LOCAL LIFE
Michael races against tide and time for
by Maryann Callaghan
For Hawkesbury ’ s 21-year-old open water swimmer Michael Payne , endurance swimming is more than a challenge - it ’ s a way of life . As he prepares for his next attempt to complete a fifth stage of the prestigious Oceans Seven series , he reflects on his latest trials in some of the world ’ s most treacherous waters , with the Independent .
Conquering the swim that nearly killed him In a sport dictated by unpredictable conditions , timing is everything . Around Christmas , Michael had secured the last available spot in the Cook Strait timeslot - a notoriously rough stretch of water between New Zealand ’ s north and south islands .
Mentor , advisor and father Steve watches over the Cook Strait attempt .
It wasn ’ t just another challenge ; it was personal . In Michael ’ s previous attempt in 2023 , he suffered hypothermia , with water temperatures dropping to a dangerous 11 degrees . He brushes off the fact “ he nearly died ”, but it ’ s an experience the tight-knit Payne family and support crew , won ’ t forget .
For this attempt , Michael was determined , his preparation was intense .
“ All heavy distance training and gym work . I had the distance down right . I was very strong for this one ,” he said .
On the day , conditions were relentless , with a fierce southerly Antarctic current and swells adding extra kilometres to Michael ’ s crossing attempt .
“ It was pretty rough . I was freezing the whole way and being stung by jellyfish just added to the misery of those ‘ oh god ’ moments ,” Michael said .
Despite the stings and the brutal chill , Michael endured , completing the 22-kilometre swim ( which extended to 28km due to currents ) in eight hours and four minutes .
With better conditions , he believes he could have finished in six or seven hours , but as he said , “ It ’ s the wind against the tide - you can ’ t fight it , you just have to go with it .”
The success of the Cook Strait swim notched up the fifth stage completed in the Oceans Seven series .
Molokai : The challenge that got away While Cook Strait was a personal victory ,
Michael ’ s Molokai Channel swim in Hawaii didn ’ t go as planned . The 45km crossing , classed as one of the roughest ocean swims in the world , tested his mental and physical limits .
The currents were punishing , forcing him to swim nearly 17 hours before his managerfather Steve pulled him out just 10km from the finish line as bull and tiger sharks were
Michael swimming the Cook Strait . sighted circling ahead .
“ It was the longest swim I ’ d ever done - 16 hours and 50 minutes . I hit some currents , it put me back , I hit so many mental thresholds this time ,” Michael said . “ In the water I ’ m on autopilot , you swim and feed , there ’ s no talking on the boat , every time you stop you lose time , energy and ground with the current , and you get cold , so it ’ s advisable not to stop or talk .”
If Michael kept up the same pace “ he could have probably finished within another five hours ” according to Steve , who conducts welfare checks boatside on his son in a tightly planned schedule .
“ Michael was a bit down , it was a damn shame , but he ’ ll be back again for a third attempt ,” Steve said .
“ You can never expect a swim to be a Steve checking over Michael on the pilot boat .
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8 ISSUE 178 // MARCH 2025 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT