The organisers

Auckland Central Masters Swimming (ACMS) is a voluntary not-for profit organisation of mature swimmers (over 20 years old) committed to swimming, having fun and promoting swimming as an integral component of a satisfying lifestyle and water safety.  Any financial surpluses from the series are used to support ACMS’s activities and other community projects.

Pool sessions

The Club holds professionally coached pool sessions at "The Teps" 7:30-9:00pm every Wednesday night between mid February and mid December.  There are plenty of hospitable establishments around the Viaduct  for a quick ale afterwards if you are so inclined. 

 Join the Club

The cost of membership is presently $20 p.a. which includes pool entry.  If you wish to enter sanctioned meets it will cost another $50 p.a. for membership of New Zealand Masters .

Our support team

Other voluntary organisations including Northern Region Coastguard NZ (Inc) , Onehunga Swim Club (Inc), Auckland Kayak and Canoe Club (Inc), Order of St Johns,  Western Bays Sea Scouts.  Organisations that are equally committed to helping you push the boundaries and have fun in a safe environment.

Event History

For  the Herne Bay and Chelsea Swims there are  several trophies awarded through the Ponsonby Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club . These awards are restricted to registered members of recognised Swimming Clubs.

Wetsuits and late entries are not eligible for the following trophies.

The Wai-Wai and Malloy Shields are handicap events which have been competed for annually since the early 1900s. Today the Wai-Wai Shield is swum over the Herne Bay to Curran Street Beach course. In earlier days it was swum amongst boats moored in Westhaven waters, and between the present cement wharf and salt-water baths at the foot of Shelly Beach Road. Later it was swum on a triangular  there and back course around boats moored off Herne Bay Road and Sentinel Road Beaches. Wai-Wai Cups have been presented to fastest  male and fastest female since 1980.

The Malloy Shield, was first presented in 1912 and was for many years swum from Chelsea Sugar Wharf to the old Shelly Beach baths. After these were demolished to make way for the Harbour Bridge the finish line was shifted to Curran Street Beach. Reversing this swim to finish at Chelsea coincided with the formation of Auckland Central Masters Swimming (Inc) and the Chelsea Sugar Refining Co Ltd Centenary in 1984 when the late Bert Raper arranged sponsorship  with Chelsea Sugar and the use of their magnificent facilities. The fastest female receives the Osborne Cup first presented in 1939 while the Mazzoleni Cup for the first male was not presented until 1979.

The Bays and Rangitoto Swims have been loyally sponsored by Eagle Technology Ltd since 1986 : that is , for 20 years now. The late Trevor Eagle was a member of the Ponsonby Swim Club and was instrumental in establishing the swims in the early '80s with Bert and Mamie Raper. In 1986 the Eagle Technology sponsored 'Bays Swim' Cup, was awarded for the first time following the inaugural Freyburg Wharf to Tamaki Yacht Club swim. Shortly afterwards the Rangitoto/St Heliers event, (previously administered under Eastern Suburbs Club as the Paul Kraus Cup) joined with The Auckland Central Masters and their sponsors to establish the Eagle Technology Rangitoto Cup.

There is more information regarding the association between Eagle Technology and ACMS's harbour Swims programme on their website