CAPE SWIMS

NEWS

ALAN BREAKS DASSEN ISLAND RECORD!

On Sun 30th March 2008, veteran swimmer Alan Jamieson completed the 8,5km swim from Dassen Island to Yzerfontein in record time! Read his account of the swim below:

Ninety kilometers up the west coast from Cape Town is the small  town of Yzerfontein,8,5km off shore is Dassen Island which is a protected wild life reserve for bird and sea living creatures.The Island was named after the population of Dassies which inhabit the Island.

We set off from Yzerfontein harbor at about 8.30 am on Sunday morning 30th March 2008 on the boat Marco Polo,in the direction of the finish point so as to set the GPS in getting the best possible straight line for the swim.After setting the GPS it was straight as we could get it in going across to Dassen Island which is a distance of 8,5km off shore as the crow flies from the beach on which I was to finish.While in route to the Island we were given water temps which varied between 9,4 and 11,5 degrees C.In hearing these temperatures my was quite worried as I had said that if the temp was anything below 11 I would not attempt the swim.On arriving at the Island we were met by Johan Visagie,the person who I had needed to make contact with and get permission from for us to land on the island and also allow me to swim from there.(Johan thank you)We then walked to the point of the island from which I was to start the swim,found the water to be OK,here I was met by a group of penguins making there way into the water,with the rocks being quite slippery I had to be careful not to slip and fall.Giving the support crew and the boat the signal that I was ready, I slipped into the water which was around 11 degrees C and set off on my swim between the Island and the main land.

Approximately 1km off shore I was joined by a group of 6 Dusky Dolphins which swam around under and quite near to me for about 1km,while they were swimming around and under me they were blowing bubbles at me, which was to me quite amazing, while this was going on we had a Southern Right whale which had also got curios and was swimming about 25mts away from me,along with some penguins and a seal,and a group of Pelicans which flew over.All I can say was that I was the most blessed lucky person on the planet at that point in time to be able to swim with these amazing creatures all at the same moments in time.

The swim from there on was a little more serious with just keeping focused on what was at hand.My first stop was at the 5km mark for a drink of juice,the reason for not stopping earlier was due the the water temp,ranging between 9,5 and 11 degrees C.Having been edged on by the support crew of my beautiful fiancé, Peter Bales from Cape Long Distance as on official observer and the boat crew, who had given me the indication that I was in reach of bettering the record held by Lewis Pugh for the past 15 years, a time of 2 hours 35 minutes I just kept going as best as I could, at approximately 500mts off shore I was bid farewell to the boat,which could not go in any further due to wave formation and the break,I was then left to my own devices. I was met by a group of surfers who kept an eye on me and hooted me on to get to the shore through some rather nasty 1,5mts surf.Arriving on the beach I was met by my mother and step dad who had blankets and warm chocolate drink on hand for me,when arriving at the beach I cramped up quite bad,but ecstatic at finishing the swim and breaking the 15 year record by 2 minutes.

In brief of past swims;
1)First swim was done by Barry Cutler on 7th May 1986 in a time of 3 hours 56 minutes
2)Next up was Lewis Pugh on the 21st March 1993 in a time of 2 hours 35 minutes
3)Then it was 3 swimmers togther,Sarah Mathews/Gill and Ryan Stamrood on the 13 th May 2004 in a time of 3 hours 38 minutes

I now have the honour of having the quickest time of 2 hours 33 minutes and also being the oldest at 51 to have completed the swim successfully

To all who were part of the swim and who gave me so much support and encouragement, I thank you all
Regards
Alan  

FEEDBACK from fellow swimmers

Hi Alan
Man! What an amazing feat. Congratulations! And at that temperature! Mind you I always thought you were a bit thick skinned!! Your marine mammalian flotilla probably thought “This silly bugger’s lost the plot. Better give him a shove  shore-wards.”
I’ve just got your email now as have been in Southern Poland on short holiday visiting my daughter in law, Aga’s family. They took us on an 11k walk through the snow up this humungous mountain in the Tatra range to visit a famous glacier lake “Morskie Oko” (The Eye of the Sea). Of course I got all excited at the prospect of a chilly dip in same, only to be told by Aga that there were two reasons why I couldn’t swim there. 1. It’s a national park and protected area, so no bathing, and in any case 2. At this time of year there’s  1.5 metres of ice on it sufficient to take a tank. So had to settle for a forlorn photo of me standing lonely on several hectares of white stuff.
Well Done again!
Cheers
Chris