Four courageous swimmers came close to creating history boldly going where no man has gone before through the aquatic barrier to successfully navigating a 60km swim from Tobago to Trinidad yesterday.
William Carr, Patrick Lee Loy, Roger Watts, and John Procope began their epic journey at 4 am near Magdalena Grand in Tobago with the goal of making land fall in Trinidad in the Grande Riviere area in approximately 12-15 hours.
In August 2017, former president of the Public Services Association Watson Duke failed to swim the 30 km distance from Tobago to T&T while wearing a life jacket and assisted by support vehicles to highlight the woes and issues experienced on the sea bridge at the time.
The swimming feat was also attempted in 2013 by Gordon Borde, Jeffrey Ferdinand and Tony Leavitt. The swimming trio completed 75 per cent of the journey before they were pulled out by the Coast Guard as they were at risk of swimming into nightfall and its inherent dangers.
According to one of the swimmers’ support crew on one of the support vessels accompanying them, despite their training that began well before the pandemic hit T&T for the arduous marine crossing, “The currents pushed the swimmers North West after ten hours of heaving waves and wind out of the East and they decided to call it a day.
“So they spent a long time swimming against the current. The critical aspect of the swim was to get past the ‘Shallows’ which is the dark patch shown on the map of Tobago as the current accelerates over this shallow area.”
On its Facebook site the Aquatics Sports Association of T&T (ASATT) congratulated the swimmers on their valiant attempt.
ASATT said “The currents pushed the swimmers northwest after ten hours of heaving waves and wind out of the East, which made it difficult to complete the journey. We are proud of them and salute their efforts.”
People congratulated the swimmers for their effort on ASATT’s page. Some of them are Roma Wong Sang: “Congrats guys! 10 hours in waters no doubt affected by Fiona’s feeder bands is still an amazing feat!”
Sharon Burford: “Tough conditions..amazing effort! Well done guys! You’ll do it the next time!”
Dinkydi Dee: “Well done and congratulations on your efforts!”
Nina Arrindell: “Huge Congratulations to these amazing swimmers, support team, family and friends that made this possible, the mental stamina and physical endurance are to be applauded. Until next time!”
The swimmers were coached by Edward Tuberoso and the 12-man support crew included safety officers, support swimmers, feeders, kayakers, drone operators, spotters, and Dr Lorraine Patience.
Three support vessels were used, the Gladys McCall, the Tropicbird, and the T&T Coast Guard vessel, the Interceptor.