"It's definitely very different from what I'm used to but, as the race went on, I kind of got used to it and got the feel. I thought the water was going to be colder so that was a good surprise."
Gorman, who has already qualified for the London Olympics, is using the New Zealand open swim series as valuable race preparation.
Baker, who won the opening round of the series in Auckland, has retained her overall lead with her second placing today as she works towards next month's national open water championships in Taupo, the selection event towards the final London Olympic qualifying race in Portugal.
Talbot was the men's favourite heading into the race, despite having never won an ocean swim series event before. He proved his worth today in winning the men's race by 40 seconds over nearest rival, triathlete Graham O'Grady of Hamilton.
"I stuck with Melissa most of the way," Talbot said. "She's a very good swimmer so I decided to try stick with her but she just got me at the end there."
The conditions deceived the swimmers by flaunting a calm, flat surface at the start line in Russell. But once out of the protection of the bay, the strong north-easterly made it testing on competitors.
"When you came round those hills, the chop got really messy. It just sort of kept pushing you around everywhere. Visibility was quite hard and it was very physical," Talbot said.
Around 800 swimmers between the ages of six and 81 took the plunge in a range of recreational swims. Included in those who took on the full 3.3km race between Russell and Paihia was Lord of the Rings actor Bruce Hopkins, who swam his late brother's ashes across in a pouch in his shorts. Hopkins had tried in vain to tempt his Northland-based brother into competing last year, but he since passed away suddenly.
The third round of the six-race series is the Capital Classic in Wellington on January 29.
