Alex Kostich Accepts Guinness World Record Around Pitcairn Island

Courtesy of Alex Kostich, Pitcairn Island, Pacific Ocean.

Originally scheduled for April earlier this year, Alex Kostich had to postpone his unprecedented circumnavigation swim around Pitcairn Island around due to logistical delays.

Finally, on May 4th, he successfully completed the 9.8 km swim around Pitcairn Island in the middle Pacific Ocean in 2 hours 37 minutes to set a Guinness World Record.

Kostich was not available to receive his actual Guinness World Record certificate at the 2019 WOWSA Ocean Fest in Redondo Beach, California, but created a short video of his acceptance speech [see above].

Kostich explained the circumnavigation, “Pitcairn is the least populous and most remote national jurisdiction in the world. The Pitcairn Islanders are a biracial ethnic group descended mostly from nine Bounty mutineers and the handful of Tahitians who accompanied them, an event that has been retold in many books and films. This history is still apparent in the surnames of many of the islanders. Today there are approximately 50 permanent inhabitants, originating from four main families.“

Stephen Childers and James Finnerty of Lupine Travel who obtained the necessary clearances for the swim attempt with the island locals, served as part of his escort crew.

His detailed first-hand account of his swim is posted here.

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