Wild Swim From South Africa’s Cape Point To Simonstown
Courtesy of WOWSA, Cape Point, South Africa.
Photo of Jeanne Topliss (yellow cap) and Kim Hawke (pink cap) heading out of Smitswinkel Bay towards Miller’s Point courtesy of Craig Doonan, South Africa.
On May 24th, 10 swimmers swam a 22 km relay from Cape Point to Simonstown in South Africa in a eco-swim to support conservation efforts in the northern Wild Coast eco-system which is under various threats brought on by mining and overfishing.
Andrew Chin is leading their efforts to raise funds for the Wild Friends campaign to protect the Pondoland Marine Protected area and to explore sustainable alternatives to dune mining.
“We need to inspire people to leave this world a better place for generations to come by protecting the few remaining wild spaces,” said Chin. “There’s huge community support for sustainable alternatives like eco-tourism. We hope the relay swim highlights and bolsters efforts to protect the Wild Coast from ecological devastation.”
The wild swimmers joining Chin include Katherine Persson, Jeanne Topliss, Kim Hawke, Georgina Smith, Craig Doonan, John Dickerson, Monika Heyes and Chris Fourie.
Copyright © 2008-2019 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor – Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming’s Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University’s John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.