WATCH: Trio master the Dolphin Coast
The three men - hardly spring chickens anymore - mastered the Dolphin Coast when they completed an epic open water swim.
Three men measured themselves against the Indian Ocean yesterday and came out on top.
Salt Rock’s Jose de Charmoy, Ballito’s Mike Oberholzer and former local Andrew Stevens swam the 12km stretch from Tinley Manor beach all the way past Sheffield, Salt Rock and most of Ballito to finish at Clarke Bay in front of Hops.
@nccourier The three brave swimmers have broken through the surf and away they go… they've already swum just over 1km pic.twitter.com/jhIeiK0nD1
— Allan Troskie (@AllanTroskie) April 12, 2017
More than four hours of swimming – from shore to shore and without touching any of the support craft – saw the three men stumble up onto the beach at Clarke Bay: tired, sunburnt and yet still in great spirits. By the end of the swim with all its course corrections they had actually covered nearly 14km.
Even when old muscles started cramping up and they stopped for a drink of water and a banana – they did so supporting their own weight in the water.
@nccourier A quick snack in front of Sheffield Beach, 8km to go pic.twitter.com/CtqUJg89kW
— Allan Troskie (@AllanTroskie) April 12, 2017
Despite an overcast morning, conditions were perfect for the swim, with flat seas and crystal clear water.
The three men took on the daunting open water swim in support of the North Coast Courier Orphan Fund.
Speaking afterwards, De Charmoy said that in order for their feat to count as an official open water swim they had to make their way out through the break without any assistance and make it all the way to the finish without hanging on any boats for a rest.
“Of course there are times when you start cramping up and you wonder – why exactly am I doing this again? But you push through the pain.”
@nccourier Two thirds of the way there – just passed Salt Rock and 4km to go. pic.twitter.com/CgiG0wD2Xl
— Allan Troskie (@AllanTroskie) April 12, 2017
De Charmoy, Oberholzer and Stevens were accompanied by three boats, three jetskis, two paddlers and even had aerial support for the first half of the swim – so they were easy to spot from shore.
Quentin Power and the team from Specialised Rescue Unit were on hand in case anything went wrong, while several other locals from all walks of life manned boats and even planes to be on the lookout for sharks and stand bye in case assistance was needed.
Dennis Fortune, who flew the plane, said that they spotted a few sharks but most seemed uninterested in having a taste of the three swimmers.
Despite a late start the three men made excellent time in the water and finished at Clarke Bay just after 12 noon.
Show your support for these three brave swimmers by making a donation to the Orphan Fund by transferring funds to ABSA account 9109 572 488, branch code 630229 with the reference 12km swim.
WATCH: The three swimmers approach the home stretch to Clarke Bay
https://www.facebook.com/northcoastcourier/videos/1498846733468002/
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