And here is some news from Volker Koch on his Robben Island swim.
“So due to the average sea temperature being below 11ºC, the race organisers decided to collapse all the first-time non-wetsuit solo swimmers into two-swimmers relay team. At first a bit of a disappointment but in retrospect this was a good decision, also considering I hadn't been able to get as much cold water swimming in due to recent weeks of illness.
After body marking on Saturday, 11th April 7am at the Ferry terminal of the Waterfront, the start got delayed by another two hours due to pretty dense morning mist. My swim buddy Riad took the ferry to the start on Robben Island while I jumped into our skipper Andrew's boat from Granger Bay near the Waterfront.
By the time we reached the island, the mist had cleared completely and revealed a fantastic view of the Table Mountain range in its full splendour. Apart from the chilly waters, the conditions could not have been any better. Riad started at 11.15 and managed to find us between all the boats waiting for their swimmers outside Robben Island harbour. We took 30 minute turns each and a couple of minutes into my first swim, the boat crew apparently spotted -me being totally unaware - a whale about 50 metres from me.
After two 30 minute sets each, Riad joined me for the last stretch to Big Bay and as we got closer to the shore, the swell picked us up and we were literally bodysurfing the last hundred meters to the beach, making the crossing in about 2 hours 36 minutes.
The nicest surprise for me was the cheerful welcome by two good friends of mine who had been waiting it out on the beach, trying to spot me amongst the other pale overseas swimmers emerging from the shore break.
The beach crew at the finish did an outstanding job taking care of us, handing us towels and beanies to get us warm right away and walking us to the change area where they already had the tagged bag with our change-clothes ready for us. Our body temperature was monitored in the medical tent and after warming up around gas heaters, sipping hot chocolate and munching on yummy doughnuts, we were soon released to join the cheerful crowd outside.
A tasty buffet lunch helped to refuel again and share our swimming experience with others, amongst them Ned Denison, and Serpies Owen Sisk and David Harley. I also relayed the hugs from Rod Newing to the ladies of the Nemes Nutters who were utterly thrilled! ;)
All in all an amazing experience, I shall be back for a solo crossing!
