A special moment ashore at Onepoto Beach saw tamariki from two local kura meet Jono, while the afternoon session delivered strong downwind progress despite gnarly conditions.
Around East Cape and into Onepoto, Hicks Bay – 21km Banked in the Toughest Conditions Yet
By Live Ocean
20/02/2026
Read time: 3 min
Article Summary
Main Points
With 743.8km now complete, Swim4TheOcean continues its determined push toward Wellington and an end to bottom trawling.
Two swims yesterday (Thursday, 19 February) carried Jono from a remote bay at the eastern tip of East Cape, around the corner and south toward Hicks Bay and Te Araroa – remote communities that have faced significant challenges from heavy rainfall, land slips and road closures.
Jono’s first swim of the day one began at 8:15am and ran for 3 hours 59 minutes. Conditions were unsettled but workable, and Jono got into his rhythm as he pushed around the cape. He covered 7.81km before coming ashore for a lunch break and reassessment.
The welcome at Onepoto Beach, Hicks Bay was a special moment. Tamariki and rangatahi from local kura were visiting the beach and met Jono and the crew – an unscripted, first-hand encounter with the man attempting to swim the length of the North Island for the ocean.
The second swim began just after 4pm in significantly bigger conditions and ran for 3 hours 26 minutes, finishing at 7:45pm. Large swell, building wind and confused chop made for a challenging afternoon. With wind and sea behind him, Jono made strong progress, covering 13.25km at an average of 3.9km/h. The call was made to shorten the planned four-hour block slightly to allow for a safe return transit before dark.
On-water lead Andy Tuke described the conditions; “It was pretty gnarly out there this afternoon. We came around the point and had waves coming over the cabin top. We checked the tide – it wasn’t huge, but it was workable. The RIB crew had a look downwind and were confident they could hold position safely. So, Jono got in.”
As he prepared to enter the water off East Cape in rolling swell under clear skies, Jono commented; “No one will ever know what this really feels like.”
Ben summed up the day at debrief; “Big, big waves. Big current, big wind. But it was good.
“This morning, we set off – it wasn’t too ideal – but Jono really found his pace and we got going until we came around the point. That’s when the waves picked up and we started to struggle a bit.”
“We set out again later this evening for another four-hour block. The transit out was pretty rough, lots of headwind. I think we had about 30 knots at one point, gusting to around 34. That’s about as much as we can handle safely in the RIB, so that was tough.
“Luckily once we turned, we were moving with the wind and the waves. So, we got Jono in the water, covered a few k’s, and then decided to call it at three hours 30 instead of four. That was just to make sure we had enough time to get back in. We were going to have a long transit into the headwind, and with nightfall coming we didn’t want to risk any extra time out there.
“All in all, a good day. But definitely up there as one of the hardest we’ve had on the water in terms of keeping Jono safe and in line with our navigation. But all’s good.”
Across the two swims Jono spent 7 hours 25 minutes in the water and covered 21.06km.
His total distance now stands at 743.81km on the live tracker as Swim4TheOcean continues its push south toward Wellington — carrying the call to end bottom trawling.
Total distance covered: 743.81km
Yesterday’s swims at a glance
Swim 1
Time: 3 hours 59 mins
Distance: 7.81km
Average speed: 2km/h
Swim 2
Time: 3 hours 26 mins
Distance: 13.25km
Average speed: 3.9km/h
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