the open ocean race from Perth's Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island, they did so in record time; slashing three minutes off the race record to come home in the insane time of three hours, 33 minutes and 49 seconds. Simpson said despite the gruelling nature of swimming such a huge distance in open ocean - a far cry from a 50m pool - the boys had a blast. 'I think for all of us it was our first time … and we came in with high spirits,' Simpson said after the race, which attracted more than 2500 entrants.