Cadiz Freedom Swim
Encyclopedia
The Cadiz Freedom Swim is an extreme 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) open water swimming
race from Robben Island
to Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, Cape Town
, South Africa
.
It takes place annually close to Freedom Day
(27 April, the date of SA’s first democratic elections in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa, marking the end of the Apartheid era and the freedom of the people).
The Cadiz Freedom Swim is recognised as one of the world’s most extreme sea races due to the extremely cold water characteristics
of the Atlantic Ocean (averages around 13-14°Celsius), unpredictable sea and weather conditions, and the presence of Great White Shark
s.
Ram Barkai, who holds the record for undertaking the world’s most southerly swim in Antarctica in 2008, began sponsoring an annual Robben Island to Bloubergstrand event in 2007 which is now known as the Cadiz Freedom Swim for the benefit of Vista Nova School.
The record for the fastest swim was set in 2005, in a time just over 1 hour 33 minutes, while the record for the most crossings is 55 times by Theodore Yach.
The swim is attempted by people of all ages – the youngest person to complete it being 12 years and the oldest 65 years.
Open water swimming
Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, canals, and reservoirs.The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is sometimes taken to be May 3, 1810, when Lord Byron swam several miles to cross the Hellespont from Europe to Asia.In...
race from Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
to Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
It takes place annually close to Freedom Day
Freedom Day (South Africa)
Freedom Day is a South African public holiday celebrated on April 27. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994...
(27 April, the date of SA’s first democratic elections in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa, marking the end of the Apartheid era and the freedom of the people).
The Cadiz Freedom Swim is recognised as one of the world’s most extreme sea races due to the extremely cold water characteristics
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
of the Atlantic Ocean (averages around 13-14°Celsius), unpredictable sea and weather conditions, and the presence of Great White Shark
Great white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
s.
History
The first officially recorded Robben Island swim happened in 1909 when Henry Charteris Hooper swam from the island to the old Cape Town harbour, it took him 6hrs 65min to swim the distance of about 11 km.Ram Barkai, who holds the record for undertaking the world’s most southerly swim in Antarctica in 2008, began sponsoring an annual Robben Island to Bloubergstrand event in 2007 which is now known as the Cadiz Freedom Swim for the benefit of Vista Nova School.
The record for the fastest swim was set in 2005, in a time just over 1 hour 33 minutes, while the record for the most crossings is 55 times by Theodore Yach.
The swim is attempted by people of all ages – the youngest person to complete it being 12 years and the oldest 65 years.
External links
- Cadiz Freedom Swim
- Vista Nova School
- Cadiz Open Water Swimming Development Trust
- Cadiz Freedom Swim Facebook Group
Further Reading
- The History of the Cadiz Freedom Swim - http://www.capeswim.com/freedomswim.htm
- Zoopy videos of the Cadiz Freedom Swim - http://m.zoopy.com/video/u3y/cadiz-freedom-swim-2009?return=%2Ftag%2Fswimming
- Open Water Swimming in Cape Town: http://www.capeswim.com/freedomswim.htm
- South Africa Info: http://www.southafrica.info/what_happening/sports/freedomswim2007.htm