the Boat supporting me, but for the second time on a major swim was Oscar (son), feeding me and coordinating the social media. The lift having family supporting you on a long-distance swim is immeasurable. 

2.         This was another swim that I have been the third generation swimmer to complete.

With the Palm 2 Shelly completed in April 2024 and now the Derwent River Big Swim under my belt, I have only the Port to Pub swim in Perth to complete the Australian Triple Crown.