Swim to Sangster
Event Date:
Saturday, August 6, 2011 - 2:00pm David E. is raising funds for at
permanent outdoor stage at the Hall
with a long-distance swim from Lasqueti to Sangster Island!!
Please make a pledge to support this great cause!
(pledge box at post office, or contact Joseph or David)
Saturday Aug. 6*, 2pm -- from Powderflask Cove
* weather permitting – must be light winds that afternoon.
~~ Swimmers welcome ~~
~ Boat support needed, esp. kayaks to accompany swimmers ~
~~ Bring the family ~~ BYO picnic on the beach ~~
Please contact:
Joseph or David at 8849 or use website contact form
for details, to express interest, or to make a pledge.
Details:
- David is going to swim from Lasqueti to Sangster Island in one go with as many other swimmers as would like to join him.
- He wants to raise funds towards a new outdoor stage at the Community Hall (which will likely be a LCA and Arts Council joint effort). He already has over $400 in pledges - so we're on a roll!!
- We are hoping to make an event down here at Powderflask Cove (Joseph & Brigitte's place - at the end of Copley Rd.) with a small flotilla of boats and kayaks to accompany and provide safety / support for the swimmers --
and a party here on the beach for everyone else!
- We want to do the swim while the weather is stable and we are having warm ocean currents - so act now, the date is arriving soon!
Comments
Swim Swam Swimmingly
Saturday was a glorious summer day, although the winds were blowing a bit.
A big crowd gathered at Powderflask Cove to watch 5 brave swimmers start out for Sangster around 3pm. While all those who live here (Brigitte, Joseph, Jen, & David) were off swimming or spotting, there was apparently a wild party on our beach, with kids games, a pinata, a couple birthday cakes, and loads of beach fun!
An hour into the swim, about halfway across the channel, we pulled three swimmers into the boat - Jen, Katrina, and Valeria - who all made a valiant effort with no training and in adverse sea conditions. After depositing them on Sangster, we motored to the lead swimmers who were nearly across the channel, but struggling against choppy seas, with a 10-15 knot NW'er blowing, and being drawn quite far off course by a current flowing against the wind through the channel.
With most of the swim completed, after about 1 hour, 20 minutes of hard swimming, David was no longer making any headway against the wind, waves, and current, and was starting to get cold and "take on water". Brigitte and Hike helped him into the centre hatch of their double kayak, and he was picked up shortly after by the boat and deposited on Sangster where he was revived with hot tea and warm blankets. In the meantime, our lead swimmer, Rene, landed triumphantly on the very NW tip of Sangster after about 1.5 hours in the water with the 3 spotter kayaks cheering her on. She was looking very strong, and we were all amazed at her sleek form cutting through the waves like a dolphin. Way to go Rene!!!
A special mention for Andre, who could not be here Saturday, but completed the swim on Friday, in similar weather conditions, in about 1 hour 45 minutes - way to go Andre!! And David, who had completed a trial run of the swim a few days earlier, in under an hour (with flat-calm conditions).
Thanks to Adam, Gretchen, Barry, Brigitte, and Hike for spotting, and to Sarah for riding with me in the "patrol boat" - it made the whole event feel very safe to have all those eyes on the swimmers and help close by.
Thanks to everyone who made a pledge - David raised over $700 as seed money for the outdoor stage at the hall - yay David! And to all those who showed up on Saturday to make it a fun event - we're already talking about how to make it even better next year :-)
thanks joseph! it was great
thanks joseph! it was great to be part of your community. also on this special event. looking forward to a next time! big hug and greetings over the ocean to all you beautiful beings, heike
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