After enjoying the waters on the southern coast of Mallorca, site of next week’s BEST FEST – Europe’s Nº1 Open Water Swimming Festival, I recalled the unprecedented feat of Righardt Krugel of South Africa.
Nearly 10 years ago in September and October 2014, Krugel completed an unprecedented charity swim around Mallorca, Spain on October 11th.
His swim, called the Mallorca 360º, was conceived as a remembrance and tribute to his brother who passed away in 2003. The swim was done on behalf of the local children’s Fundacion Allen Graham Charity.
Everything seemed to hit Krugel as he made his way around Mallorca in a 276.5 km solo stage swim that took 22 days. He encountered schools of fish, feeding frenzies, schools of tuna, a ray, dolphins, flying fish and lots of jellyfish. He was in the water a cumulative total of 95 hours 58 minutes.
He faced unrelenting heat, an injured shoulder from Day One, and a stomach virus en route. The constant scourge of jellyfish, the turbulent chop around the peninsulas, the unexpected weather patterns, constantly changing wind shifts, powerfully strong oncoming currents, the dodging of tidal flows, cruise liners, and beautiful marine life made the unexpected the expected on a daily basis.
Mallorca 360º 22-day Stage Swim
- Day 1: 19 km in 5 hours 35 minutes
- Day 2: 14 km in 5 hours
- Day 3: 8 km in 4 hours 5 minutes
- Day 4: 14.7 km in 5 hours 30 minutes
- Day 5: 19 km in 5 hours 45 minutes
- Day 6: No swim
- Day 7: 15 km in 5 hours 30 minutes
- Day 8: 16.7 km in 5 hours 30 minutes
- Day 9: 60 meters in 10 minutes
- Day 10: No swim
- Day 11: 18 km in 6 hours
- Day 12: 5.2 km in 2 hours
- Day 13: 18.5 km in 5 hours 30 minutes
- Day 14: 16.5 km in 6 hours
- Day 15: 18 km in 5 hours 45 minutes
- Day 16: 20 km in 6 hours
- Day 17: 8.8 km in 4 hours
- Day 18: 2.5 km in 1 hour
- Day 19: 17.5 km in 6 hours
- Day 20: 14.5 km in 4 hours 45 minutes
- Day 21: 16.5 km in 5 hours 45 minutes
- Day 22: 13.5 km in 5 hours 45 minutes
© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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