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Long Distance Swimmer
Today a 26 year old man is swimming across the Strait of Juan de Fuca - no wet suit. This is a 12 miles trip. He started on Vancouver Island and will reach US shores west of Port Angeles, Washington. The last time this was done was in 1955. Right now he is 2 miles from the US shore. He is picking up some curious wildlife along the way.
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130728/NEWS/130729969/5th-update-8212-swimmer-in-strait-of-juan-de-fuca-and-swimming-to
2 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
7th UPDATE — Swimmer cuts short attempt to swim Strait to Port Angeles
Bummer, but still a great effort. 50 degree temps and potential exhaustion aren't a good combination. He made the right decision.
PORT ANGELES — Andrew Malinak, a 26-year-old civil engineer from Seattle, failed to complete his swim from the southern tip of Vancouver Island to U.S. shores at either Freshwater Bay or Crescent Beach west of Port Angeles today.
"The last few miles have been slow," his tweet at about 2:50 said.
And at 3:30 p.m., the tweet said: "Andrew aborted swim. 6 hours and 10 minutes. He had about 1mile left but progress was slow. Water ranged from 46-50 deg, air in 50s. Cold."
He was trying to make the 12-mile crossing of the Strait of Juan de Fuca without wearing a wetsuit.
Capt. Charles Martin of the escort catamaran Livin the Dream told the Peninsula Daily News the swimmer had been pushed west by a strong current.
Malinak originally estimated that he would make the Crescent Bay landing, which is about 12 miles due west of Port Angeles, at about 2 p.m., but as of 3 p.m. he was still far from shore.
"The last few miles have been slow," his tweet at about 2:50 said.
And at 3:30 p.m., the tweet said: "Andrew aborted swim. 6 hours and 10 minutes. He had about 1mile left but progress was slow. Water ranged from 46-50 deg, air in 50s. Cold."
He was trying to make the 12-mile crossing of the Strait of Juan de Fuca without wearing a wetsuit.
Capt. Charles Martin of the escort catamaran Livin the Dream told the Peninsula Daily News the swimmer had been pushed west by a strong current.
Malinak originally estimated that he would make the Crescent Bay landing, which is about 12 miles due west of Port Angeles, at about 2 p.m., but as of 3 p.m. he was still far from shore.
Bummer, but still a great effort. 50 degree temps and potential exhaustion aren't a good combination. He made the right decision.
You are right - he made a good decision. He can always try again.
Yeah for the round of applause:
