Rottnest Channel Swim

The Rottnest Channel Swim is an annual open water swimming event from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island, off the coast of Western Australia, near Perth. It is open to solo swimmers and teams of two or four. It is one of the largest open water swimming events in the world. The distance is approximately 20 kilometres. It is competed by people of all ages with the youngest swimmer at just 13, Sandon Block, competing in the 2006 channel swim.

History

When Rottnest Island was used as a prison it was rumoured that some of the prisoners swam across the channel, although there is no proof that any did. However some may have crossed by resting on Carnac and Garden Islands.

The first documented person to swim across was Gerd Von Dincklage Schulinburg, on January 24, 1956.

On March 15, 1969, Herbert Voigt, also known as Mr. Shark Bait, disappeared while attempting to swim to the island.

The first woman to swim to the island was Lesley Cherriman, on April 13, of the same year. [ [http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/timtucak/voigt19.htm] regarding Schulinburg, Voigt, and Cherriman ]

External links

* [http://rottnestchannelswim.com.au/ Rottnest Channel Swim Association] website

References

Further reading

* Mair, Olivia.(1999) "In the swim".(Feature on Perth to Rottnest long distance swimming race, the GIO Australia Channel 9 Rottnest Channel Swim which began in 1991). Perth weekly, 17-23 Feb. 1999, p.12-13,