Swimmers race across Hong Kong's Victoria Bay

More than a thousand men and women plunged into the cool water of Hong Kong’s Victoria Bay on Sunday morning, competing to see who could swim the fastest across the harbor in open water

Hong Kong Harbor Race (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

More than a thousand men and women plunged into the cool water of Hong Kong s Victoria Bay on Sunday morning, competing to see who could swim the fastest across the harbor in open water.

The New World Harbour Race, which was suspended the past two years due to the pandemic and the 2019 anti-government protests, was held Sunday with a limited field of 1,200 swimmers. The one-kilometer (0.62 mile) race went from Wan Chai on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island to Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon

In their blue caps, the swimmers were visible as a flurry of splashes and limbs as they moved across the bay.

Keith Sin, who won in the men's category, said he took the ferry to Wan Chai to scope out the route and made ample preparations to understand the ocean currents.

"After the location scouting, I searched for more photos of the route at night. Then I laid out a route on when to make turns,” he said.

For some participants, the best part of the race was just feeling like life was normal again amid the pandemic.

“It’s a chance to see Hong Kong from a different perspective," said Vincent, a participant in the leisure swim category who gave only his first name. "So yeah, great experience. Nice to see Hong Kong opening up a little and having normal life again.”

To participate, swimmers had to be fully vaccinated and take a COVID-19 test two days before the race.

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Wu reported from Taipei Taiwan