(Article and pics, courtesy of ZwemZa)

The Robben Island crossing is regarded as one of the toughest open water swims in the world. Cold water, apex predators, swimming through a busy shipping lane, big swells and wind whipped seas are some of the challenges awaiting the oceanswimmers who want to tackle one the world’s iconic open water swims.

Brenton Williams from Jeffreys Bay and a Kouga Clr, took on the challenge on Monday morning (3 December) in 12 degree water and a bumpy sea to became the first person in the world to swim from 3 Anchor Bay to Robben Island….butterfly!

Nobody has ever contemplated swimming fly over the 11.5 K channel before and the vast majority of Robben Island crossing are done between the Island and Blouberg beach, a 7.6 Km stretch of water.

Another South African swimmer, Chris Barnard completed the Blouberg crossing swimming butterfly in February 1990 and it’s taken 22 years for another swimmer to step up and take on the butterfly challenge.

Peter Bales, the doyen of open water swimming in South Africa was at the start of Williams’ swim at 3 Anchor Bay and said that he never thought he would see another butterfly swimmer taking on Robben Island.

“Chris Barnard was a phenomenal swimmer and I really never thought I would see somebody else try to fly the Robben Island crossing. Brenton’s swim was an epic!” said Bales.

Conditions were not ideal for a butterfly crossing with the water at 12 degrees and a lumpy surface which added to the challenge that faced Williams.

“I was in Cape Town for the 5 K Shipwreck swim which was held in 11 degree water along the Blouberg coastline on Sunday and Derrick Frazer made the call that there was a window for a Robben Island crossing early Monday morning.

Although conditions were not ideal, I felt that we had to make use of the opportunity and have a shot at the 11.5 K crossing”, said Williams.

“After I had settled down, I realised it was going to be a hard swim as my shoulders were still stiff from the Shipwreck swim the previous day where we swam through patches of water that were around 10 degrees.

The last 3 K was really tough and I had to dig deep to keep the rhythm going and the Island just didn’t seem to be getting any closer.

When it looked like we were really close to shore we discovered there was a huge kelp bed we had to swim though to reach the Island. It was hard swimming fly through the kelp and it took about 20 minutes to swim the last couple of hundred meters.

At the same time getting close to the finish was a really special moment in my life as Robben Island has played a significant role in South Africa’s history and to complete an unprecedented swim was a great feeling. Things seem to go in slow motion and the sea calmed down close to the shore”.

Chris Barnard, who inspired Brenton to start swimming fly in open water, was at the beach to congratulate Williams when he returned from Robben Island.

“Brenton had a really good swim. It was not the best of conditions and the water was cold”, said Barnard about the swim.

Williams is also a nominee for the International Open Water Swim Performance of the year award and his swim can be voted for by clicking on this linkhttp://www.worldopenwaterswimmingassociation.com/2012-wowsa-performance-of-the-year-nominees/

© ZwemZA