A great swim by Kristy McIntyre and Sigrid Stangl who swam Lake Zurich on Sunday 10 August. They started the swim at 07:00 and swam 27kms from Rapperswil to Zurich.
You can follow Kristy's progress by checking her tweet account which was being manhandled by Mark Fabik here
We didn't have an account for Sigrid. But Cliff Golding made a heroic guest appearance to keep us posted with news of Sigrid.
Hugh Lonsdale was swimming in the relay event with two swimmers from Jersey. Charlie Masding crewed for one of the swimmers and used her rowing skills to make her way up the lake. Charlie also swam the final 4kms of the Zurich swim as her swimmer was too cold in the 20C waters and got out. We asume the swimmer rowed to the finish. Perhaps not the Swiss role either expected. And not because of bad puns, but John Tierney did not start due to very recent lifestyle surgery - a hernia. Ouch.
Cliff Golding's running commentary (digital yodelling by email) is pasted below, thanks so much Mr Cliff.
Sigrid is approaching Meilen which is the half way point (you can see the Meilen cable ferry on Mark's tweet of Kristy's swim). The sun is out and Sigrid is doing well swimming at about 2.5-2.7 km per hour.
Roberta says the race started at 7am (8 am UK time). Sigrid reached Meilen in 5 hrs 55 beating the 6.5 hr cut off by 35 mins. She is in good spirits and every one is happy on Hans’ boat. Hans was my pilot some years ago. He stands up in his boat and rows like a Gondolier.
Further update. Here is Sigrid just passing Meilen with the ferry behind her. If you get there as one of the two ferries is leaving or arriving they make you stop and wait. Sigrid made it through without stopping.
She is almost there fighting against the clock. I wonder if could ask you all to turn towards Zurich again!!
Update from Sigrid's boat. "Just in Küsnacht now. Sigrid is tired but is concentrating on positive thoughts. That was her assignment after this feed!"
After Küsnacht comes Zoolikon and then the finish. Roberta tells me she has to be at the next corner to avoid a second cut off. Roberta is pushing her hard to avoid that and asks for some messages and good vibes So, if you could all turn towards Zurich and think good thoughts and send me a couple of messages off the group I shall pass them on.
Cliff
P.S. I see Kristy is nearly there.
Wow - you guys are amazing! Thanks for the messages - all passed on. And you can all turn back to what you were doing now - Sigrid made the cut off. As you swim down the lake on the right hand side there is a factory and chimney at about 3km from the finish. That's where Sigrid is now. Check out this photo. Wish I looked that smooth after 9 hours swimming. Well, nine minutes, actually. (btw did you ever wonder how they get those huge ferries onto a landlocked lake?):
PS. Well done Kristy for your 10:06.
Confirmation from Roberta and a photo. Roberta thinks Sigrid did 12 hrs 1 min or 12 hours 2 mins. Officially I think the cut off is 12 hours but the Sri Chinmoy are a great and fair group and they will give her that. Roberta said Sigrid got an amazing welcome at the finish. Well done Sigrid, and well done Roberta for stepping up to the plate to look after her. Great day out for Kristy and Sigrid.
I just got this message: "She is in!!!"
That's it!!! I think you can face back the way you were! Waiting for a clarification and a photo but I think Roberta means she got in under the cut off of 12 hours but it must have been very tight. In Windermere I think they hoist you out on the BLDSA swim. In Zurich they would let you finish as long as was safe to do so but your time is unofficial. So, friends of Sigrid, let's wait for confirmation and then you can all say well done.
I have to say the SERPS long distance achievements over the last several years particularly have been outstanding.
