On Monday 23 August, Clifton junior lifeguards Zack Waters and Savannah Voigt (aged 15 and 16 respectively) completed a chilly 12.7° Robben Island crossing, setting a new record of 1.55.30 in the men’s and women’s wetsuit division.
The swim was co-ordinated by Big Bay Events and raised over R70 000 for the Clifton Surf Lifesaving Club’s bursary fund. This money will be used to support those members of the club who, due to COVID job losses, are unable to fund their participation in the SA Lifesaving Championships to be held in Port Elizabeth in October.
The CJC spoke to an excited and upbeat Zack shortly after the swim. He spoke of his passion for the sport and his journey to this achievement, having first been introduced to the swimming pool at the tender age of nine months, swimming competitively from the age of 12, and lifesaving for the last two and a half years. He described the additional challenges that come with open-sea swimming, where one is exposed to different currents, salt-water, low temperatures and chance encounters with a variety of sea creatures.
He said that the accomplishment was rewarding but not as hard as he had anticipated; and that he hopes to do it again next year, taking the more extreme Llandudno – Clifton – Three Anchor Bay – Robben Island – Big Bay route. Ambitions for the future also include swimming the English Channel and the Jordan River.
• Published in the PDF edition of the September 2021 issue – Download here.
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