Marathon swimmer Penny Palfrey landed in Cayman on Friday
morning ready to take on all that the waters of Cayman can throw at her.
The swimmer said she was looking forward to her two open
water swims – from Cayman Brac to Little Cayman on Monday, 5 June, and then her
record-making attempt to be the first person to swim from Little Cayman to
Grand Cayman on Thursday, 9 June.
“It’ll be a big challenge,” she said of the non-stop 68-mile
swim from Little Cayman to Grand Cayman. The longest she has previously spent
in the water at any one time is 17 hours.
Crossing from Little Cayman to Grand Cayman could take 40
hours or more, depending on sea conditions.
She is attempting to set a world record for the longest
unassisted ocean solo swim.
“There are a lot of challenges in such a huge swim. The
weather is always a factor. Then there’s the heat. The sun is going to be a
problem. And, of course, the marine life. There are a lot of things to
consider,” she said.
She may be in for a rough swim when she crosses from the
Brac to Little Cayman on Monday, with the weather forecast predicting rough
seas with wave heights of four to six weeks.
As soon as she stepped off the Cayman Airways jet on Friday,
Ms Palfrey was met by Frank Flowers, who has been instrumental in setting up
her sea swim. She was also greeted by Director of Tourism Shomari Scott,
government minister Mark Scotland and West Bay MLA Cline Glidden who is on the
ministerial council for tourism.
On the air side of the airport, a large 12-foot long banner
with “Welcome, Penny!”and showing an image of the swimmer on a previous swim
had been erected.
Mr. Scott said Ms Palfrey’s swim would be a boost for sports
tourism in Cayman, highlighting the Islands as a destination for open water
swimming.
Even if people had not come specifically to watch and cheer
on Ms Palfrey in her world recording making attempt, “this will bring brand
awareness about the Cayman Islands”, Mr. Scott said.
The Palfreys intend to stay in Cayman after the
inter-islands swims for a while, taking part in the Flowers Sea Swim on
Saturday, 18 June, and then relaxing for a few days after that, said Chris
Palfrey, who will be on one of the escort boats that will accompany his wife
during her crossing.
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