CAPE SWIMS

DASSEN ISLAND

General & Swimming Info | Facts & Distances | Records | Links

GENERAL INFORMATION

Dassen Island is situated about 11km west of Yzerfontein, the first village on the West coast road and approx 80km from Cape Town. Dassen Island's name is derived from the large amount of dassies ("rock rabbits") that live here. The island is also a big bird sanctuary (it is inhabited by 68000 African penguins) and a provincial nature reserve managed by CapeNature. One of about 34 underwater mountains along the west coast of South Africa, whose pinnacles rise above sea level, Dassen Island is 4,5km long and 2km wide. The highest point is a mere 10m above sea level.

DASSEN ISLAND SWIM

On 7 May 1986 a Sea Point man, Mr. Barry Cutler, became the first person to swim from Dassen Island to the West Coast in a time of 3h56. He braved extreme cold and strong currents to complete the swim for a local charity (he was being sponsored per kilometer). On 21 March 1993 Lewis Pugh became the second person to complete the swim, setting up a new record with his time of 2h35. In 2004 the first women attempted the swim: Sarah Matthews and Gill Stamrood completed the distance between the island and Yzerfontein in 3h35, joined by Gill's brother Ryan Stamrood.