The Freedom Swim for 2019 was cancelled due to a forecast of extreme storm activity including 20 knot winds and 3.5 metre swells. The swim organisers deemed that some of the boat crews were “too inexperienced” to deal with these conditions thus exposing the swimmers to an unacceptable level of risk.
Foremost amongst these risks was that swimmers would have needed to complete the final 1.5kms un-piloted and in an area the locals refer to as ‘The Washing Machine’ on account of the tempestuous, swirling currents and dumping surf. The organisers were also well aware that two swimmers died from cardiac arrest during the Port Elizabeth triathlon swim in the week prior to the Freedom Swim.
The cancellation was a major disappointment and I was reduced to viewing the swim course from dry land and in relatively calm conditions as the forecast storm activity did not eventuate.
Open water swimming in Cape Town is somewhat hit-and-miss given the vagaries of the weather, particularly the wind. For future swims, chartering a crew and arranging swims separate to organised events is a well-advised contingency.
All my other swims planned as part of the Swim The Planet Series are on schedule and their completion has taken on a new importance given the obvious let-down of the Freedom Swim.
riableathman.com 