Marathon swimming is the sporting focal point this week what with Penny Palfrey attempting to set a world record of crossing from Little Cayman to the East End of Grand Cayman, 68 miles in total taking nearly two days.
Palfrey ‘warmed up’ on Monday with a mere 5.4 mile swim from Cayman Brac to Little Cayman, breaking the record by six seconds in the process, by swimming it in 1 hour 53 minutes and 28 seconds. The English-born naturalised Australian is 48, has four children and is a grandmother, yet she is one of the most respected athletes in any sport for her remarkable achievements.
She has been brought over by Frank Flowers as part of the build up to the celebrated Flowers One Mile Sea Swim on 18 June which Penny will also swim along with her husband Chris, who is also a world record-setting marathon swimmer.
Steve Munatones is part of the mix as he wears many hats on the open water swimming scene, as a writer, recorder, coach and athlete. Over the last few months Munatones has helped generate interest in open water swimming here and help prepare Palfrey and the Flowers Group for the ultimate swim. Munatones actually set the Brac to Little Cayman five mile swim record with Californian Lexie Kelly in April which Palfrey broke on Monday. Kelly is coordinator for the Flowers Sea Swim and has been working behind the scenes to ensure the Palfrey swims go as smoothly
as possible.
Frank Flowers said: “Everything is going well. I miss my daughter Dara, who is in England studying for her law degree, who usually helps extensively in preparations. Mr. Munatones has come down to make sure everything is in line for Bridging the Islands.
“We’ve met everyone involved in making this a success. Mr Munatones has given us a tremendous amount of help, and, of course, Lexie who has put all the fine details together.
“Penny will stay until after the Flowers Sea Swim. I want to thank all our sponsors and in particular our volunteers for making this all possible. National pride is running high not just with Cayman people but Australians living here.
“I would like to sum this event up with the song Love Can Build a Bridge, because it is all built with love and the support of the whole community, numerous volunteers and sponsors and it couldn’t be made possible without them.”
Palfrey’s last swim was in April when she set a world record across the Molokai Channel in Hawaii. Typically, she had to battle through adversity. The Japanese tsunami caused by the earthquake hit Hawaii just before her swim. Despite the angry sea, she still insisted on tackling the 26 miles, taking just over 11 hours, breaking the old record by two hours, which was held by husband Chris. The sea was so turbulent that Palfrey was higher than the support boat every eight seconds.
She is really in good shape for this monumental swim having trained for eight hours at a time. Her bravery is unquestionable; she will may have to battle through jellyfish stings and the presence of sharks.
Munatones is pleased with the support and media interest Palfrey has received here. “Of all the swims she’s made all around the world, she has significantly more logistical and operational support here than any other swim she’s attempted,” he said. “The mariners here just really know their stuff, inside and out.
“There’s a sense of tying the islands together. Obviously, Mr. Flowers is instigating and corralling all these people. There’s been nothing like this. Typically what happens is that you have a swimmer and one boat, sometimes two and generally only five to eight people. Sometimes the media picks up the story but a bigger international story usually takes centre stage.
“The great thing about the Palfreys is that each one completely understands each other because they are both marathon swimmers.”
Weather permitting, Palfrey starts at around 3am and is due to finish any time between midday and 7pm at Morritt’s resort in East End on Friday.
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