Carina Bruwer

Carina Bruwer, South Africa ’s foremost long distance swimmer, will be on standby as of Tuesday 8 March for her attempt to swim across False Bay from Rooi Els to Simonstown. If successful, Carina will be the first South African woman, and the third swimmer ever, to complete the arduous 35km swim. The crossing – in distance similar to the English Channel – represents one of the ultimate tests for marathon swimmers in the world. Apart from the grueling distance, the swim is fraught with dangers, including strong currents, unpredictable winds, icy waters, and the ever present danger presented by the fact that False Bay has one of the highest populations of White sharks in the world.

These conditions have gotten the better of most of the 16 swimmers who have attempted the crossing in the past. The swim has been completed successfully twice: first in 1989 by the world-renowned Belgian swimmer Annemie Landmeters, and last year by South Africa ’s own distance swimming ace Steve Klugman. In an interview after his epic crossing last year, which took 14h15, Klugman said “I am insane. I will never do it again; for those who are looking at attempting it, good luck!”

Carina, a concert flautist by profession, hopes that weather will permit an attempt within the first week of March. “My support crew, lead by the legendary Mr Peter Bales, chairman of the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association, will keep a close eye on weather conditions from next week. I don’t want to be swimming into a strong wind or in water that is too cold.” Carina, who holds the records for swimming around Cape Point, Cape Agulhas and Danger Point, in October 2004 also became the only person to have swum around both the southern- and northern-most points of Africa when she swam the 16km around Ras Angela in Tunisia in just under 4 hours. She was on a concert tour which coincided with Pres. Mbeki’s inaugural state visit to the northern African country. “This will be a great challenge, but I think I am ready. I completed the 25km swim at the SA Open Water Swimming Championships at the Midmar Dam less than two weeks ago, in very difficult conditions (no support crew and front-chop swimming for 70% of the way), so I am positive that I will manage the distance if conditions do not interfere.”

Carina’s support team will consist of two motorized boats, both carrying a “Shark Shield”. She will be accompanied by officials from the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association, lead by Mr Bales – who has also attempted the swim on two occasions – and including Mr Hugh Tucker, who successfully completed an English Channel crossing last year. Mr Billy Hadlow from Stellenbosch Maintenance, who has supported Carina on four of her previous swims, will also once again be on the support boat. With their support and navigational guidance, Carina feels confident that she can conquer the bay in a respectable time. “Steve’s record of 14h15 might be achievable, if I have the right conditions. He is an amazing swimmer, but had to find strong winds and currents in his swim last year, which slowed him down considerably. I wouldn’t really want to be swimming for more than 14 hours anyway, because that would mean swimming in the dark! Ms Landmeters’ record of 9h56 is perhaps a long shot. In the end, you are just looking to finish this crossing; any record will be a bonus.”

Regular press updates will follow. For more information, or to arrange a journalist and/or photographer on the boat, please contact Francois Brink on 083 375 1454.

For live updates during the swim, which should commence around 06:00 on the chosen day, please call 0824861320, or 0823367929

Carina’s swim will also raise funds for Young Voices in Africa , an organisation focused on the empowerment of children through choir music. To achieve this aim, Young Voices in Africa will stage a series of concerts across South Africa beginning with the inaugural concert in Cape Town in March 2006, involving 10,000 children from the Western Cape , performing as one massed choir with local and international stars. Anyone who wishes to make a donation towards this exciting project can contact Francois Brink on 083-3751454

Carina is a professional concert flautist and manager of her own music agency. She is 25 years old and lives in Mouille Point. More information can be found on www.carinabruwer.com. Information document available on request.
Press articles about previous False Bay attempts are available on request.
Carina will be available for pre- and post-attempt interviews. Please contact her agent Francois Brink on 083 375 1454