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First out of the water were defending champions Fairydown Long International from Queenstown setting a local record time of 4:18. Local Aqua Taxi Guide, Rod Stewart, who provided press and safety boats, said he didn't know of anyone who has paddled that particular stretch of water in as fast a time. According to Rod, the Abel Tasman Coastline has not had a clear and calm day for at least a month and he considered the race to be blessed with the best weather it could possibly had hoped for.
Only five minutes behind the lead were Steve Gurney's and Kathy Lynch's Team Star and Garter from Nelson looking fresh and in the team's elements. The Christchurch team, Sierra International and Arrow International/Macpac followed, with Wellington 's Horleys team led by Rob Harrow in 5th place.
This cracking pace has continued throughout the day with the first cycle leg taking in two, massive 3000-foot climbs to bring competitors deep into the lower forested areas of Mount Arthur. As expected, the front runners will take little sleep at the transition area positioned at the Cobb reservoir but food and warm clothing will be a priority as competitors head into the first overnight mountain run over Mount Arthur. Twenty-six kilometers in distance, teams are expected to take eight to 10 hours, which will see them emerged at the Baton River near Tapawera in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
At 5.02pm this afternoon, team Star and Garter took the lead, being the first into the Cobb Reservoir Checkpoint in another record setting time of four-and-a-half hours. The spread throughout the field is now widening to a gap of four hours.
— Margo Berryman, Southern Traverse
*Southern Traverse Photographers Include: Derek Paterson, Brian, Jurgen Ruoff, Barbara Newton, Rob Lile, Tony Di Zinno, Gareth Eyres, Alan Nelson, and Beyond City Limits.
EXPEDITION DISPATCHES 
