Open water swimmers from all over the world are priming themselves for the annual Flowers One Mile Sea Swim in a couple of weeks, the richest event of its kind on the planet.
The unique draw of the Flowers Sea Swim is not only its flawless course conditions along the superb Seven Mile Beach, but the numerous random prizes. Over $100,000 in cash and random prizes are guaranteed and one in five random prize odds for finishers.
This year, giveaways include round trip tickets on Cayman Airways, Digicel phones, Red Sail Sports activities, jewellery, restaurant vouchers and much more.
Flowers One Mile Sea Swim is being staged for the 19th time on 18 June and with the wealth of top talent vying for the prize money, it will attract a lot of media attention, confirming it as one of the world’s top 100 open water swims.
Last year’s race boasted over 800 entrants and over 700 finished. Participants from age eight to 80 ranged in skill from novices and first-timers to gold medal Olympians and world championship open water specialists from around the globe.
It starts at the beach side of the Ritz-Carlton and finishes at Royal Palms or Tiki Beach Bar, depending on the flow of the current. The finish site will be decided during race week taking expected water and weather conditions into account to offer swimmers the most favourable conditions.
Registration has opened online and there will be a chance to register at the Brasserie on 14 June from 12 noon to 2.30pm. Registration closes on 15 June.
The race starts at 2.30pm and there is a 75 minute cut off time to finish. Entry fee is CI$15 or US$20 and all proceeds, as always, go to a charity and this year’s recipient is Meals on Wheels.
For many years Cayman has boasted world class swimmers of the calibre of the Fraser brothers, Shaune and Brett who will be going to the London Olympics next year. It will be Shaune’s third consecutive Olympics and Brett’s second. Heather Roffey and Andrew Mackay are also Olympians having gone to the Athens Games in Greece in 2004. These four will lead the Cayman charge in the Flowers Sea Swim and are sure to be amongst the early finishers.
So too will be Lexie Kelly, the Californian who is coordinator for the event. This distance is almost a sprint for Kelly because she broke the women’s record for the 5.4 mile swim between Cayman Brac and Little Cayman in April.
The Walk & Watch option at the Flowers Sea Swim allows non-swimmers to participate in the excitement. Walk & Watch is ideal for family members or anyone who wants to be part of a beautiful and exciting day on the beach. The first 150 walkers to check in on race day receive a t-shirt and a US$20 voucher for Cayman Airways.
All registered walkers are also eligible for random prizes – and unlike the swimmers, they need not be present to win. One in 10 wins. Refreshments and music at finish for all.
Promoter Frank Flowers said: “We are hoping to double the dollars for our chosen charity this year. Encourage your friends and work colleagues to enter the Walk & Watch for a beautiful view of one of the world’s top open water swims. Our awesome goody bags include a Flowers Sea Swim t-shirt and other great surprises.” Flowers is urging those interested to register soon because there will be a cut off point for safety reasons.
The prize money is what sets this race apart from all the rest. The swimmer who breaks the record for the world’s fastest recorded ocean mile will receive US$10,000 and $5,000 will go to anyone setting the new event record. The times to beat are: men’s world record: 16:00 mins; women’s world record: 17:21; men’s event record: 17:18; women’s event record: 17:47.
Eva Fabian is one of the top swimmers vying for the prize money. Fabian is the defending women’s champion. She is only 17 but is already world renowned having set many records and won numerous championships. Fabian hopes to compete for the US at the Olympics next year.
Steve Munatones is a multi-decorated open water swimming coach, journalist, race director, teacher and athlete. Among his copious achievements are his induction into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, where he also serves on the board of directors and selection to the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee. He also beat the Cayman Brac to Little Cayman 5.4 record a couple of months ago. He is very supportive of the Flowers Sea Swim and is now sharing his expertise with the open water community at www.worldopenwater.com.
Australian pair Chris and Penny Palfrey are famous for their record marathon swims. The Flowers swim is a mere dip for them. Penny is also attempting the first ever crossing between Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac next week, a world record distance of 68 miles.
Emily Brunemann is a USA national open water swimming member and NCAA champion in the one mile freestyle. She won the Pirate’s Week 5k last November, beating Eva Fabian by the width of a shark’s tooth and will be competing against the best again.
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