Sisters swim in great-grandfather's wake

Jo Noonan (left) and Rhonda Moir at St Heliers after a chilly time battling swells and

When William Bines challenged his mate to a swimming race from Rangitoto to Auckland, a boatload of spectators paid a shilling each to follow him.

More than 100 years after the big event, his great-granddaughters have matched his feat by finishing the annual Rangitoto harbour swim.

Swimming siblings Jo Noonan, 44, and her sister Rhonda Moir, 49, were upbeat after finishing the race yesterday, although Ms Noonan joked she had swallowed "half of the harbour".

The sisters set off from Rangitoto with the modest goal of "not coming last" and ended the race at St Heliers.

They were pleased to be emulating their great-grandfather - although he took a different route, racing from a buoy off Rangitoto to Cheltenham Beach against his rival, Mr Placke.

A Herald article on March 23, 1895, records that the men were both well-known swimmers. The race caused such a stir that a steamboat, the Eagle, was chartered to follow them at a cost of one shilling (10 cents) an adult.

But the event ended in defeat for Mr Bines - the Timaru Herald reported that Mr Placke, whose first name is not recorded, "easily" won the race and pocketed the £25 prizemoney.

Mr Bines pulled out when he was 300 yards behind, citing muscle cramp.

A century on, the harbour race attracts about 500 competitors each year.

Ms Noonan has raced several times, but this was the first time she could convince Ms Moir to enter.

Their brother, Gary Faulconbridge, swam several years ago with his daughter Emma - Arthur Bines' great-great-granddaughter - who completed the race when she was 12.

"A family challenge, I think you call it," laughed Ms Noonan.

She said yesterday's crossing was "pretty good" although there was a fair swell and swimmers' faces were covered in "green muck" by the finish.

Ms Moir finished in an hour and 33 minutes, helped by the fact she was wearing a wetsuit for buoyancy.

Her sister finished 20 minutes later, wearing only a swimsuit. Ms Noonan said the water temperature made it chilly for swimmers without wetsuits.