Looking for a new way to explore the Lantau coastline, Mui Wo residents Charmian Woodhouse and Cathy Cole decided to coasteer (swim, wade, climb, scramble and boulder) their way around it. The pair, both experienced open-water swimmers, broke up the 126-kilometre loop into 13 sections, with each section taking eight to 10 hours to complete. Starting and finishing in Mui Wo, the Coasteer Lantau Challenge kicked off in March and ended in May this year.
“We’ve had an amazing time, using the ocean currents, working with the tides and weather and discovering how beautiful these inaccessible coastlines are,” Charmian opens. “One of our favourite sections was the area around Shek Pik. The rocks are fascinating and really beautiful with incredible colours and patterns. The water was clear and refreshing and the currents moved us along so we could enjoy the views of the mountains.”
OPEN WATER
On their journey, Charmian and Cathy were surprised to find ropes and bridges already in place in areas that were difficult to climb, and they met, and in turn surprised, many local fishermen. Encounters with marine life – bristle worms, mudskippers, crabs, bright green mussels, oysters, barnacles and fish – were another highlight. “So many interesting animals live in the intertidal areas,” says Charmian, “and because we were on the coast, we also saw wonderful birds, butterflies and other insects.”
Marine pollution – plastic, polystyrene, life jackets, bamboo frames, tanker tyres and mannequin parts – was inevitably a factor. “There were also areas with rotting meat, which we moved quickly through,” Cathy says. “Seeing all this really made us think about eco-solutions.”
SAFETY FIRST
It’s important to know that few people coasteer in Lantau – it’s a high-risk sport especially if you go to remote areas. “You need to have good knowledge of how the waves and sea swell work, be aware of the weather and be focused when you are on the rocks,” Cathy advises. “Go with a friend and stay within your ability.
“Some areas were easy and fun but there were some places where the rocks were too steep to climb or where the sea currents were too fast to swim against. The oyster shells are extremely sharp so we wore gloves, pants, long-sleeved tops and shoes. We used swimmer buoys to make us visible to boats too.” [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Charmian Woodhouse & Cathy Cole.]