Straits of Gibraltar – The “Go Together” Swim

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. – African Proverb

On the 22^nd May I, and three swimmers (now fast friends), completed one of the famous Ocean’s 7 swims – the Straits of Gibraltar from Tarifa in Spain to Morocco. The distance from the tip of Spain (Tarifa) to the nearest bit of Africa is quoted as 14.4km so this is the shortest of the Oceans 7.

Getting a slot

This swim is famous for several reasons (clear water, busy shipping, a swim between two continents) and infamous for two – its LONG waiting list (up to 1000 people) and the WIND (Tarifa is the kite surfing capital of Europe).

Uniquely on this swim you are allowed up to four swimmers swimming at the same time. You must swim close together. If one swimmer is jeopardising the success of the others, that swimmer will be pulled by the support team.

When I had the opportunity of a slot in May this year, I immediately thought we must have the full 4 swimmer complement on this swim…and help get that waiting list down!

Gathering the crew

The first thing I did was reach out to two other New Zealanders.  Callum Eade, a Kiwi living in Singapore, who I first met when we were both in Ireland swimming in Donaghadee (Northern Ireland), – after my successful North Channel and just before his and Paul Feltoe who lives a few hours from me in NZ and whose swims I had followed. Both came back to me quick smart saying yep – lock me in!

I then reached out to Sarah Thomas – cause hey who doesn’t want to do some name dropping (Sarah Thomas has swum the English Channel 4 times – yes all at once!). Her husband Ryan was doing a major sports event during our swim window so whilst she was keen the timing wasn’t right for her.

Then I called Marcia Cleveland as I knew she only had the Straits of Gibraltar to swim to conquer to complete the Oceans 7. Low and behold Marcia had the slot shortly after me but suggested I contact Lori King from New York who had been on the waiting list since 2017. I emailed Lori and had a pretty instant response – “yes, yes, yes” 

We had some emails, then a zoom call to meet each other…and plotting started…it was great to share the load of the swim arranging…

• I did the co-ordination of all our paperwork to make life easier for the organisers
• Callum had matching swimsuits made for us all and set up polls so we could vote on choices such as accommodation which Paul booked; and
• Lori got us organised, checked everything and asked all the key questions

Meeting Lori for the first time

We had a little spreadsheet that told us who was on what flight, and I knew that Lori and I, my mum and dad and youngest child Anna were on the same flight from London to Gibraltar. Going through the terminal in Heathrow an athletic woman with blond curly hair raced past- I said to my mum – I think that is our swimmer. We caught up with Lori just prior to boarding and started chatting…and in summary we didn’t really stop for the whole time together. Its special meeting new friends especially those that feel like old friends from the start.

The boys arrive

Paul and Callum arrived shortly after us at our lovely Airbnb in Tarifa. For those of you who have not met Callum Eade – well you are in a minority. I think of myself as extroverted, but Callum is the King…and what an asset that was on our trip. Callum made friends with many locals, and we learnt so much about Tarifa and Spanish food that we had not known before. More on Paul later.

The swimmers in our matching togs courtesy of Callum and Finis

Wind Wind Wind -Tarifa the kite surfing capital of Europe

The bad news: Tarifa is known as the windsurfing capital of the world! It’s windy most of the time. There is the odd day or two when the winds die down, usually when they are in the process of changing direction. However, we were in good hands with Laura and the team from the Straits of Gibraltar Swimming Association. Huge thanks to them all!

A simple easy life

We settled into a rhythm of getting up (later each day), going for coffee and walking to the swim spot with my mum Philippa. Philippa looked after the gear, sometimes Anna came, swam, and played with Callum’s GoPro. We swam for an hour or so, in the most beautiful bay which was like an aquarium with so much varied fish life. It was spectacular. After the swim we’d walk into town, find food, do some sightseeing or shopping, and then head home. We chilled for the afternoon with jigsaws, TV, book reading, naps and then reconvened to either have dinner out or in. (All dinners in were wonderfully catered by my mum and dad, Joe and Philippa– support crew extraordinaire.)

The simple life, shopping, swimming and pointing to Morrocco and of a Little Mermaid jigsaw.

The Miracle?

It would be fair to say that we were all feeling a bit despondent that it was looking like a “no swim” may be the reality of our trip. This is where Paul’s calm and reflective personality came to the fore helping us all keep an even keel especially in the early days of our tide window when the wind was quite low but not quite low enough!

All of us except Callum and Paul headed to Sunday Mass one week after our arrival and 6 days into our swim window. As we left for church Callum said – pray for a miracle!

Mass was lovely, the choir sang contemporary upbeat hymns which juxtaposed the spectacularly ornate historic church.

As we left the church to meet the boys for lunch, I checked my phone… Laura, the swim organiser, had sent a text saying the swim was on for Wednesday. As soon as we all sat down for lunch – I announced we had our miracle! Everyone spluttered in disbelief but on reading the message there was much excitement – so much so that Callum decided he would head to the church for a quick “Our Father” prayer.

We decided to keep up the theme of prayers after Laura told us that the first person to successfully swim the strait had visited the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Light (Neustra Senora de la Luz) the day before their swim. Laura went on to tell us that nobody who has visited the Sanctury prior to their swim has failed to cross. Lori, Anna, Joe, Philippa and I travelled there. We had a lovely day out and a very special time as we all said a rosary together in the lovely church. (Rosary website https://schooloffaith.com/daily-rosary-meditations). Between the physical preparation and spiritual preparation, we were all in great shape for a successful crossing.

Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Light (Neustra Senora de la Luz)

The Swim

We headed to the pier for 9.30am after a pretty leisurely morning by swim event standards- I don’t think I have ever had a swim start in “office hours”! John, the owner of one of the cafes we frequented, came down to see us off which was lovely. We all got prepped on the pier and jumped onto the support boat for the very short trip to the start. We had a delay as we waited for one of the many ferries that goes from Tarifa to Tangier to pass.

Getting ready to swim in “office hours”

We all jumped off the boat, touched the land and the whistle blew – we were off!

The sun shone and the sea was quite calm. Swimming together went relatively well. Lori, the pocket rocket, was a little bit ahead from time to time and was also a bit of zig zagger! Once we decided not to follow her, we didn’t knock into each other so much.

Feeding was quick and efficient with Chief feeder Philippa making sure everything was prepared and ready to go. Halfway across the crew hoisted the Moroccan flag – a nice signal for us.

The flags, feeding and in the bottom photo you can just see the pocket rocket Lori ahead!

Four hours later we were coming close to Morocco. The tide was taking us left so to go straight we had to swim to the right and swim fast! And then we were there!

The finish and the return

We all climbed aboard the boat and headed back to Spain. Anna and my dad were on the pier to meet us and applaud. We took photos, grabbed cabs back to the house, had showers, snacks and then went to meet Laura again to get our certificates. Never have I had a certificate so quickly issued and with a photo on it too! We had a lovely celebration dinner and then the next morning started to go our separate ways. Anna, mum and dad and I were picked up at 7am to head to Malaga airport London bound.

Certificates and Celebrations

I had a day in London and then headed to Heathrow. I was starting to feel very down and missing everyone. I was getting quite emotional and sad as I left the tube station at Heathrow heading to the terminal when low and behold I saw Callum! My spirits lifted – we checked in together and headed to the lounge where Paul joined us later! It was a lovely reunion!

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. -African proverb

It seems fitting to end this blog with an African Proverb -given we swam to Africa. I like saying I have only been to Africa once and I had to swim there!

It is hard to put into words the bond and connections that are forged in open water swimming. Gibraltar is special and unique in that the bond is not just a swimmer and the crew – its four swimmers and the crew. Callum, Lori, Paul, my mum, dad, Anna and I have a connection between us all that I know will last over time, making a difference to all our lives, enabling us to go far, together, by helping in hard times and celebrating in good times.

Straits of Gibraltar 22^nd May 2023 4 hours 23 minutes

Ps I did raise funds for Kenzies Gift, a New Zealand charity supporting young people affected by series illness or grief raising almost $5000. THANK-YOU to all who have donated and continue to support me.

And a very cool photo to finish with!